Comfortable with the no-huddle
From Ed Bouchette today at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s use of the no-huddle offense in the second quarter and throughout the second half in the opener signaled what might be the advent of a significant change in the way the Steelers play football on offense.
They have used it previously, most famously to win Super Bowl XLIII, but rarely for an entire half in the opening game in a noisy place on the road the way they did Sunday night.
At times, Roethlisberger looked more like Peyton Manning than did Manning, running up and down the line, shouting instructions to his teammates, looking at the play clock. If he can do that in the noise and high altitude, it should only be easier to run before the more friendly atmosphere at Heinz Field.
“I thought we did pretty well in a hostile environment,” Roethlisberger said. “They were loud, we played a lot of no-huddle. We mixed some things in. We hurt ourselves sometimes on penalties and certain things. Overall, I felt we were happy with the line and the way the guys handled it.”
You can read more here.
Steelers vs Broncos – Post game
“There’s no one to blame but myself. I already told my teammates and coaches that it’s my fault. It’s on me. It’s disappointing. I hate to let my team down, my coaches, the fans. That loss is squarely on my shoulders. I’ll take that and get better and learn from it.” — Ben
Final Score: Broncos 31, Steelers 19
From ESPN.com:
Roethlisberger made quite a few vintage Roethlisberger plays by shrugging off pass-rushers and making impromptu plays with his legs and big arm.
He really had to work hard for everything the Steelers offense got. But Pittsburgh took very few shots deep downfield — probably because of protection concerns — even with Mike Wallace now on board.
The Steelers did incorporate Heath Miller more than in recent memory, and Miller could be their best red zone weapon.
He came up big, time and time again. But that wasn’t enough on this night.
More here.
From RotoWorld:
Playing behind an offensive line that lost two starters mid-game, Ben Roethlisberger completed just 22-of-40 passes for 245 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in Pittsburgh’s Week 1 loss to the Broncos. Under siege nearly all evening, Roethlisberger pulled plenty of Houdini-acts in the pocket, but ran out of magic late, tossing a devastating pick-six with just 1:58 remaining before taking three sacks on Pittsburgh’s desperation final drive. The good news is that Big Ben looked 100 percent following his late-2011 ankle woes, and appeared to be on the same page with No. 1 receiver Mike Wallace following his lengthy holdout. Ben found “60 Minutes” for four catches, 37 yards and a score.
More here.
‘‘Roethlisberger was awesome on third down. Wasn’t much fun sitting on the bench there all night. Great job by our defense in the end, getting that turnover.’’ — Peyton Manning
And from Steelers.com:
Through the early stages of the fourth quarter, Ben Roethlisberger was the primary reason the Steelers held a 19-14 lead over the Denver Broncos. To that point, Roethlisberger had completed 20-of-34 for 216 yards and two touchdowns, and on the two touchdown drives, he converted six third-down situations with his passes, including both touchdowns. He finished 22-of-40 for 245 yards, including a late interception that was returned for […]
Foundation: Ben announces first grant for the 2012-2013 season
“We’re very fortunate to be in the position that we are able to help these K-9 units. The work that is performed by the dogs and their handlers as well as the bond that is formed is incredible. We’re just thrilled to do our small part.” — Ben
Today, Ben announced the first grant of the 2012-13 season from The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation at The Giving Back Fund.
The Foundation will be distributing a grant to the Denver Sheriff’s Department in Denver, CO where the Steelers will play the Broncos this Sunday, September 9th.
The department is seeking financial assistance to purchase a canine trained in explosives detection and the necessary training and certification for the handler. Recently, the department’s existing K9 was used to sweep the theaters after the Aurora shooting tragedy.
During the 2012-13 NFL season, The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be distributing grants to K-9 units of police and fire departments in the cities and surrounding communities of each regular season away game for the Steelers. The Foundation will also distribute several grants to the Pittsburgh area and will consider grants to any two non-NFL market cities in the United States if the Steelers make the playoffs. The Ben Roethlisberger Foundation invited police and fire departments across the country to submit proposals detailing their needs.
This marks the sixth season that Ben’s foundation has distributed grants to K-9 units. His foundation not only supports K-9 units of police and fire departments throughout the United States with a particular emphasis on support for service dogs in Pittsburgh, PA , but also supports other charitable organizations, such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Denver Sheriff’s Department Division Chief Marie Kielar said, “The benefits to public safety by adding a bomb dog to our team are immeasurable. This dog and his handler will participate in daily sweeps of Denver’s two courthouses; as well as, courtrooms holding high-profile trials, and jury assembly rooms.” Chief Kielar added, “In addition to providing enhanced security for the judiciary, their staff and the public, our new acquisition will serve as a good-will ambassador between the Denver Sheriff’s Department and the citizens we serve.”
You can read more about Ben’s foundation here.
You can check out his Community […]
Big Ben on being a dad, being 30, and being in his football prime
“I’m not missing the birth of my child. There’s no chance. I know some fans probably don’t want to hear that, but there’s no chance.”
More from Ben’s interview with Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Steelers fans know by now their quarterback will become a father this year. What he did not divulge, and still has not, is when his baby boy is due. The delivery is expected sometime this fall, perhaps even on the first Sunday of December when the Steelers visit Baltimore.
“We’ll do everything we can to make sure it doesn’t happen,” Roethlisberger said of trying to avoid a game-day birth.
But if that’s not enough? Oh, well, Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch will just have to take care of business that day. This is not your 2010 Big Ben. He’s 30. He’s married. He has a college degree. He’ll be a dad. He’s different.
“It’s exciting,” Roethlisberger said of impending fatherhood. “There’s a lot of things you don’t think about. It’s kind of like when you’re younger and you want to play quarterback in the NFL, all you think about is playing quarterback, you don’t think about the interviews and the little things you have to do. It’s kind of the same thing.
“When you’re going to be a father, all you think about is having this little baby, you don’t think about the registry, the room, the diapers, all the little things that go along with it. It’s exciting and it is a little bit scary, too. It is. Before long, you’re going to have this little life that you’re taking care of. But I’ve heard nothing but great things from people [about] just how it will change your life. I’m just so excited for that challenge.”
“I feel great. When I’m on the field, I feel great mentally, I feel sharp, I don’t feel I’ve lost any of my arm strength, I don’t feel I’ve lost any of my movement. I feel sharper than ever.”
So, 30 is a big deal for him or not?
“Yes and no. I look at it as, OK, this is my ninth year, which is a blessing in itself for a football player, especially a quarterback. How much longer will I play? […]
Wednesday’s chat with the media
“I’m just going to play the game the way I know how to play it. I’m not going to change anything.” — Ben, on whether he has “tweaked” his game.
More from Ben this afternoon:
On Peyton Manning –
“I enjoy watching a guy like that who is a future Hall of Famer and one of the best to play the game, you can learn things. You just have to be in awe of the guy that he is.”
On the growth he’s seen in Antonio Brown’s game –
“He’s had growth in his route running, his understanding of the offense, understanding of the defenses, when he needs to look back, and things like that.”
When asked to give the “hierarchy” of his receivers, Ben joked –
“I think we have 1A, 1B, 1C, 1D and then put Heath Miller at 1E.”
Watching Peyton Manning’s full control of the offense –
“It would be a lot of fun to do all that stuff all the time. But I think we’ve been pretty successful with what we’ve done and I’m not complaining about the offense that we have or what we’ve done in the past.”
You can watch video of Ben’s interview here.
Big Ben and Da Beard named 2012 Team Captains
The Pittsburgh Steelers announced this afternoon that team captains for the 2012 season have been named – Ben for the offense, and Brett Keisel for the defense!
Ben shared the duties of captain with Hines Ward in 2008, 2009, and 2011.
“It means a lot to be a captain of this team,” Ben said of the honor in 2011. “With all of the past captains and great players that have played here on this team.”
The Steelers did not select a special teams captain this season.
You can see a list of former captains from Steelers.com.
And while you’re on the team’s website, you can watch video of Ben’s interview with the media! You can read a transcription of it here.
Also Today:
“At age 30, Steelers QB in his prime”
From Alan Robinson, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:
Ben Roethlisberger looks to be in the prime of his career, throwing the ball with as much zip and accuracy as he ever has during his nine-season career, according to Steelers wide receivers. Mike Wallace didn’t need much time to notice.
“I haven’t been with Ben in a while, and his arm is stronger than when we left last year,” said Wallace, who practiced Monday for the first time since ending his offseason holdout. “He was throwing it pretty far.”
Roethlisberger passed for 4,077 yards last season — second in his career to his 4,328 yards in 2009 — and he might have the best and deepest cast of receivers he has had yet in Wallace, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders and Jerricho Cotchery. While he didn’t predict one Monday, he expects a big season.
“I hope so. I don’t think by any stretch of the imagination I’m on the down slope and the end of my career,” Roethlisberger said. “ I hope not, geez. The game keeps slowing down, and you keep figuring things out. I’m just blessed to have a great group of young guys around me that can make plays, so I don’t have to do as much as I used to.”
You can read more here.