Ben: A change in delivery
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette‘s Ed Bouchette this morning:
A quicker release has been cited for Roethlisberger’s career-low five interceptions and his 32 sacks, which, while not necessarily low over 12 games, represents an improvement over his previous four seasons.
Roethlisberger took the month he could not appear at the Steelers’ facility to work with quarterbacks coach George Whitfield Jr., and he tinkered with his delivery.
“Holding the ball higher,” Roethlisberger said, “helps me what [Whitfield] calls ‘keeping it loaded’ rather than keeping it down low where I used to hold it and then you have to wind up … you get it out quicker.”
Whitfield, who runs a private quarterback-training firm in San Diego, suggested the change to Roethlisberger when they began working together in September. He had used the same motion since high school, and no one suggested he change, likely because he had been so successful.
“I had heard of it before but I never did it because I didn’t think it mattered,” Roethlisberger said. “I tried it because I had a bad elbow problem, and it solved that problem, too. I don’t know what it is, but my elbow doesn’t seem to hurt as much.”
You can read more here.
You can see photos of Ben’s workouts with Coach Whitfield here.
Stat Line:
For the regular season, Ben was third in the league in yards-per-attempt and not only leads all active quarterbacks in that category, but is fourth all time.
Quotes of the Day:
“There’s a lot of times when he’s outside the pocket that he’s far more dangerous than when he’s inside the pocket. And that’s not to say he’s not good when he’s in the pocket. But his ability to throw accurately on the run and on the fly and just create stuff is just uncanny.” — Ravens linebacker Jarret Johnson on Ben, from an article in the Baltimore Sun.
“Some quarterbacks will go down when they get people around them, but not him. The play’s never dead with him and that’s something you’ve got to watch out for. It’s tough to play against. You just got to get lots of helmets on him and get him down.” — Ravens nose tackle Kelly Gregg on Ben, from the same […]
Foundation Update
“When I grow up, I’m going to be a police K-9 for the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department!” — Chewbacca (photo below).
On December 30th, Ben announced the ninth and final grant of the 2010 season outside of the Pittsburgh area. The grant was awarded to the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department (CMHAPD), located in Cleveland, Ohio.
The funds will help fill a void in the department left by the loss of Kubo, CMHA’s three-year old police dog, who died on September 27, 2010 during a training exercise.
Today, we received photos of the two newest members of the department’s K-9 unit, Chewbacca and Loki.
Both puppies were donated to the department by a breeder, and funds from the grant provided by the Ben Roethlisberger Foundation will be used to pay for their training and supplies as they grow up to be serious, hardworking K-9’s.
From an email sent by Brenda L. Malone, Special Projects Coordinator for the CMHA Police Department:
“It is TOTALLY my pleasure to send you the images of what was made possible through the generosity and compassion of others.
The words ‘thank you’ do not seem to be enough to let everyone know of level of happiness, but I hope they are received with all of the heart-felt appreciation that surround the spirit of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Police Department!”
You can see all the photos here.
You can read more about Ben’s Foundation here.
*Thank you to Ms. Malone, Officer John Smiddy, Officer Jeffery Holdeman, and Officer Kerry Blakemore of the Cuyahoga Metropolitan Housing Authority Police Department, as well as Jessica Duffaut, from The Giving Back Fund!
Ben’s chat with the media today
From the Baltimore Sun‘s Ravens Insider:
Asked during a conference call with Baltimore media Tuesday afternoon whether he enjoyed lining up against the Ravens, Roethlisberger replied, “As a competitor, yes, you love it, but heck no, I hate playing the Ravens. They’re so good. Defense, every single person and every scheme, everything they do, it just challenges you. As a competitor, you like that challenge and you like the competitiveness, but man, they’re good.”
You can read more here.
And about the broken nose…
The last time the Ravens and Pittsburgh Steelers met, the Steelers left M&T Bank Stadium on Dec. 5 with a win and a broken nose for Ben Roethlisberger.
But the Pittsburgh quarterback said he understands that the left-handed blow his face absorbed from defensive tackle Haloti Ngata was inadvertent.
“It wasn’t like I was mad,” Roethlisberger said during a conference call with Baltimore reporters Tuesday afternoon. “No way was it on purpose. So I didn’t feel any kind of way about it.
“I have to apologize to Kelly Gregg,” Roethlisberger said. “I blamed him for it during the game. I’ll have to apologize when I see him on the field. I was giving him a hard time. But any time that these two teams play, the winner walks off feeling pretty good about themselves. I know that because I know some of the guys over there and I know what this rivalry means. So like I said, it’s always a big-time game.”
You can read more on that here.
Kelly Gregg accepts Ben’s apology here (along with a bit of good-natured ribbing).
From ESPN‘s James Walker:
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger shrugged Tuesday at recent comments made by Baltimore Ravens coach John Harbaugh (see yesterday’s post).
“I think it was taken out of context, if you ask me,” Roethlisberger said. “I know Coach Harbaugh. He’s a Miami guy and us Miami guys stick together; there’s so few of us. Actually, on the field before every game we talk to each other and ask how everything is going. So I don’t think it was intended maliciously at all.”
You can read more here.
You can watch locker room interviews with Ben, Mike Wallace, Ryan Clark, Heath Miller and […]
Ravens vs Steelers matchup…
“It’s just ultimate confusion when we play — they’re trying to confuse us and we’re trying to confuse them. Their defense is all over the place. Guys are here, guys are there, all of a sudden this guy is over here and 20 guys are blitzing. That’s the biggest thing with Baltimore. Then you add the physical stuff. I don’t mind that … I can take hits. It’s tough.” — Ben, on playing the Ravens (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette).
What they’re saying…
“Flacco didn’t play a perfect game, but it was close…as a rookie, he was basically expected to manage the game. Last year, he suffered back and thigh injuries, which affected his throwing motion. But there are no excuses now. The playoffs are where quarterback legends are born because the great ones like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady and Ben Roethlisberger take over games.” — Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun.
“It’s got to be Baltimore. I’ve had a feeling it was going to be Baltimore all along. I wouldn’t want it any other way. It’s going to be some football game.” — Hines Ward, in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
“I picked the Ravens to make it to the Super Bowl, but I don’t know that they make it out of Pittsburgh. Reason: The Steelers have their number at Heinz Field. OK, so Baltimore pulled out a last-minute victory there this year. Ben Roethlisberger didn’t play. With Roethlisberger, the Steelers are 6-1 at home, including a playoff victory. Plus, they won their last six overall vs. the Ravens with Big Ben.” — Senior sportswriter Clark Judge, CBS Sports.
“When you come into this locker room, you know this is a team of winners. So you have to put yourself in that right state of mind so you can go out there and win a world championship.” — Ziggy Hood, to Jim Wexell for the Tribune-Democrat.
“It’s one and done. There’s a lot of teams that have already gone home. But really, it doesn’t matter to us who we play. We just want to keep winning.” — Ike Taylor, in the Washington Observer-Reporter.
Just in case you missed it…
Ben was a guest, er…locker room reporter this afternoon on the Jerome Bettis Show at 12:30 p.m. on WPXI Channel 11.
What exclusive did he report on? That Jerome Bettis is in second place once again in the show’s season picks.
You can catch the video of his special report here (at approximately 1.55 minutes into video). Enjoy!
*Thanks Becky!
GMC’s “2010 Never Say Never Moment of the Year” Nominees
Today, the NFL announced the eight finalists for the 2010 GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year award and the Steelers’ Troy Polamalu is one of them!
The GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year is the best moment or play of the year that represents determination and perseverance.
The Finalists:
Week 4: Roddy White forces a fumble
Week 5: Jason Campbell leads Oakland to the win
Week 6: Deion Branch sparks a comeback win in return to New England
Week 10: David Garrard’s prayer answered in miracle finish
Week 11: Ryan Fitzpatrick directs Buffalo to a largest comeback in 13 years
Week 13: Troy Polamalu’s sack-fumble leads to a game-winning score
Week 15: DeSean Jackson seals the Eagles’ miracle comeback
Week 16: Tim Tebow leads Broncos’ comeback
More on the Week 13 Finalist, Troy Polamalu –
In a battle for first place in the AFC North, the Baltimore Ravens led the Pittsburgh Steelers, 10-6, with just over three minutes remaining the fourth quarter.
On second down, S Troy Polamalu came off the edge and sacked Ravens QB Joe Flacco, causing a fumble that was picked up by LB LaMarr Woodley and returned to the Ravens’ 9 yard-line.
QB Ben Roethlisberger then found RB Isaac Redman for a 9-yard TD to give the Steelers the lead en route to a 13-10 victory.
You can vote here through 9 p.m. ET on Thursday, January 27th.
The winner will be presented the 2010 GMC Never Say Never Moment of the Year award during a press conference in North Texas, the site of Super Bowl XLV, on Wednesday, February 2nd.
Also Today:
From an article by the AP’s Alan Robinson on Mike Wallace:
When Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger steps into the pocket and looks downfield for Mike Wallace, he’s knows one thing for certain.
He’s not overthrowing one of the […]