Steelers vs Panthers: Game Notes
Final Preseason Game…
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Roethlisberger started his third consecutive preseason game, played the first two series and once again led them to three points, the third time in three games he has done that. This time, though, Roethlisberger did it against Carolina’s second-team defense. Roethlisberger completed 4 of 6 passes for 39 yards before he gave way to Leftwich with 53 seconds left in the first quarter.
You can read the full story here.
From Steelers.com:
Roethlisberger came out working in the no-huddle offense to start things. He was forced to scramble up the middle for one-yard to start the drive and Rashard Mendenhall went off left guard for six yards. On third and three Roethlisberger was able to pull in Maurkice Pouncey’s high shotgun snap, but couldn’t recover and was sacked for a 10-yard loss.
On third-and-17 Roethlisberger hit Arnaz Battle for 16-yards, with his knee ruled down before getting the first down. The Steelers went for it on fourth-and-one and Mendenhall delivered with a nine-yard run up the middle. Roethlisberger connected with Heath Miller for 13 yards and Mendenhall continued to move the ball with carries of four and five yards.
Mewelde Moore moved the chains going off left guard for four yards. A holding call negated an 11-yard run by Moore and an incomplete pass gave the Steelers second-and-20 from the Panthers 25-yard line. Roethlisberger hit Moore for seven yards and Battle for three, but they weren’t able to convert the first down. Jeff Reed got them on the board with a 33-yard field goal for a 3-0 lead.
You can read their full game summary here.
From ESPN’s AFC North Blog:
Steelers quarterback Byron Leftwich sprained his left knee in the second quarter Thursday night as Pittsburgh beat the starter-less Carolina Panthers 19-3.
Leftwich (4 of 6, 39 yards) was hurt on an 18-yard completion to Emmanuel Sanders as running back Mewelde Moore and safety Marcus Hudson collided near him with 10:25 remaining in the first half. Leftwich immediately clutched his knee in pain.
While Dixon talked to reporters, Roethlisberger — leaving the Steelers’ locker room for the last time in at least a month — leaned close and offered words of encouragement.
Roethlisberger […]
Ben’s Statement…
“I have learned a lot over the past several months about myself as a person. I am committed to continuing on this path of being the type of person my family raised me to be, and exceeding what is expected of me as the quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers.”
For more news from today, see the post below.
Whitfield on Ben: “He’ll be ready”
From an article in the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review this morning written by Scott Brown:
George Whitfield Jr. is well aware of the pressure that comes with his latest endeavor. But Whitfield looks at working with Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger as the professional opportunity of a lifetime.
“I cannot wait for this four-week run to see how sharp I can get him by the time week five rolls around,” Whitfield said Wednesday. “He’ll be ready.”
Whitfield, 32, trains quarterbacks for a living — he is the owner of Whitfield Athletix in San Diego — and he first worked with Roethlisberger right after the 2009 season in Southern California.
Of their first day together, Whitfield recalled: “I don’t know how many guys like to throw in the rain, but he did it in a steady, driving rain for two hours. To him, it was much more than just going through drills. He wanted to know: ‘What did you notice here? What do you have in mind for this drill?’ I learned how dedicated this guy is.”
“We did talk to (Roethlisberger) about being out in Southern California, but he said right away: ‘I don’t want to go anywhere. I want to be right here in the city of Pittsburgh, near my teammates,’ ” Whitfield said.
You can read the entire article/interview with Mr. Whitfield here.
New Fan Story…
Rich Huttenhower and his 6-year old son Teddy attended the Steelers pre-season game in Denver last Sunday and sent their story today:
We were just at the Steelers-Broncos game in Denver and we’d like to thank Ben for tossing his shoe to us. It’s the first time I ever sat in the front row and I apprehensively bought the tickets a week before, wondering what I was doing spending so much money on a pre-season game…. Now, I know why.
This was my son’s first ever football game and I can’t tell you how exited he is to have one of Ben’s shoes (see photo above showing his fellow 1st and 2nd graders).
If we hadn’t left our seats at halftime, I’m sure Ben would have signed the shoe like he did for the kid and dad sitting next to us…
Oh well. As I told my son, only 2 in 66,000 people at the game got one of Ben’s shoes.
I don’t know what is next for my son. At 6-months old, Jackson Browne picked him up at a concert and now at 6-years old, Ben gave him a shoe!
Thank you again Ben, from the bottom of our hearts!
Have a great season; Super Bowl #3 is coming soon! I’ve been a fan for a long time and I’m convinced Ben will be the first quarterback to win five Super Bowls.
Go Steelers, Go Ben!
Rich (father) and Teddy (son) Huttenhower
P.S. Tell Ben that I’m also a Miami grad (1982) and I’m a pretty old dad (51 and my son is 6), so he’s got plenty of time. We went to the same school together at different times.
You can see a larger version of Teddy with his new shoe, and one of father and son at the game here.
*Thank you so much to both Rich and Teddy!
Also Today:
Friday meeting set…
The Pittsburgh Steelers confirmed today that Ben will meet with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell this Friday, September 3rd.
You […]
After the game…
“I was shocked. It was the end of the quarter and he said I was done. I still wanted to go in, but he wasn’t going to have it.” — Ben, on Coach Tomlin’s decision to take him out of last night’s game at the start of the second quarter.
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
Ben drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos. Photo: Getty ImagesHe was booed loudly when the Steelers’ offense took the field for the first time.
He responded by completing his first pass on the first play of scrimmage, 47 yards to Mike Wallace and finished after 11 snaps with 4 completions in 6 attempts for 67 yards.
His first series ended in a 33-yard field goal by Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger also guided the first-team offense to three points during 20 snaps against the Giants.
“I thought he was sharp,” Tomlin said. “He moved the ball and did some nice things.”
You can read the rest here.
From Arnie Stapleton, Associated Press:
Roethlisberger was yanked in the middle of Pittsburgh’s second series after the Steelers had gained 97 yards on 11 plays.
Tomlin had some evaluation to do.
Dennis Dixon has started only one NFL game, and he is expected to be Byron Leftwich’s backup when the season starts and Roethlisberger’s suspension begins. So, he got his first significant playing time with the starters.
Dixon finished 9 of 16 for 94 yards, two interceptions and a pair of sacks by Robert Ayers.
You can read the rest here.
Also from last night:
According to FOX Sports just prior to the game, Ben will learn sometime after the final exhibition game Thursday if his six-game suspension will be reduced to four games.
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that commissioner Roger Goodell will meet with Ben “soon”, but declined to say when or where.
“I hope it’s a good meeting,” Roethlisberger said. “Right now it’s been all about football for me. I haven’t had time to think too much about it because I’m not really sure even when it’s going to be.
“I would just assume that I’ll sit and talk to him. We’ll have good communication and talk and find out things he has to say,” Roethlisberger said. “I’m sure he’ll want to hear what I […]
Ben to start Sunday against Broncos
From Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
It looks as though Roethlisberger might make his second start of the preseason at quarterback and Dennis Dixon will get his first chance to run the first team after him.
Normally, Roethlisberger starting a third preseason game would be no revelation, but he cannot start in the regular season until at least the fifth game Oct. 17 and the Steelers are trying to prepare Byron Leftwich and Dixon to play in his absence.
“I like playing football, it’s what I love to do, so, if I can get out there, I’ll enjoy it,” said Roethlisberger, who started Saturday night against the New York Giants and played 30 snaps.
You can read the rest of Mr. Bouchette’s column here.
Note: Sunday’s game is on FOX at 8:00 p.m.
And if you missed Wednesday’s links:
— Ben spoke with the media after practice on Wednesday, you can watch the video here.
— Steelers.com has added some new photo galleries from both pre-season games here.
— I have added a few more photos from both pre-season games here.