Interesting reading…
From the Toronto Sun’s Mike Zeisburger, “Big Ben is pure Pittsburgh“:
Manning and Brady are rhythm pocket passers who own quick releases. They shuffle rather than scramble and usually go down when you hit them. Hit Roethlisberger, on the other hand, and you are likely to bounce off him in the same way bullets harmlessly deflect off Superman. Rather than set and throw, Roethlisberger uses his size to his advantage, shedding potential tacklers like irritating bugs and extending plays as if they were drawn up in the schoolyard dirt, not on a classroom chalkboard.
From ESPN’s James Walker, “Ben Roethlisberger is NFL’s most clutch QB“:
There is no better quarterback on the big stage than Roethlisberger, who has a 9-2 career playoff record and is competing in his fourth AFC Championship Game in seven seasons Sunday. Manning has a sub-.500 record (9-10) in the playoffs, so he’s out. Tom Brady has a good playoff record (14-5), but he has lost three postseason games in a row.
From the New York Times’ Judy Battista, “Ben Roethlisberger and the art of the pump fake“:
In his seven seasons, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has elevated it to an art form, winding up, pretending to throw, pulling his arm back and reloading so often that it looks as if someone is hitting the fast forward and rewind buttons while watching game tape. Roethlisberger uses the pump fake more than any other current quarterback except perhaps Peyton Manning.
From NFL.com’s Albert Breer, “Big Ben, other title game QBs had shot to grow into roles“:
Dan Rooney wrote in his 2007 autobiography that the memory of passing on Dan Marino in 1983, the quarterback who grew up down the street and starred collegiately across town, stuck with him for two decades. And it was that memory that motivated him to push his football people to draft Ben Roethlisberger in 2004, even as some of them leaned toward selecting Arkansas tackle Shawn Andrews.
On draft day, Rooney recounted, “I couldn’t bear the thought of passing on another great quarterback prospect the way we passed on Dan Marino in 1983, so I steered conversation to Roethlisberger.”
From Steelers.com’s Teresa Varley, “Players message to fans“:
“Lots of noise, lots of excitement,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “We want energy, which they always bring, but take it to the next level. Mark Sanchez uses a cadence […]
Messages from fans….
Accompanied by some great photos from the 2010 season!
Ben, good luck in the game this weekend. We know you will do Great!
Here is a picture of my husband Bill Ellis, Colonel USAF. He is currently serving in Qatar and moving to Afghanistan on Monday. I wanted to send you this photo in a way to tribute him too. He works so hard and has been a loyal Steelers’ fan since he was 7 years old. We all appreciate you and the Team! Thanks so much. God’s speed with your game against the Jets. You will win! — Susan, Shannon, Connor and Colleen Ellis (the photo of Colonel Ellis was taken on the roof of Saddam Hussain’s palace in Baghdad).
Best of luck on your game Go Steelers — Earl Wilkinson
Go Steelers!! Knocking on 7’s door!! — Karen, PA
I love to watch Big Ben and the whole team play whether its on a big screen or at game. Ben keeps me on the edge every step of the way! I wish the best of luck to the whole team by winning SuperBowl XLV! You guys have awesome team work! Lets see it to the fullest against the Jets! Go Steelers! — Natalie, Atlanta, GA
Best of luck this week to Ben and the Steelers. Let’s bring home ring number 7 for ole number 7. — Rich P., Memphis, TN
Just sending a shout out to Ben from Wintersville, OH only about 25 minutes from the Burgh!! You have overcome so much….YOU deserve this! We believe in #7 to take us to 7th Heaven!!!!! Luv ya big guy! — Kelly and Karli, Wintersville, OH
Best of luck guys. I have been a huge Steelers fan since age 9. I am now 47. You guys make us proud to be fans. Lets get #7. — Phil Payne, Hiddenite, NC
Hi! Just wanted to say good luck, and I hope we watch you guys in the Super Bowl again. There are a lot of Steeler fans here […]
Ben’s press conference
Some of the highlights:
On having Heath Miller in the line-up –
“It’s huge. Heath Miller is one of the best tight ends in the game. I don’t want to take anything away from DJ or Matt Spaeth who played well last time, but Heath Miller is a special player, even when he is not getting the ball, he opens up things for the guys on the outside and he’s a great safety valve for me.”
On how different the New York Jets defense looks week to week –
“There is a lot of confusion. That’s probably one of the things that they pride themselves on. It starts with Coach Ryan. I mean, he is a mastermind at what he does. That’s why it’s extra study, it’s extra walk-throughs, it’s as much as you can do. The Jets defense beat the best two quarterbacks in the game, at their place. I don’t know how I’m going to do it, they’re good!”
On whether he believes his ability to move out of the pocket gives him an edge –
“I guess. But those two are also the best IN the pocket at doing what they do. And like I said, to go into their place and beat them at home is something really special.”
On New York Jets’ cornerback Antonio Cromartie’s comment that he loves him –
“I love him too! (laughter from the media). I have a lot of respect for those guys on defense, every single one of them because they are so good, they really are! All I have to say is they went into Indy and New England and beat the best two quarterbacks in the game, enough said in my opinion.”
On New York Jets’ quarterback Mark Sanchez –
“He makes the plays. People get on him a lot, you know it’s, ‘run the plays and manage the game, Mark!’, well no! To be a quarterback at this level and do what he has done you don’t just ‘manage the game’! You play the game and you do it at a high level, and that’s what he’s done! I think every week you see him take strides and get that much better.”
On whether there is frustration at not being put in the same “class” as both Peyton Manning and […]
What they’re saying…
“When I was in Baltimore my first year and Bart [Scott] kind of decapitated him, Ben came back into the game, and you know what he did? He said, ‘Great hit, Bart.’ He’s taken beatings, and he gets up. Time after time after time.” — Trevor Pryce, from the ESPN article/interview below.
Check these out:
From ESPN – Johnette Howard’s article/interview, “Big Ben poses big problems for Jets’ D” here.
Also from ESPN – John Clayton’s column, “Jets’ next challenge” here.
From Steelers.com – Game Day Exclusive – AFC Divisonal Round video here (Actually, this is a “must see”!)
From News Day – Arthur Staple’s article, “Next up for Jets: Big Ben” here.
From FOX Sports – Len Pasquarelli’s, “Roethlisberger on pace for Canton” here.
Also:
Thank you to all the fans that have already sent support emails for Ben and the team! If you haven’t sent one yet, there is still time! Just contact me here. They will be posted later this week!
Fear the Beard!
You can still get in on the “Fear the Beard” photo contest at Brett-Keisel.com! The winner will receive an autographed photo of #99!
Tomorrow:
Wednesday at 12:15 p.m., Steelers.com will have a LIVE Stream of a press conference with Ben, James Farrior, Hines Ward and Coach Tomlin!
*Thanks Trish!
It’s Jets vs Steelers…
And the talk has already begun….but it’s all good!
Updated Today:
“He’s a quarterback, who I think, is by far one of the best players in this league. That’s a lot of ‘tough sledding’ to overcome. He’s tough, he’s loose, he’s a great football player…but I think he embodies the temperament of a winner. Rex has the utmost respect for him. He’s told us that many times, and the other way around, the same thing.
“Tom Brady is not going to move. Tom Brady is looking to be hit. Ben wants to be hit. He has a much different mentality. He brings a tough-guy mentality to the game.” — Jets defensive end Trevor Pryce, from Jets.com today (click on the link to see the video).
“How do you prepare to tackle a guy as big as a polar bear? How do you prepare for a guy who can flick a ball 50 yards at the drop of a dime? How do you prepare for a guy that can run like he does? How do you prepare for a guy that wants to win like he wants to win?
“I don’t think anything really works with that guy, because he makes it up as he goes along. He’s as big as all of us and he’s impossible to tackle. He will not go down. If you go in there and do the same thing, he’ll kill you.” — Trevor Pryce, talking about Ben again on ESPN later this afternoon.
“I’ve never seen a guy take the hits he can take and also make people miss the way he does and be as accurate on the run. ” — Jets Coach Rex Ryan, from a Q&A with the media.
“He’s a great guy. He’s a tough guy … I love him, man. Ben’s a competitor, man.” — Jets cornerback Antonio Cromartie, during post-game comments last night.
“I give Ben Roethlisberger a lot of credit, he’s man enough to stay in the pocket, look in the barrel of the gun and take the hit. Most quarterbacks don’t like getting hit. When they get hit, they turn into a totally different person.” — Jets linebacker […]
Sunday: Notes & Quotes
” I told Bruce Arians, ‘Let’s send him.’ All the receivers were supposed to do 15-yard stop routes. I said, ‘Let’s just chuck it deep. If they pick it, it’s a pick way down there, and it’s just as good as a punt. Ed Reed lined up to the left.” — Ben, on the “third-and-19 rainbow pass” to Antonio Brown, from Peter King’s column this morning at SI.com.
More from SI‘s Peter King:
There’s a reason why the Steelers have been so good for so long. The system gets the coaches the players, the players get coached, and the players fit into the roles the old Steelers like Jack Lambert and Terry Bradshaw and Mike Webster defined; and before you know it, James Harrison (three sacks against Baltimore), Roethlisberger (two touchdowns, 101.8 rating, seventh straight win over the hated Ravens) and Maurkice Pouncey (a brute force in the middle of the line, though a rookie) take their place, and play big in big games the way their predecessors did.
You can read all of Mr. King’s column here.
“It’s Ben. You give this guy an opportunity to snap it; he’s capable of producing plays. It’s not always how you draw it up, but he has a no-blink mentality. He is a competitor and a winner. And those guys follow him.” — Coach Tomlin, post-game.
From ESPN’s James Walker, in his AFC North Blog:
There is not much that separates the Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens. Both teams have elite defenses, Pro Bowl players, future Hall of Famers and two of the best coaching staffs in the NFL.
But on Pittsburgh’s sideline you have quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. And on Baltimore’s sideline you have Joe Flacco.
Game, set and match in favor of the Steelers.
The game marked Roethlisberger’s seventh consecutive win over Baltimore — Pittsburgh’s biggest rival — and improved his career record to 9-2 against the Ravens. It’s painfully obvious that the Ravens will not climb “Mt. Roethlisberger” until Flacco closes ground on Pittsburgh’s two-time Super Bowl winning quarterback.
You can read the rest of Mr. Walker’s […]