From an interview with Coach T by Bob Labriola, Steelers.com:

081316Q: During a backs-on-backers drill on the first day in pads, Ben Roethlisberger stepped into the square and served as the imaginary quarterback/target instead of a ball-boy. You were standing right there watching. What did you think of that?

Coach Tomlin: Sometimes I play chicken with Ben. I think he wanted me to take him out of the drill, and I didn’t want to give him what he wanted. (Laughs)


Q: What’s to be gained from that, though, from having Ben participate in backs-on-backers?

Coach Tomlin: Ben’s presence adds credibility to whatever drill is going on. Often, he doesn’t get a chance to participate in backs-on-backers because he’s throwing the ball in some other drill taking place at the same time. More than anything, he was really excited about having the opportunity to see the drill. He hasn’t seen the drill in person a lot since he’s been with us. That was an element of it, but also I think he likes to be able to feel the pocket. Ben is a guy who has built his reputation on standing in and sliding in the pocket and extending plays, and he saw it as an opportunity to work on those skills some. Make no mistake: everybody in the drill knew he was in the drill, and they behaved accordingly.


You can read the full interview here.