Ben talks Vikings & more…
From Teresa Varley at Steelers.com this afternoon:
Last week the Steelers faced a Cleveland Browns defense that came out strong, ready to show the improvements they have made.
“That is a really good defense,” said Ben Roethlisberger. “That team is going to surprise a lot of people. I am glad we played them game one.”
This week, Roethlisberger knows it won’t get any easier when they play the Minnesota Vikings, who are coming off a 29-19 win over the New Orleans Saints, keeping them out of the end zone until the final two minutes of the game.
“We know going in how good their defense is,” said Roethlisberger. “If you slow down that offense that they did, it’s pretty impressive.”
Roethlisberger said the Vikings defense has similarities to the Cincinnati Bengals from the past, and that comes as no surprise. Vikings Coach Mike Zimmer served as the Bengals defensive coordinator from 2008-13, and Zimmer’s defenses were tough in Cincinnati, and that hasn’t changed in Minnesota. Last year the Vikings had the third-ranked defense in the NFL, and they are looking equally impressive.
“They have a lot of similarities (to the Bengals),” said Roethlisberger. “They do the same sort of fronts and coverages. That’s what we talked about this morning. When you think of these guys, think of Cincinnati.
“They have some personnel guys they move around. They don’t do as much double barrel. It’s early in the year so we are not exactly sure what we are going to see.”
While Roethlisberger isn’t sure what he is going to see from the Vikings, what he hopes to see in the Steelers’ home opener at Heinz Field is the type of crowd he has seen take over games and have an impact on the outcome.
“I expect it, and hope it will be loud, crazy,” said Roethlisberger. “We need to bring back that home field, Heinz Field kind of mystic. It was always that way when I first got here, the first few years. I am not saying we lost it.
“Teams need to fear coming into Heinz Field, one because of the fans and the craziness, and two because of our play.”
You can read more & check out the video of his interview here.
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