I'm getting a little tired of hearing the phrase "typical rookie" thrown around recently pertaining to Big Ben. The guy hasn't been a superstar over the last few weeks, but let's break it down and see what the problem is... - The offensive line has not been playing as well in pass protection. Case in point, All-pro Alan Faneca gave up two sacks in the Cincinnati game. When your all pro is letting guys by, your QB is going to be in trouble. Just ask David Carr after playing the Colts a few weeks back. - Burress hasn't played in 3 weeks. Without Burress to stretch the field and relieve pressure from double coverage on Hines Ward, the passing offense is below average. I don't care who's throwing the ball. - The Steeler Defense has been spectacular. How does that pertain to Ben's "struggles". Well look at it like this. Why take chances? Why should Ben try to throw the ball 40 times a game when they can control the clock by running and play good defense and field position? - One last point in Ben's defense. He's not throwing picks. Rookie QB's that get rattled force the ball down the field when they're getting pressured. No one likes to take a sack, but there's nothing more disheartening than turning the ball over. Give Ben a break. He is a rookie, but not a "typical" one by any means.
He struggled a bit in the last couple weeks. The reason most people think he is struggling is because the media built him up a lot, based on W/L, but now people are looking at the #'s which arent great. What people dont realize si even when he was playing 'great' he only broke 200 yards once. He is probably the QB in the league that is the least responsible for his teams success. He could play bad and they would lose, but he has yet to put together a single great game
Well the real question is, "Can he?" He hasn't been asked to win one of the games yet. I don't know if you've watched him play BF1, but I'll tell you this. When they let the reigns go, watch out. This guy has a cannon but knows when to throw with touch. He can move around in the pocket and is fearless. Not to mention, he's a very smart guy... If you ask me... yes, he can.
His high INT % worries me. He still makes rookie mistakes, fumbles the ball too much, and isnt consistent. Having said all that, yes he will be very good. He still needs 3 or 4 years before he will be there
He's far from being a "typical" rookie. I can understand criticisms along the lines of "that's a typical rookie mistake," but I can't see the overall label of "typical rookie" applied to Big Ben. After all, "typical rookies" don't start off 10-0 as a starter. Ever.
Stats: 98.4 Passer Rating. 12 TD's to 6 INT's 66.5 Completion % 9 wins as a starter 2 fumbles lost in 9 games. 96 yards rushing - 1 Rushing TD Pretty Typical.... if your a 10 year VETERAN
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Steelerfan_2004)</div><div class='quotemain'>Stats: 98.4 Passer Rating. 12 TD's to 6 INT's 66.5 Completion % 9 wins as a starter 2 fumbles lost in 9 games. 96 yards rushing - 1 Rushing TD Pretty Typical.... if your a 10 year VETERAN</div> Excellent job of casting him in best possible light. Some 'other' stats. 1719 yards. Ranks 24th 171.9 YPG Ranks 24th Int % - 2.8% Ranks 21st Those arent exactly the numbers of a 10th year veteran, unless of course he is the backup to the starter. His INT# looks low cuz he only passes 20 times a game. He passes in good situations set up by the run, there is no other team as commited to the run as the steelers. His only job is to make safe throws. He is not in the top half of the league yet.
Completion % is based on completions to attempts. It doesn't matter that he doesn't attmept as many passes. It's the system. Which goes back to the whole Peyton Manning arguement. Why change it if it's not broken? Here's the breakdown of the INT's because I'm sure you haven't seen all 10 of Ben's games. 2 came in Week 2 vs. the Ravens when he came in off the bench. His first playing time against the stingiest defense in the league. He still threw 2 TD's in that game. 1st pick was off Burress' hands, slightly overthrown. 2nd pick was a timing throw. Receiver ran inside, the ball was thrown outside. 3rd pick came in Miami game. Ben's fault. Trying to get the ball out and didn't throw it far enough and it was picked on the sideline. 4th pick was against Cleveland. Randel El let it go through his hands and on the deflection, the DB picked it off an returned it for a TD. 5th pick was against Philly. Totally Ben's fault as he was being rush and forced a pass instead of being sacked 6th pick was against Cleveland. Ward has the DB beat, it was a perfect pass and Ward fell down over his own feet. Only about 4 INT's as a starter and only 2 of those were "bad decisions". Watch him play sometime. He might surprise you. Throw the stats out. I bet you'd be amazed.
well, ill bet ya that w/o him, the steeles would be 5-6. not 10-1. he is the main reason for tehir success i would bet.
He's good, but he's hyped up a bit. I mean he's got Burress and Ward, and an amazing running game. I'd have to agree with BF about his INT's and inconsistency though, I'm just not sold on the guy yet. He's also a good guy, which is tough to find for a guy getting as much media attention as he does. Plus his team loves him, so good luck to him. I'm just not worried about him making the big play if I was an opponents D-Coordinator. He doesn't make mistakes, but to be a great QB you have to make the big plays. When I watch him, I see him throw the ball to someone running a 10 yard curl but I see Burress being chased down deep by a safety 4 yards behind him. Only a few, but I have seen it. He'll be good, just give it time
exactly hes doing great this year, leading the Steelers to a 10-1 record so far. I mean does it really matter about the stats it matters about wins. Big Ben has been doing great and everyone gets those rookie struggles but hes gonna be one of the best in the league in a few years. WHO CALLED IT?? Big Ben will be better than Rivers and Eli!!
There is no doubt that Ben is going to be a mainstay as an NFL QB. I do think that he is getting a lot of credit for the wins right now, but as a rookie, it may not be undeserved. Rookie QB's are asked to do 1 thing: don't lose the game with stupid mistakes. He has done more than that. Give the Steelers organization a lot of credit for putting Ben in a place where he can really grow as a QB. I think in two or three years he is going to be unbelievable. I just have trouble believing that any person can come in their rookie year and be a really solid QB. It takes a few years to really learn the game.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BJames1156)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think Big Ben is just a "1 hit wonder" just like Maddox was.</div> don't hate. i mean why everyone tryna put him down. i mean he won 10 out of all 10 games he played in. no other rookie Qb has ever done that EVER. so what does that tell you? i mean come on. he is GOOOOOOOD. and i think every year he will get better. he is definatly not no one hit wonder.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (PGHSteeler)</div><div class='quotemain'> i mean he won 10 out of all 10 games he played in.</div> The team won 10 of the 10 games hes played in....to say he won them is disrepectful to all the players that give so much of themselves to make him successful....Hes been impressive....but not nearly as impressive as the media makes him out to be....a lot of QBs would be 10 for 10 on that team....
Roethlisberger is going to be a good QB. He does show uncommonly good decision making skills for a rookie. In my mind, he's clearly the rookie of the year going away. However, his 10-0 record is as much the product of playing on an excellent team as it is to his exceptional play. I hope Ben doesn't buy into all the hype and continues to keep his head on straight and work hard. I remember a time when the hype machine was making a superstar out of Kordell Stewart. There were several commercials starring Kordell doing such things as throwing footballs out of the stadium and throwing newspapers through people's doors. (I thought, at the time, that the Steelers should have signed Kordell's stunt double as it was obvious that he didn't make those throws.) Ben will be fine and I wouldn't worry about any labels the media sticks on him.
