The NFL Is A Really Fast, Violent Game: Should It Then Be Such A Surprise Ben Roethlisberger Is Slumping?
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 2:42 PM EST
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PrintI'm going to try to make one final case as to why things might still be ok for this offense moving forward. Don't get me wrong, the writing's on the wall for this team, even if it were able to slide in the backdoor for a playoff berth. And by that I mean that it's getting clear that we'd need an unexpected string of great performances, something we haven't seen in over three years since winning our 5th Lombardi Trophy in 2005. But it's my last effort to try to explain why things aren't as simple as 'Ben sucks' or 'Ben's great.'
Ok, I'm assuming many of you have played sports somewhat competitively at some point in your life. You know there's a difference between game speed and just playing around with your pals speed, even at the most amateur of levels. If you played football, you know quick things seem to materialize around you.
Think back to any interview with a rookie NFL player when they are asked what's the biggest difference between the college and professional games? Answer? EVERY TIME! The Speed Of The Game. No? Have you ever heard ANY other answer to that question. Didn't think so.
So now, even though its nearly impossible to fathom, try to think just how fast the NFL game is. 50 yard pass plays take roughly 5 seconds tops to materialize. Quicker hitting pass plays and runs..boom, over in a blink of the eye. End arounds in the NFL? Don't usually work because LBs and even DEs are too fast. Reggie Bush? Largely negated in the NFL. LBs are too fast on the perimeter and too sure a tacklers. Pass rushers like LaMarr Woodley and James Harrison? Up in your grill in literally the blink of an eye. The speed of the game is incomprehensibly impressive for guys this big and strong.
So what's my point?
Very simple. It doesn't take much to disrupt the continuity of an entire offense when things are happening that quickly. If your QB has even an inkling of hesitation or self-doubt, turn out the lights. If your QB is just a smidge unconfident in his progressions, all that work in the offseason to develop impeccable timing between QB and WR is out the window.
Jeez Ben! Stay perfect year in and year out while guys like Silverback try to claim the bounty placed on your head!
And to make matters even more tricky, QBs must have tremendous feel for what's going on around them. There's no time to look around and visually assess what's happening. It has to be instinctual. It's this part of quarterbacking where the greats are able to separate themselves from the just so-so QBs who can make throws with no pass rush barelling down on them.
Look, we're out of sync. But seriously. I'm not trying to oversimplify things when I just say take a deep breath, close your eyes, and truly try to imagine what it would be like to play at that speed. It's doable. QBs do it all the time. But just like hitters in baseball, or shooters in hoops, QBs too can go into slumps. It doesn't take much to make even the best hitters look god awful for a week at a time even. Same with QBs. The whole deck of cards can collapse very easily when things are off by even just this much.
It's for this reason that I'm not giving up hope on this offense yet. Ben does have the natural feel necessary to be a great QB in this league. When he's on, he's better than almost anybody not named Peyton. Unfortunately, Ben finds himself in a mental rut, not to mention he's banged up which likely is adding to the mental issues. But it can, and it likely will get corrected.
Will it stay corrected over the course of the season? Who knows. Doubtful, beceause it all starts up front with the OLine. They hold the keys to just how much the game is able to 'slow down' for the QB. But I would bet every last red cent I own that Ben finds his comfort zone and acclimates himself to the insanely impressive speed of the game in the National Football League. Be patient for now, and try to remember just how easy it is to go in a slump when things are happening at such a breakneck pace.
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WCO Anyone?
The WCO, as I understand, was developed to counter one team’s lack of bigger more talented players. The WCO supposedly takes advantage of the aggressive play of the bigger more aggressive players, by relying on precision and quick dumps into space vacated by the aggressor (it is sort of a system wide philosophy encapsulated in a well executed screen). The ultimate practitioner of the WCO is Mike Holmgren with his precision “drill team” approach to offense. The WCO approach is very susceptible to unexpected variable, like injuries to key players, which play havoc with the necessary precision.
In contrast to this approach, is the interior “war of wills” in which each player must ultimately force his primary opponent to say uncle (some might say that was Cowher’s channeling Marty’s approach – of course, that might be overly charitable) or the “win by attrition” approach (sort of suggested by Tomlin). The latter philosophy is supposed to ultimately turn the tide in the second half or at the latest in the fourth quarter. Now this approach is somewhat more amenable to “plug and play” players as they must be of the right temperament regarding winning the personal wars and the lack of precision is an acceptable casualty. This approach falls back on the mantra channeling Brown (the coach not the player) “in the end it’s just football”.
We seem to be stuck in some nether land between these warring identities. In fact, it seems that Arians and Tomlin are in the process of figuring out what is the appropriate identity of this offense. This search is compounded as injuries to various players necessitate different approaches due to the skills and abilities of the remaining player pool.
i agree
I still think we should bench him until he is 100% healthy (which isn’t really benching him if you think about it) but he is a good QB who is in a slump right now. He’ll climb out of it but a bum shoulder isn’t going to help.
Its true, it is a violent sport. This is why Goodell is going perhaps too far in protecting the QB……..all of them except Ben. Everytime I read something about it being a violent sport I am reminded of Goodell’s crackdown on late hits and such. And that makes me furious because Ben has yet to get one this season (even though he has been hit late many times as well as being hit on the helmet). This may not have much to do with the discussion but I just thought of it again and it makes me furious.
benching him may be the right move
As for the vioilence, was trying to hone in more on the speed than the violence aspect. The violence is scary but theyre grown men. They can handle that. But theres nothing you can to do mitigate speed disrupting getting oneself comfortable again.
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 3:43 PM EST up reply actions
If we bench him and go 0-3 bet everyone is singing a different tune. Supposedly he won’t be healthy until the season ends, so are you willing to bench him for the rest of the season?
I was saying benching him for maybe a game
I don’t think it would hurt. I wouldn’t be saying this if we didn’t have a capable back-up but we do. Over the past few years the Steelers have been blessed with capable back ups (Batch and now Byron) so whats the point in having them if we don’t use them when our starter is injured? Ben’s a great QB but his strengths (his abilities to avoid tackles and such) are negated by a weak shoulder. Arians loves to throw it deep but with a QB who has a weak shoulder you can’t really launch it down field. I just think throwing Byron in there for one game isn’t such a bad idea. If Ben is healthy enough to play in a game (all though not that well) than you would think having a game off would put him close to 100%.
And Blitz, I wasn’t really commenting on use of the words “violent” or “fast” but rather simply how the word violent reminded me of Ben’s lack of roughing the passer calls. Like I said, I was pretty “off discussion” there.
Ben
I haven’t been up to reading all of the doom and gloom after Sunday’s game yet, so I may be repeating some things here. But, I don’t think Ben had a bad game. He had a horrible decision at the end of the first half, and then he had a receiver not really fight for the ball for him in the half. It looked like Holmes cut his route short when Ben expected him to keep heading the middle of the field. Regardless, he sure as hell didn’t put in much effort to keep from giving up the INT on that throw. Contrast that with Dallas Clark fighting Troy for what would have been a sure INT (possibly for a TD). But, this was very tight game, with a couple fluky plays going their way. That’s about all I can think of right now without going into a rant about how we need to run more. Take out those two picks, and we probably win by 10.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Nov 11, 2008 3:45 PM EST reply actions
Doom and gloom
I was referring more to what I expected I would have read. I took yesterday off from the site (sorry Blitz), because I expected everyone to be pissed after the game. I know I was. Still, we were a couple of plays from winning. Hell, if Dallas Baker had went up for the ball on that last play, he probably had a great shot to take the ball from the defender who had to stretch way out to get it. That would have been the ultimate miracle finish. But, I’ll give Baker more leeway than Holmes. Holmes is a starter and expected to deliver. Baker should have never been in there with the game on the line.
by WolfpackSteelersFan on Nov 11, 2008 5:20 PM EST up reply actions
how dare you WF!
pfft..thats like 50 of the last 1000 days you’ve ignored me. Kids? Job? Whatever.
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 9:01 PM EST up reply actions
How did the 1976 Steelers look in the AFCCG when...
Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier (and Reggie Harrison) were hurt and couldn’t play against the Raiders? And that team was coming off two Super Bowls, had the best defense in the league and a good offensive line. Bradshaw didn’t play very well that day.
This year Ben has been without Parker and Mendenhall for the most part, and the offensive line is chopped liver. And Ben is not 100%.
And we wonder why Ben is slumping? It’s not rocket science.
If Parker and/or Mendenhall are healthy next year and the offensive line is improved to where it’s league average, watch out. Ben will be Ben again.
Until then, expect to see more of the same uneven play, especially against good teams. People probably don’t want to read that, but that’s reality.
I like the team's chances
More now than before the season started
The offensive line has exceeded my expectations and mewelde moore has been a great pickup. The defense is even better than last year. The offense has shown it can be one of the best in the league at times.
And maybe most important of all, the teams that were supposed to be competitive, haven’t been.
The Browns- I don’t consider legitimate playoff material
The Pats- The defense is weak, the running game is suspect and they don’t have Brady, even if their schedule will carry them to the playoffs
The Jags- A personal demon, vanquished and with some serious question marks
The Colts- Their offense isn’t good enough any more to cover for their defense. Their homefield advantage is weak and they will most likely play as wildcards if they make it.
The Broncos- Don’t have the defense to be competitive, don’t have a running back
The Chargers- Simply are not winning football games, Steelers are the better team a win next week completely rights the ship (for either team, though, while the loser is going to feel very down even if still in the running to win the division)
Jets- Can’t beat a playoff-caliber team
The Titans- 1 scary team when years past the Jags/Pats/Chargers/Colts all looked scary
What about the Ravens
I know they haven’t played their NFC East schedule yet, but we barely beat them at Heinz Field. We still have to go to Baltimore and play them. Not only that, but they’re playing better now then they were then. Worst of all, they are pretty healthy (secondary aside). This team is the only thing standing between us and at least one home playoff game. As of now, they worry me. If they lose these next two to the NFC East, I’ll sleep a lot better at night.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Nov 11, 2008 4:51 PM EST up reply actions
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: The game in baltimore is a must-win, no matter what the standings are at that point. The ravens are a team we need to beat, because if we can’t at least handle them we don’t stand a chance against the titans in the AFC championship.
I hate the Ravens
but yes, they look better than I expected, that loss against the Titans was possibly their strongest performance of the season, if they beat or get beatdown by the giants, that bellweathers their season.
Sorry, Ben Sucks!
Why does it seem that so many people defend Ben? You are all free to say whatever, but he is a freakin pro athlete, not a freshman in high school. If the guy sucks people should say it. He is dumb as a stump, I mean the guy only throws to the wideout that the coaches tell him to. He makes very little good decisions for himself. He is a broadway actor out there. I know the guy got hit alot, but I for one am sick of hearing about all the pansy injuries. I have no respect for the guy as a person, he lies in interviews and he blames every reciever for his mistakes. He doesn’t deserve all this cash. An overpaid asshole. I can say what I want about him and so can you guys but, I just wanted to get this out of my head.
Let the bashing begin……..
Wow - how enlightening
You know he only throws to the receiver told to how exactly? Did he suck last year when he was ranked with the top QB’s playing at their prime (wasn’t Brady the only one with a higher QB rating for 07?)
You know he is dumb as a stump how exactly or makes very little good decisions on his own? was he dumb when he threw that ridiculous pass to Hines in the Jax game? or the laser to Hines on 3rd down @ deadskins? or the scramble to win the Browns game last year? Or the crazy game he had against the Broncos in the AFC Champ Game in 05?
When did he blame the receiver for his every mistake? Gonna need a link or refernce of some sort for that.
Sorry, but I’m going to trust the Steelers Front Office over your opinion on whether or not he deserves the money or not.
Has Ben been at the top of his game lately? No, not even close to it, IMO. But to say the things you are saying is imature and unproductive and I shouldn’t respond but feel compelled to do so. Maybe you are just a kid (12 or 13?) and this would explain quite a bit ……. oooorrrrr you are the dumb stump who is an under paid asshole.
Maybe that can be the next poll on the front page “Is steelcitykid dumb as a stump?”
Lighten up kid, Ben is struggling, no doubt about that, but he does NOT suck nor is any of that other stuff accurate (except for the money part – not sure anyone is worth that much cashola – especially to play a game).
You, however, are a freshman in high school.
Or perhaps a sophomore, which is why you use the word ‘freshman’ as an insult. I’ll address your specific concerns:
He is dumb as a stump, I mean the guy only throws to the wideout that the coaches tell him to.
That was his first two and a half years. Since then he’s progressed, at the same rate as all young quarterbacks, as far as recognizing where his checkdown receiver/back is located and gaining positive yards if the huge yardage isn’t there.
He makes very little good decisions for himself.
I believe you mean to say he makes very few good decisions, and the ‘for himself’ portion is redundant. I would also like to know what evidence you have of this, or are you speaking only with guesses?
He is a broadway actor out there. I know the guy got hit alot, but I for one am sick of hearing about all the pansy injuries.
I would challenge you to throw anything with a separated shoulder. Except for an Internet tantrum, you know how to throw those. I would also challenege you to take a single hit from a linebacker, get up, and throw another pass a few seconds later. He has also said, every single time he’s been asked, that the injury is not an excuse and that he’s not the only one who’s been banged up.
I have no respect for the guy as a person, he lies in interviews and he blames every reciever for his mistakes.
A semicolon will help you separate independent clauses with better clarity. All athletes and coaches lie in interviews; have you ever walked away from a press conference knowing anything? They don’t want you to know the truth, because next week’s opponent watches the same footage. I have never, ever heard him blame a receiver for anything, but please feel free to provide us with a link demonstrating your point.
He doesn’t deserve all this cash.
As has been said, nobody deserves $100 million. I mean, your mom probably works her ass off all day to provide you with a house and Internet service, just so you can go and bitch about others; she deserves $100 million much more than someone playing a game. Perhaps you could thank her for her sacrifice.
Perhaps you could thank the man with a separated shoulder who is out there every week to entertain you. If you’re not entertained, or just plain angry, feel free to change the channel over to something else. Nobody says you have to watch the game.
Do I think he should rest up for a game or two? I could be convinced either way, ultimately, depending on context and whatnot. But you’re just a spiteful, ungrateful kid. But I can rest easy knowing that if Ben gets on a winning streak you’ll be back on the bandwagon.
by Fahey on Nov 11, 2008 7:20 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
nice
Like ure style Fahey. Set that record straight.
Though, I’m now self conscious about my laissez faire approach to semi colons vs commas though :/
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 9:05 PM EST up reply actions
Thank You!
Like I said; let the bashing begin! There, I used a freakin semi colon. By the way asshole; thanks for talking about my mom like that, weather it’s meant sarcastically or not. I am sure Ben thanks you for your support. I wasn’t insulting freshman, just saying not to treat him like he is a young high school athlete. I am not jumping on any bandwagons and I am very grateful for what the Steelers have done (I mean Ben helped get them to the super bowl). But, it is not the past and what he did can’t just keep replaying in my mind. When you gus see something that the majority of people don’t agree on, you pounce on it and BASH the dude who wrote it (me in this case). I used to respect the opinions that you guys had, but when you get personal I just can’t respect any of you. Sorry about swearing fahey, I just don’t like the fact you insulted my mother
by steelcitykid on Nov 12, 2008 4:42 PM EST up reply actions
Used it ...
but you used it wrong—twice in the first line. Not sure Fahey insulted your mother.
by tenthmtnman on Nov 12, 2008 10:22 PM EST up reply actions
Kudos
Great to see someone on a blog/fansite who is familiar with the use of a semicolon. You, my friend, are much smarter than any stump I have ever known. The mustache salutes you.
by CarlWeathersMustache on Nov 11, 2008 8:29 PM EST reply actions
Back to the basics of being a Steeler "Fan"atic
I for one have been a little frustrated by the play calling of BA, but no more. It’s time to rededicate myself to the powers of positive thinking. Thanks for the reminder Blitz.
wasnt trying to be a kumbaya guy here
Just that shit, it’s not like getting things done even at the college level. NFL QB is the toughest position in sports. Everyone in acknowledges that. So much goes into it, people are trying to kill you every second, everything depends on having ure mind 100% right so that you can do all the things physically necessary to get thru the reads, not stare down your desired target and deliver the ball accurately and on time. Its just hard with dudes like LaMarr Woodley at 265 pounds running faster than the fastest track star from your high school days getting after you in less than five seconds time.
I just things can suddenly click for talented athletes like Ben. And because I think we all agree he’s still got plenty of room for development mentally, things can fall apart quickly for him to when things arent quite 100% in sync. Doesnt mean he’s doomed for his career though. Not at all.
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
wow what a shitty paragraph..
hope you got my gist.
Anyway, thanks steev for the words. Lots of football left, for better or worse.
I, for one, can’t wait for a home game against the Bengals. We will have a week of unity then at least :)
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
I think maybe Ben has spoiled us
Tommy Maddox, Kordell Stewart, Kent Graham, Jim Miller, Bubby Brister. Remember them? All were decent guys, good citiizens and serviceable QB’s but none have taken us to the promised land that Ben has.
Yes, Ben has his flaws, but not many have matched his record so early in their career. If he’s in a slump then so be it. If you’re going to ride with him during the “highs” then you gotta ride with him in the “lows”.
In case anyone has forgotten, there’s another HOF QB who has had his share of meltdowns. Brett Favre had a horrible game in last year’s NFC championship game and probably cost his team the win. And even though he’s got a reputation for being a bit of a gunslinger who occasionally shoots himself in the foot, most teams would want a warrior like him wearing their jersey. Ben is that kind of “special”. Stick with him, there’s still a lot of great football memories left to be made!
Only one slight disagreement Blitz…As a Southern California Steeler Fan, I can’t wait for the Bungles to unify our fans. We need to band together this week so I can make my coworker wear my #7 Steeler jersey to work next Monday. :-)
hehe
Man, I want a W this week so badly. I sense people think we are clearly superior to SD on paper. We’re not. Not at all. Going to be a tough game to win. More on SD coming, but as youll see theyre a bit deceiving with their record.
But worst case scenario is we have another 11 days of chaos before routing the Bengals :)
thxs steev
i think ur right about the spoiling part. blitz i know it was a differant post but if i happened to be one of the profanity users and not sure if i am or not but if i was i’m sorry. i also am not a english major so i don’t even know when to use a semicolon sry hope i don’t get banned from further posts lol. thxs blitz for a great site. actually think i got an f or 2 in english.
haha
no harm no foul man. if my mom ever read what i wrote during the game threads shed be pretty unimpressed.
not singling a soul out. Dont care about the past. Tabula Rasa – clean slate for all from here on out.
Sometimes i dont feel like punctuating either in comments – so i may be impressed by the occassional grammar lesson, i myself dont strive for it at all times. you have a partner in crime, no worries :)
thanks man for the feedback
by Michael Bean on Nov 11, 2008 10:53 PM EST up reply actions
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