The time to protect Ben is now here

by tdbragg66 on Jan 17, 2012 5:36 AM EST

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no better than an 8-8 football team at best without Ben Roethlisberger . With that being said , its time to ponder a couple things . One , Ben Roethlisberger turns 30 years old before the 2012 season begins . Bottom line , as much as we wish he was , Ben is not a kid anymore . While 30 is by no means over the hill , we need to remember Ben has taken a savage beating every season for the last few years and eventually it has to take its toll . The Steelers by whatever means necessary , need to upgrade their offensive line and do it quickly . While Pouncey and Marcus Gilbert are good additions , the job is not done . The days of Ramoan Foster and Chris Keomteau arent going to get it done anymore . Not if you want to keep your one hundred million dollar investment healthy and your team winning . Ben is the motor that drives this team and everything feeds off of him . If hes standing on the sideline hurt , your chances of winning are greatly reduced . The upcoming draft is important to this team , use it wisely .

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agree

TOTALLY 100% AGREE, THE OL needs upgraded esp OG spots!! Need a good LT (would Gilbert work), and need a stud LQ too. Center set. RG, is Foster the answer

Improving line has to be priority ONE by a long shot!!!

by stefan on Jan 17, 2012 7:41 AM EST reply actions

The upcoming draft is important to this team

Safe to say that every year. There’s a nice stock of OL in the upcoming draft, so hopefully we fare well in that department.

"I think the beard will decide when the time is right to come back. It will know when the time is right and all of a sudden appear." -The Deisel

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2012 8:09 AM EST reply actions

A nice stock of interior OL

just like we need

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by John Stephens on Jan 17, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

you envision

us trading up? I’m thinking not with the depth that’ll be there…

"I think the beard will decide when the time is right to come back. It will know when the time is right and all of a sudden appear." -The Deisel

by count'em_six on Jan 17, 2012 7:11 PM EST up reply actions

No, not unless something ridiculous happens.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Jan 18, 2012 8:47 AM EST up reply actions

Entirely true

Frankly, sometimes I think the FO is quite cavalier about the QB position of this team, with the investment, Ben’s playing style, BA’s predictability, and the poor backup situation (I like Charlie to step in once or twice, not for several games as he’s too easy to gameplan for). Ben might turn 30, but methinks he’s got the mileage of a 32-33 yr. old vet already. It would be such a shame to find ourselves successfully meeting the ageing challenge, only to be outdone by one stupid Kemo protection mistake or to get Ramon pushed back into Ben’s knee. You might even be too generous at 8-8: to me, losing Ben early makes this team 6-10 material, if the defense holds. There’s simply no way we could run, run, run against 8-men front.

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by Flying Polamalus on Jan 17, 2012 8:56 AM EST reply actions

Ben

While, I’m not opposed to upgrading the line at all, Ben is still going to get beat up. The problem with Ben is that if the line gives him 2 seconds, he’ll hold it 2 seconds unless it’s a bubble screen; but if the line gives him 8 seconds, he’ll hold it as long as he can. That being said, that’s what makes him so incredible. He’s still going to get hit, but upgrading the line will at least give him a chance to make more plays. It’s ok, the dude’s a warrior, and he would avoid getting hit if he didn’t think he could take it. Plus, I think getting better on the interior line may help the running game too, so again, something else to help Ben. I definitely think Ben being hurt definitely hurt in the last few games.

I hope they go:

1st – G
2nd – NT
3rd – FS
4th – G
5th – SS
6th – OT
7th – K
7th – QB

by twault on Jan 17, 2012 9:27 AM EST reply actions

You forgot about ILB which is a large need.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 17, 2012 10:03 AM EST up reply actions

True that.

Maybe 3rd, 4th, or 5th. DT and G are the most essential, but we do need some safeties for the future.

by twault on Jan 17, 2012 11:50 AM EST up reply actions

I agree with John

and I would put ILB ahead of NT.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 17, 2012 12:45 PM EST up reply actions

Not sure I concur...

1 – G
2- NT
3- T/G
4- FS
5-SS
6-ILB
7- QB
7- OL

If speed is an issue in the LB area then move Timmons to the outside (Woodley’s sacks went up after this) and move Harrison and Worlids to the inside. Foote and Farrior (if still here) play back up. We have too many young players draft that past 3 drafts for waste pick on the Secondary when the OL has no talented depth or athleticism out side Gilbert and Pouncey and Pouncey has had multiple anke issues

by rummy67 on Jan 17, 2012 4:00 PM EST up reply actions

If speed is an issue in the LB area then move Timmons to the outside (Woodley’s sacks went up after this) and move Harrison and Worlids to the inside

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 17, 2012 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Oops.

Meant to add “F*** no” after that.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 17, 2012 9:24 PM EST up reply actions

Explain to me how this is bad thing??

by rummy67 on Jan 18, 2012 10:31 AM EST up reply actions

oops reply fail

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Jan 18, 2012 11:08 AM EST up reply actions

Do I really need to explain this?

First of all, this isn’t Madden 2012. You can’t just move players to different positions, positions that they aren’t used to, and expect it to work. We all saw how Timmons played at OLB (hint: terrible) and now you want to move Harrison to ILB, a position he has probably never player in the pros? Come on, man.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 18, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

Did you happen to watch the games that Timmons filled in for Harrison?

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Jan 18, 2012 11:07 AM EST up reply actions

Yes, I did

and that is exactly why putting Timmons at OLB is absolutely insane. And why would you take one of the best OLBs in the game and put him at ILB? I just don’t get it.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 18, 2012 11:51 AM EST up reply actions

yeah, that’s what the “reply fail” under his name was for. That was meant for him. Sorry.

Can I get some hot sauce for my doughnut?

by FrankWyt on Jan 18, 2012 12:01 PM EST up reply actions

Oh my bad.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 18, 2012 12:23 PM EST up reply actions

Btw

that was a quote from rummy67, not me.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 18, 2012 11:53 AM EST up reply actions

no, NT is a bigger need

especially with Hamptons injury. He might not even make it back till half way through the season, and highly unlikely Hoke will return. Cant afford to have one NT going into the season.

by lamberts58 on Jan 18, 2012 2:42 AM EST up reply actions

Disagree...

need OL first then NT… but latest reports say Hampton’s injury not as bad a first thought… other post have us pick NT at 3 on this site

by rummy67 on Jan 18, 2012 10:32 AM EST up reply actions

Linebackers are more important than NTs and right now we only have Timmons and Sly since Foote might leave and Farrior might retire, and even if he doesn’t, he is too old and too slow to play.

"If you havin' dragon problems I feel bad for you son, I got 99 arrows but my knee took one."

by Riddlah. on Jan 18, 2012 11:57 AM EST up reply actions

Agree with the Farrior comment

But it all depends on what happens in the off season. Would love to see them keep Foote and let Farrior go. Obviously, if they both go, things will change in terms of needs. Honestly, this is a bad off season because we have some key players with some serious injuries that could be career changing. Mendenhall, Pouncey, Hampton, Keisel, Starks, Hoke, B. Batch, Smith (who is seriously done), etc. So all of this also comes into play.

by lamberts58 on Jan 18, 2012 8:22 PM EST up reply actions

If the line gives Ben six seconds, he’ll throw it in five.

If the line gives Ben two seconds, he’ll throw it in five.

by DG Lewis on Jan 17, 2012 10:12 AM EST up reply actions

Hence............another injury

by lamberts58 on Jan 21, 2012 9:49 PM EST up reply actions

I hope they go

1-ILB
2-G
3-G
4-FS
5-OLB
6-OT
7-K
7-QB

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Jan 17, 2012 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

BEN

WATTCH BRADY, guy often gets 4-5 seconds to pass with no pressure, unbelievable, and he is not very mobile!!!

by stefan on Jan 17, 2012 9:42 AM EST reply actions

Stefan

I think that has more to do with the scheme, as the Patriots are typically a dink-and-dunk short-to-mid passing scheme and Arians likes to air it out a couple times a game. While, Arians has shown an effective short passing game, it seems like he doesn’t stick to it, especially when it is working. He calls too many long-developing, route-running plays.

by twault on Jan 17, 2012 9:47 AM EST up reply actions

That often?

Arians likes to air it out a couple times a game.

"They timed it perfectly, they just went too soon." - Darrell Waltrip commenting on an illegal restart.

by alfresco on Jan 17, 2012 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

Want to help BA out – stop thinking this is a Joe Gibbs SB offense era anymore… Not possible with an OL that has be decimated every yr. We need to stop the WR screen and bring in a true block FB to help protect BB until that line shores up. More PA and Screen to RB and the the receivers block for them will help save BB and set up those bombs they want to throw…

by rummy67 on Jan 17, 2012 4:05 PM EST up reply actions

the time to protect ben came 3 years ago

by klompus on Jan 17, 2012 10:39 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, once Faneca left.

"It’s easy to lie with statistics, but it’s easier to lie without them." -Fred Mosteller
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by John Stephens on Jan 17, 2012 11:45 AM EST up reply actions

I blame our lack of a Center after Hartings retired for the reason why our line to hell in a hand basket

Since the best we could find at the most important position on the line was Sean Mahan

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by WVPiratesfan on Jan 17, 2012 11:56 AM EST up reply actions

If Pouncey ends up with another months+++ high ankle sprain on the same high ankle for 3 years in a row, Im thinking the time will be near for drafting another C as well.

by klompus on Jan 17, 2012 6:12 PM EST up reply actions