Former Pittsburgh head coach Bill Cowher still sees big things for Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers

Despite being disconnected from the Pittsburgh Steelers organization for years now, Bill Cowher remains an important figure in the Steel City. With that stigma comes an emphasis on his thoughts and opinions regarding the team he formerly lead to a Super Bowl victory in 2005.

Recently, Cowher spoke with Mark Kaboly of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and spoke about the state of the Steelers, Ben Roethlisberger's poor outing against the Cincinnati Bengals and whether the Steelers can rebound in the second half of 2015.

The Steelers offense will not have to click without All Pro running back Le'Veon Bell, and Cowher thinks if there is a team capable of overcoming such a loss, it is Pittsburgh. "Yeah, I mean, they have enough to overcome it, but Le'Veon Bell is a special player," Cowher said. "DeAngelo Williams is going to fit in very well, but I think he was a great complement (because) what Le'Veon has been able to do and has done is very special. But they do have enough. There is no question about it."

The situation is very similar to the 2014 team and the trials they faced without Bell in the lineup, but there is one main difference between these two football teams, and according to Cowher it is the defense. "I think the biggest thing to me that is encouraging for Pittsburgh has been the play of their defense," Cowher said. "As you sit there after eight games and you give me the statistics that the defense has given you with that offense, you'd say you're fine."

Cowher wasn't alone in regards to the thought of Roethlisberger, and the Steelers, bouncing back from such a disappointing performance in Week 8. NFL Network analyst, and former NFL quarterback, Kurt Warner chimed in on Roethlisberger, and what fans can expect moving forward.

"I thought he forced the issue some, and it is to be expected some," Cowher said. "And particularly in the fourth quarter of that game. I think Ben will come back. He will be fine."

"Oftentimes, that first game's not what you want it to be, but it gets you ready for the next game, second game back," Warner said. "But I have no concerns overall with Ben. I think he's going to be fine."

There is hope surrounding Roethlisberger and the Steelers' offense moving forward, but the Oakland Raiders stand in their way as their Week 9 opponent. If the Steelers want to regain control of their own destiny in terms of the AFC Playoff picture, they will need a victory Sunday to help propel them in the right direction. Roethlisberger's performance will be under the microscope, but fans are hoping to see the Roethlisberger they've grown accustomed to seeing, and not the quarterback who threw 3 interceptions in Week 8.