5 reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers are in trouble without Ben Roethlisberger
All-Pro auarterback Ben Roethlisbeger went down with a knee injury Sunday. Here are five reasons the Pittsburgh Steelers are in trouble without him.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are in familiar territory as they deal with another injury to star quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. In a Week 6 contest against the Miami Dolphins, the QB played with a hobbled knee after getting caught from behind by defensive end Jordan Philips.
The injury was believed to be minor, as Roethlisberger missed one series late in the second quarter, but he was obviously struggling when he came back on the field. In true Roethlisberger fashion, he finished the game, but completed only 19 out of 34 passes for a meager 189 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
As it turns out, Big Ben suffered an injury to his meniscus, and surgery was completed yesterday. The injury is untimely, to say the least, and the Steelers should be worried about their chances in the absence of their all-world quarterback.
Despite losing unexpected games to the Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles, the Steelers have been trending upwards thanks to the play of Roethlisberger and the return of Le’Veon Bell to the lineup. Needless to say, Roethlisberger’s injury is bad news. Here are five reasons Pittsburgh will struggle without him.
Dec 20, 2015; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (7) passes the ball against the Denver Broncos during the first quarter at Heinz Field. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
5. Roethlisberger is elite
At times, football pundits take Big Ben for granted. While Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and (until recently) Peyton Manning are continuously spoken about as great quarterbacks, Roethlisberger rarely receives the same sort of praise.
He has the rings, stats, signature win and he continues to develop his game as he gets older. That’s not enough for some people, and it’s a crying shame he isn’t held in higher regard among his peers.
Throughout his career, he’s shown he can win in multiple ways and with different teammates. Whether he’s playing the role of game-manager or gunslinger, Roethelisberger continues to prove he’s one of the best quarterbacks to ever play the game. It will be close to impossible for the Steelers to replace him once he’s gone.
With Roethlisberger under center, the Steelers can dominate the offensive side of the ball, and his mere presence takes some pressure off the defense, who know their QB will put up points. Tough times are ahead for Pittsburgh, though perhaps everyone else will learn to appreciate the star quarterback in his absence.
Oct 16, 2016; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi (23) rushes with the ball against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first half at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports
4.The not so steel curtain
At times, the Steelers defense looks dominant. At other times, like the games against Philadelphia and Miami, they make you scratch your head.
Pittsburgh has a host of young talent on defense, including Cameron Heyward, Ryan Shazier, Vince Williams and Mike Mitchell, but they’ll have to take their talents to another level without their signal-caller.
There’s currently no date for Roethlisberger’s return, but while he’s out, it’ll up to the defense to step up. They’ve shown flashes, but injuries and bad play have made them inconsistent. If this team is to sustain their playoff push, the defense needs to rise to the occasion. Unfortunately, there’s little evidence they’re capable of that.
They’re ranked 28th in total defense and 16th in defense-adjusted value over average. Numbers don’t always tell the whole story, but in Pittsburgh’s case they’re cause for concern.
The defense is also liable to give up big plays, and in the time Roethlisberger’s on the shelf they could face offenses led by Joe Flacco, Andy Dalton, Eli Manning, Andrew Luck, Dak Prescott and Tom Brady. Yikes.
Jan 17, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers inside linebacker Ryan Shazier (50) sits on the bench during the in closing minutes of a AFC Divisional round playoff game at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Denver defeated Pittsburgh 23-16. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
3. Other injuries
Roethlisberger may be the team’s most important injured player, but he’s not its only injured player.
Cam Heyward, a defensive stalwart, is out with a hamstring injury, and will miss his second consecutive game this Sunday. Not only is Heyward the Steelers’ sack leader, his leadership and ability to stop the run are crucial to this defense.
It’s good news that he’s slated to come back against Baltimore in Week 9, but his services will be missed yet again as the Steelers face off against Tom Brady and the Patriots.
As of now, Ryan Shazier is expected to play against the Patriots, but given his injury history with Pittsburgh, he may not be an option either. Shazier’s speed and tackling ability have been missed, as the Pittsburgh defense recently gave up over 200 yards to Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi, whose career high in rushing yards stood at 42 before facing the Steelers.
On the offensive side of the ball, offensive lineman Marcus Gilbert will miss his third game in a row due to a lingering ankle and foot injury. Like Roethlisberger, his return date is unknown, and without his ability to plunge defenders out of the way for Le’Veon Bell, the offense is placed under even greater pressure.
Oct 16, 2016; Foxborough, MA, USA; New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady (12) reacts after a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Gillette Stadium. The New England Patriots won 35-17. Mandatory Credit: Greg M. Cooper-USA TODAY Sports
2. Scheduling doesn’t help
The Steelers sit atop the AFC North at 4-2, but their days there are numbered. They have a tough schedule coming up, and it’s unclear whether they’ll able to win any of their upcoming games with Landry Jones playing QB. If the Steelers can win half their games with Roethlisberger out, they’ll have a chance to make the playoffs, but looking at what’s ahead, that’s easier said than done.
In Week 7, Pittsburgh faces off against a hot New England team that’s gelling with the return of Tom Brady and Rob Gronkowski. A ticked off Patriots team is never fun to play, especially when you’re wounded.
To add insult to injury, the game will be in Foxboro, and if history tells us anything, the Steelers and their backup quarterback will not be up for the task. In the Steelers favor, they have a bye the following week, which gives them some time to get healthy, although it’s anticipated that Roethlisberger will still be out when they play again in Week 9.
After facing New England, the team squares off against potential playoff teams in the Ravens, New York Giants and Buffalo Bills, before the last three divisional games against Cincinnati, Baltimore and Cleveland.
Sep 1, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Landry Jones (3) is sacked by Carolina Panthers safety Colin Jones (42) during the first half of the game at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
1.Here comes Landry Jones
Am I the only one that hears the slow clap as Jones takes over the quarterback duties for the injured Roethlisberger? Not to slight the former Okalhoma Sooner, but he isn’t half the quarterback Roethlisberger is. While Jones has some experience in Todd Haley’s offense, it doesn’t necessarily mean he’s ready to lead the charge. When Roethlisberger went down with an injury last season, Jones started a few games. In that time, he was mediocre at best.
An inexperienced Jones completed less than 60 percent of his passes and he had a meager passer rating of 77.3. He also tossed four interceptions to three touchdowns, and the playmakers surrounding him suffered immensely.
Jones is the total opposite of Roethlisberger. Jones is more of a game-manager; he looks to make the simple play and avoids taking risks. Big Ben orchestrates a prolific offense that can slice you through the air or on the ground. Given the state of Pittsburgh’s defense, the offense has to score at a high rate.
With Jones under center, the Steelers will not be able to score as easily as they have been. That doesn’t bode well for the team. Todd Haley will have his hands full with his inexperienced quarterback. It’ll be up to him if he sinks or swims.
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