Bires Column: Ben's only just begun

lamberts-lost-tooth · 12-21-2007, 04:40 AM

Bires Column: Ben's only just begun
By Mike Bires
Published: Friday, December 21, 2007 1:26 AM EST

ST. LOUIS --- For Ben Roethlisberger, it?s already a season he?ll never forget.

He?s set the Steelers? single-season record for most touchdown passes.

He?s earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl.

So far, he?s yet to miss any games due to injury.

And one day next week, there?s a good chance he?ll be named the Steelers? Most Valuable Player for the first time in his career.

Who else could be the team MVP?

Maybe linebacker James Harrison, another Steeler bound for the Pro Bowl for the first time.

But considering everything he?s accomplished after the nightmarish season, no one deserves it more.

?He?s been consistently good this year,? offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. ?The numbers bear that out. The interceptions are down. The touchdowns are way up. The completion percentage is up. He?s made plays. He?s made the special plays. And when your peers see that, they recognize that.?

Roethlisberger, who is only 25, is thrilled about the personal goals he?s achieved.

?From the time you?re a kid, it?s always a goal to win a Super Bowl, get to a Pro Bowl, all that stuff,? he said. ?I?m not going to lie.?

Still, he?s the first to admit his marvelous season is still a work in progress. Even though the Steelers have 10 wins, they have not yet clinched a playoff berth.

That could happen Sunday if they get some help from the Cincinnati Bengals or New York Jets. If the Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers win the AFC North. If the Jets upset the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers clinch a playoff berth.

But if the Browns and Titans both win, the Steelers will likely have to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 30 to qualify for the playoffs as either a division champ or wild card.

Last year, Roethlisberger and the Steelers suffered two embarrassing losses to the Ravens. In those games he was sacked 14 times and had miserable passer ratings of 46.2 and 47.2.

Earlier this year in Pittsburgh when the Steelers trounced the Ravens, Roethlisberger tied a team record by throwing five TD passes. He also posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3.

It may take another performance like that in the regular-season finale in Baltimore the Steelers to beat the Ravens.

?He?s just scratching the surface,? Arians said. ?I really look forward to what he can become.?

stillers4me · 12-21-2007, 05:33 AM

Get the man an O-line! geesh...........

Steeler in Carolina · 12-21-2007, 06:15 AM

And, we have to get on his back to make a long run in the playoffs.

HometownGal · 12-21-2007, 06:30 AM

Good read LLT - thanks!

Ben has only just begun. Get him an efficient wall and the probabilities are endless for him (as are the record books!).

Rhee Rhee · 12-21-2007, 07:16 AM

people have to consider him elite... i'd say top 3 quarterback... behind tom and peyton... anyone who says otherwise... is a bengals fan!

***Atlanta Dan*** · 12-21-2007, 07:30 AM

Peyton and Brady have advantages in other areas, but I do not know if their quick releases would overcome their lack of mobility and allow them to do as well as Ben does behind the Steelers sieve of an offensve line.

Ben will continue to improve unless (until?) one of the constant hits he takes results in a major injury and permamant loss of some of the moblity that is one of his greatest strengths.

The trick will be to rebuid the OL while Ben is entering the prime of his career.

TackleMeBen · 12-21-2007, 09:10 AM

i think if we can get a decent oline he could be much better. the only thing i see that he could work on is maybe not holding on the ball so long, stop looking for the bombs downfield and take the short passes. but other than that he is great..lol

Jeremy · 12-21-2007, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stillers4me

Get the man an O-line! geesh...........

He has an offensive line. It's just not a line that was built to let him throw the ball 30 times a game.

Edman · 12-21-2007, 12:36 PM

The Steelers Offesnse has to evolve. We finally have a superstar at QB. FInally, after all these years.

The Steelers has to get some Offensive linemen who can pass-block. Our guys aren't built for Arians' wide open offensive scheme. A few extra weapons wouldn't hurt either.

SteelCityMan786 · 12-21-2007, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HometownGal

Good read LLT - thanks!

Ben has only just begun. Get him an efficient wall and the probabilities are endless for him (as are the record books!).

He'll be the Terry Bradshaw of his time..

12-21-2007, 04:40 AM	#1
lamberts-lost-tooth Banned Join Date: May 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 10,829 Gender: Male Member Number: 2363 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Bires Column: Ben's only just begun Bires Column: Ben's only just begun By Mike Bires Published: Friday, December 21, 2007 1:26 AM EST ST. LOUIS --- For Ben Roethlisberger, it?s already a season he?ll never forget. He?s set the Steelers? single-season record for most touchdown passes. He?s earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl. So far, he?s yet to miss any games due to injury. And one day next week, there?s a good chance he?ll be named the Steelers? Most Valuable Player for the first time in his career. Who else could be the team MVP? Maybe linebacker James Harrison, another Steeler bound for the Pro Bowl for the first time. But considering everything he?s accomplished after the nightmarish season, no one deserves it more. ?He?s been consistently good this year,? offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said. ?The numbers bear that out. The interceptions are down. The touchdowns are way up. The completion percentage is up. He?s made plays. He?s made the special plays. And when your peers see that, they recognize that.? Roethlisberger, who is only 25, is thrilled about the personal goals he?s achieved. ?From the time you?re a kid, it?s always a goal to win a Super Bowl, get to a Pro Bowl, all that stuff,? he said. ?I?m not going to lie.? Still, he?s the first to admit his marvelous season is still a work in progress. Even though the Steelers have 10 wins, they have not yet clinched a playoff berth. That could happen Sunday if they get some help from the Cincinnati Bengals or New York Jets. If the Bengals beat the Cleveland Browns, the Steelers win the AFC North. If the Jets upset the Tennessee Titans, the Steelers clinch a playoff berth. But if the Browns and Titans both win, the Steelers will likely have to beat the Baltimore Ravens on Dec. 30 to qualify for the playoffs as either a division champ or wild card. Last year, Roethlisberger and the Steelers suffered two embarrassing losses to the Ravens. In those games he was sacked 14 times and had miserable passer ratings of 46.2 and 47.2. Earlier this year in Pittsburgh when the Steelers trounced the Ravens, Roethlisberger tied a team record by throwing five TD passes. He also posted a perfect passer rating of 158.3. It may take another performance like that in the regular-season finale in Baltimore the Steelers to beat the Ravens. ?He?s just scratching the surface,? Arians said. ?I really look forward to what he can become.?

12-21-2007, 05:33 AM	#2
stillers4me Banned Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 8,670 Gender: Female Member Number: 2656 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun Get the man an O-line! geesh...........

12-21-2007, 06:15 AM	#3
Steeler in Carolina Team President Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 2,374 Gender: Male Member Number: 1634 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun And, we have to get on his back to make a long run in the playoffs.

12-21-2007, 06:30 AM	#4
HometownGal Living Legend Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The Burgh Posts: 21,479 Gender: Female Member Number: 2413 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun Good read LLT - thanks! Ben has only just begun. Get him an efficient wall and the probabilities are endless for him (as are the record books!). __________________ The Anti-Wahoo

12-21-2007, 07:16 AM	#5
Rhee Rhee Head Coach Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 808 state Posts: 1,890 Gender: Male Member Number: 7579 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun people have to consider him elite... i'd say top 3 quarterback... behind tom and peyton... anyone who says otherwise... is a bengals fan! __________________

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12-21-2007, 07:30 AM	#6
*Atlanta Dan* Resigned Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 9,917 Member Number: 728 Thanks: 74 Thanked 201 Times in 129 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun Peyton and Brady have advantages in other areas, but I do not know if their quick releases would overcome their lack of mobility and allow them to do as well as Ben does behind the Steelers sieve of an offensve line. Ben will continue to improve unless (until?) one of the constant hits he takes results in a major injury and permamant loss of some of the moblity that is one of his greatest strengths. The trick will be to rebuid the OL while Ben is entering the prime of his career.

12-21-2007, 09:10 AM	#7
TackleMeBen Southern Belle Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: where all the cute men are(especially the one in my avatar) Posts: 4,854 Gender: Female Member Number: 4435 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun i think if we can get a decent oline he could be much better. the only thing i see that he could work on is maybe not holding on the ball so long, stop looking for the bombs downfield and take the short passes. but other than that he is great..lol __________________ In memory of my brother Michael, who gave me my love of sports. I will miss you!

12-21-2007, 12:36 PM	#9
Edman Living Legend Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Posts: 5,358 Gender: Male Member Number: 3261 Thanks: 35 Thanked 89 Times in 57 Posts	Re: Bires Column: Ben's only just begun The Steelers Offesnse has to evolve. We finally have a superstar at QB. FInally, after all these years. The Steelers has to get some Offensive linemen who can pass-block. Our guys aren't built for Arians' wide open offensive scheme. A few extra weapons wouldn't hurt either.

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