Steelers Fever Exclusive Editorial: Big Ben: Godsend

[Bayz101]

Wednesday, September 26th, 2012
By Travis Boariu
Steelers Fever Columnist

Tampa, Florida. Super Bowl XLIII. February 1st, 2009. Arizona Cardinals 23, Pittsburgh Steelers 20. 2:30 seconds to go.....
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"With the 11th pick of the 2004 NFL Draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select, Ben Roethlisberger, quarterback, Miami of Ohio."

Godsend.

I remember the day the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted their young franchise quarterback with their 11th overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft. It was odd to say the least. You see, Steelers fans came to the realization and delusion that mediocre quarterbacking was the Steeler-way. As long as we had a vicious defense, 'WEEEEE HAD A FEEEEEELING, PITTSBURGH'S GOIN' TO THE SUPER BOWL!....."

The Pittsburgh Steelers had many problems to address from the season prior. In 2003, the Steelers ended with an awful 6-10 record and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2000. Their defensive secondary was in absolute shambles. Horrid to say the least. Cornerback and the free safety position needed to be addressed immediately.

Year after year, we went as far as our defense could take us. It's the only thing we ever knew in the Steel City. After all, we did have (failed product) Tommy Maddox leading the way under center in the "run and shoot" offense. We didn't need a quarterback. Did we?
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Read more: http://www.steelersfever.com/editorials/1013.html

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Another AWESOME editorial by Stainless Still!

[maddog78]

I'll always be grateful to Cleveland for taking Kellen Winslow at #7. They thought Jeff Garcia was good enough.

[StainlessStill]

This article was very fun for me. I can't tell you the battle's I've had defending Ben over other teams fans and the creeps that they are. I have a blast with it simply because Roethlisberger is one of the most POTENT QB's in the league to face and he's ONLY getting better, which is the scariest thought of them all.

HERE WE GO!

[Bayz101]

Ben will only improve over the next two or three years, as long as he isn't making risky decisions. He's been sacked eight times, but not very many of those happened on the sidelines as a result of running out of the pocket for his life.

I think as long as he's protected, he'll be around for a long time still yet.

[StainlessStill]

3 of those 8 sacks came against Denver on that last drive when Bert, Ernie and Patrick from Sponge Bob Square pants were protecting him from Von Miller after Foster and Gilbert went out with injury.

Ben had a damn near perfect game against the Jets and Houdini'd it all around the field and he was only sacked once at Oakland,

If he keeps up with his outstanding decision making, he could very well be in the hunt for AFC player of the year or, who knows, MVP!

[Bayz101]

Originally Posted by StainlessStill

3 of those 8 sacks came against Denver on that last drive when Bert, Ernie and Patrick from Sponge Bob Square pants were protecting him from Von Miller after Foster and Gilbert went out with injury.

Ben had a damn near perfect game against the Jets and Houdini'd it all around the field and he was only sacked once at Oakland,

If he keeps up with his outstanding decision making, he could very well be in the hunt for AFC player of the year or, who knows, MVP!

Thanks for that stat, definitely puts things in perspective. He's off to a GREAT year.

[teegre]

I thank Marty Schottenheimer.

I wanted BB... I wanted him bad. Eli & Rivers were not my druthers... at all. I went through every scenario, and I just did not see him getting to #11. Why not? If Eli went #1, then the NYGiants were absolutely going to take BB at #4.

And then... Eli said that he would not play in SD. Schottenheimer liked Rivers better anyway (he told EVERYONE, here in SD, before the draft). Thus, this opened the door for Marty to get his guy (Rivers)... leaving Eli for the NYGiants (they wanted Eli more than BB)... which would leave BB for the Steelers.

The Browns and the Texans never really scared me. It was the NYGiants that I feared would end up with BB.

Anyway... it worked out. I cheered... and predicted that BB would take the Steelers to six SuperBowls, winning five of them. Thus far, I am half way there.

[lipps83]

Originally Posted by maddog78

I'll always be grateful to Cleveland for taking Kellen Winslow at #7. They thought Jeff Garcia was good enough.

Jeff Garcia wasn't that bad of a QB. His problem was that he was already 50 years old and just got married to this babe. I would have been distracted plenty as well

[teegre]

Originally Posted by lipps83

Jeff Garcia wasn't that bad of a QB. His problem was that he was already 50 years old and just got married to this babe. I would have been distracted plenty as well

I was going to say something... uh... about Garcia... but... uh... I forgot... uh... excuse me for a minute...

[StainlessStill]

My dad is usually MONEY with calling draft picks. He LOVED Heath Miller coming out of Virginia before we even mentioned him as a dire need at TE and was amazed by Willie Parker in his first training camp when nobody even thunk of the name "Fast Willie."

He loved Ben even MORE in 2004.

Months before the draft, ESPN and Mel Kiper were going through a segment about the 2004 QB class. They showed 3 or 4 quick highlights of Ben and Miami of Ohio. He says:

"If they don't take this Roethlisberger guy, I'll never watch the Steelers again...."

Sure enough.