Ben Roethlisberger Needs to Take what he’s Given vs. Bengals

Ben Roethlisberger has played some really good football in 2015. He’s also thrown some really bad interceptions, particularly of late. In fact, Ben has thrown 2 picks in 3 straight games, and 7 picks in the last 4.

Not all of those are necessarily on him, like one Sunday where it appeared that Martavis ran a bad route. However, I think that most of Ben’s picks this year have been a result of him being too aggressive.

Steeler Nation often whined early on in the Todd Haley era that they hated the “dink and dunk” offense that he employed so much of. I think that Todd and Ben have gotten way too carried away with the deep passes, usually on 2nd and 3rd and short situations.

Bengals’ safety Reggie Nelson has 3 interceptions off of Big Ben this season. I think at this point it’s clear that the Bengals know how to defend Ben. Play heavy zone and put your safeties deep, and take away his deep ball… because he’s usually stubborn enough to throw it anyway.

This play is a perfect example of Ben being greedy, and paying for it in the last matchup with the Bengals. Nelson came late on the play, but the cornerback had Martavis well covered regardless.

The Ravens played the Steelers the same way. Here’s a great example of Ben just making a terrible decision because he wants to push the ball down the field.

On that play, Ben is targeting Markus Wheaton on a throw that would’ve had to be absolutely on the money in between 3 defenders… when he has Heath open about 8 yards downfield, and has DeAngelo Williams wide open on a crossing pattern, with all kinds of space in front of him. Either Heath or DeAngelo probably get a first down (or close to it). That play was on 1st and 10, not on 3rd and long where you might defend him for taking the deep shot.

In some games this year, like the Denver and Indianapolis games; defenses lined up in a lot of man to man coverage. The Steelers receivers are just too good to be matched up that way, so that’s where Ben’s aggressive mentality really shines.

This Sunday, he needs to be more calculated in when he takes his shots, and learn to set them up. Want to read a pretty amazing stat…

Heath Miller has 60 receptions this season… 20 of them are against the Bengals. Heath Miller caught a whole 3rd of his passes on the season in two games.

We’ve all heard it preached, “the quarterback is taking what the defense gives him.” Well guess what? The Bengals are giving Ben the underneath pass.

Ben and Todd Haley need to use that. I realize Heath wasn’t what he used to be, and lots of passes to him probably means a lot of short gains… for one, that’s fine with me. Take that 5-10 yard completion all day…

But use that same concept with some more explosive players. Run more crossing routes with your playmakers. Get running backs (and even receivers too) involved on screens in the middle of the field. I also wouldn’t mind seeing a little more use of the more athletic Jesse James in this regard.

Abuse the middle of the field until the Bengals finally decide to focus on it, then take your shot when you get some man coverage.

I think that if DeAngelo Williams misses this game, it’s going to be tough for Ben to carry the load completely on his own. My hope is he doesn’t feel like he has to do too much. Heath Miller on safe throws can essentially be the running game if they choose to keep going back to it.

If Ben plays a clean game, I think that they stand a good chance of winning. I think that we can count on AJ McCarron to give our defense a couple of chances at interceptions.