So who called the '76 Steelers and told them to wear teal?Yeah, the final score may have been 9-0, but make no mistake, the Steelers were physically whipped on Monday night unlike any game since 2003. The Steelers nine-game winning streak is now history. Credit the Jaguars, who decided to blitz Ben Roethlisberger and gamble that he wouldn't be able to make them pay--they were right.
Well, now we know, Ben Roethlisberger was rusty in his return to action after an appendectomy. He didn't have his usual accuracy, he wasn't helped by a completely ineffective rushing attack, and his offensive line struggled to handle the Jacksonville pass rush. But in reality, it was hard to tell at times if Ben was ready to be back. As you may have heard on the broadcast, Big Ben has lost five games as a pro--three of them have come in starts after he's missed a game with an injury.
One of Roethlisberger's best attributes is his ability to shrug off the big hit, then escape to make a big play, or, if needed, stand in the pocket and take a big hit, unloading the ball just before the blitzer arrives. That ability wasn't there on Monday. If you go back and watch Monday night's game or when you catch the highlights on SportsCenter, watch Roethlisberger's feet. Ben's mechanics broke down when he was faced with an unblocked blitzer. In the first quarter, he threw a pass with an exaggerated ducking motion to escape a hit, which caused the pass to sail high. In the fourth quarter, against another unblocked defensive back, Roethlisberger turned his entire body to the side while throwing, resulting in a pass well wide of the mark. And on his final interception, it was the same story, an unblocked defensive back was coming free at Ben, who saw him and unloaded the pass while turning his feet and his entire body to avoid the hit. In the long run, it may keep Ben healthy, but it also means that he was well wide of the mark way too often. When Ben gets in trouble, it's usually his mechanics, and on Monday night, his footwork was in rough shape.
There definitely will be some things the Steelers have to learn from this loss. They struggled to handle the Jaguars blitz, and the offensive line lost the battle of the line of scrimmage. Thankfully, the Steelers won't face a better set of defensive tackles then the ones that erased their running game on Monday. The other concern for the Steelers is that the Jaguars were able to simply take Pittsburgh's wideouts out of the game. With the blitzing, there were plenty of times that the Steelers wide receivers had single coverage, but were unable to get open.
Roethlisberger will be fine. He's still one of the best young quarterbacks in the game, he just had a rough week, and one where the rest of the offense couldn't help pick up the slack. Hopefully the bright side of this week is that it means he'll be back into regular season form in time for the Bengals game next week, which is an even bigger game than this week's because of its divisional implications.
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Comments (Page 1 of 3)
I will agree that Ben didn't seem to be ready to jump back into it tonight, but I think the Steelers will be fine.
Tonight told me a lot more about the Jacksonville Jaguars. They were mean and agressive and shut out a team who just doesn't get shut out (first time in 4 seasons if I heard right). And even without a great offensive performance (no TDs), they were able smash their way through.
Jacksonville is for real. And everybody needs to watch out.
Here it is the thing the jags don,t have a former criminal or a selfish player on the team and there for the media does not pay attention to them cause its not good tv. The jags like they showed have a great defence and have buyed into the head coaches system and the system. Also the jags have to stay health as well just like any team does in the NFL. To sum up what i think i will end in say Defences win chapionchips....
I think it was really stupid for Ben to go back on the field. I know that it was his own choice but with so many injuries why would he take the risk? It just doesn't seem like the smartest thing to do.
Big Ben might have been rusty and a bit overly cautious recovering from the apendectomy. His performance however is almost forgiveable given the lack of game time, and his overall health. The real issue here is that the Steelers dont have the Bus. As good as Parker is at cutting and sprinting, he doesnt have the power the Steelers need to get through a line like that. Staley?....... Staley?.......
The Jags beat the Steelers at their own game, and schooled them on how its done.
Big Ben wasn't so great tonight.........but there was a big reason. 26 yards on 14 rushes?????? People open your eyes "THE JAGUARS" are for REAL! We better play alot better when they come up here. I hope Joey Porter will keep his mouth shut the next time we play them. Because of his mouth the Jaguars were "super fired up,"
and were out to prove they were meaner and better than the Steelers defense......and the did just that!!!
The Steelers and Jaguars are both very physical teams. Last night was a great example of that. Should Ben have played last night? I don't know him personally so....I have to wonder, did the bright lights of "Monday night football" cloud his judegement on whether he should play or did he need an excuse if he come up short against the Jaguars? Either way.....something doesn't seem right with that decision. Am I the only one that's thinking like this?
Unfortunately, it may have been Ben's choice to be on the field last night, but that is when it became the ultimate fault of Coach Cowher. Instead of going by what Ben said he should have done what was best for the team overall and not let a player with a 103* fever and uncertain physical strength decide. Sorry Bill, but this one belongs to you!!!! (WE SURE DO MISS THE BUS TOO THOUGH)
Okay,Okay all you hopeful colt,and jag,and bungel's fans..take a breath,,relax.....the steelers lost one,but only one.with a sick post-op QB,,OH MY THE JAGS MUST RULE.....NOT!!!! we will win the afc north and we will be back in the superbowl..there's no question about it..so you hopeful non- steelers fans can relax now that you are informed.
Ugh! That was painful to watch! What happened to my Men of Steel! I hope Ben gets to feeling better! I don't think I can withstand anymore of those type games! Unfortunately, this went well beyond Ben though. Our entire offense forgot to show up for this game!
I'll remain confident though! They'll be back... and then.... WATCH OUT!
what the heck was Ben doing on the field not two weeks after an apendectomy????.. that is just plain stupid.. As a nurse, i know it takes more time to heal..
As a fan, now is the toughest but we have to remember why we watch every week, why we yell at our innocent tv's.... We love the game. You think its any different for our team? Ben went out to play for the love of the game. We need to support him and our team. Pick them up, dust them off and tell them to make that poppin noise!!
ESPN's commentating of Monday Night Football was terrible.
All you heard the whole time was all about the Steelers.
Constantly making up excuses on why the Jags were taking them to the cleaners.
Then when the Jags would make a great play they would not really comment on it , instead they would start talking about TO'S Finger !!!!!
Who cares about TO's finger ???
I could see if this was the first time that the Jags have beat the Steelers, but the fact is that the Jags usually always beat the Steelers, even on their own field in Pitsburg.
ESPN is just as bad in baseball always kissing the Yankees Butt.
Good game Jags.
Last season the steeler fans whined that the Jag's win was a fluke because Ben was not in there. Forward to 2006 season, Batch wins their first game against an obviously inferior 'fins team . Rothlesberger should NOT have played against the Jag's but I am glad he did - now what's your excuse for losing to the Jaguars??? Smash-mouth football has MOVED south...
come on folks ... big ben is a big overated qb.... the guy was the youngest qb to ever win a super bowl and at the same time posted the worst qb ratings of a qb in super bowl history .Time to quit making excuses and admit the guy is just overated and a system qb with a broken system and all you who actually think the steelers repeat keep your eyes on the patriots
Hey S. Miles,
When your precious Jaguars can beat the Steelers with a 100% healthy Ben Roethlisberger, then I'll start respecting your team. Until then, I'll just sit here and admire our FIVE SUPER BOWL RINGS!!!!!!!!!!!
As a fellow nurse, I was happy to see Marylee Humphrey's post...playing so soon after abdominal surgery (no matter how much padding and protection) is very foolish and dangerous. The coach and especially the doctors, (who should know better), are to blame for that. 4-6 weeks is the time recommended to properly heal from that type of surgery.
I think the JAGUARS did a superb job at handling the Steelers. If Big Ben wasn't up to the challenge of the game, then take him out for the night and put in the #2 QB, he's good too! ALL NFL teams go through countless personel injuries and substitutions, so don't blame the JAG's win on their hurting QB... the JAGs won it by doing their jobs WELL! The Steelers seemed to be frustrated by half-time, which only added to the JAG's determination to win. The Jaguars went ABOVE and BEYOND what the nation expected of them and the Steelers were caught in the outcome. THANK YOU JAGUARS.
Ok Folks, it's only ONE game. The Steelers will be back and back to win!
The steelers will make any excuse.It is plain and simple,they got their butts beat bad.
UNTIL THE BUC,S GET RID OF THE STUPID COACH THEY PROBABLY WILL NOT BE A GOOD TEAM. GRUDEN TOOK THE DUNGY TEAM TO THE SUPER BOWL AND THEY HAVE NOT BEEN GOOD SINCE HE LET GO OF ALL THE MAJOR PLAYERS