Good News (Vikings), Bad News (Steelers): Ben Roethlisberger = Gus Frerotte

(photos courtesy of Getty Images)

Good Lord, it's worse than anybody imagined: Ben Roethlisberger, who's currently about as popular as Tommy Maddox on his way out the door, has gone from Pro Bowler to ... Gus Frerotte?

Sigh.

Pacifist Viking stumbled across the eery similarities:

Ben Roethlisberger, 2008: 9 starts, 1,686 yards, 10 TDs, 11 INTs, 7.0 yards per attempt, 76.1 rating, 6-3 record

Gus Frerotte, 2008: 7 starts, 1,619 yards, 10 TDs, 11 INTs, 7.2 yards per attempt, 74.0 rating, 5-2 record

But it gets worse for Steelers fans: according to the eggheads at Football Outsiders, Frerotte ranks 20th in their total QB value statistic while Big Ben ranks 33rd, behind such luminaries as Matt Hasselbeck (injured), Jon Kitna (injured), Shaun Hill (he's started one game) and Derek Anderson (benched). It's also probably worth mentioning that there are still just 32 teams in the league.

Obviously, Roethlisberger is not the same player he was a year ago, and this time he can't blame it on helmet-less joy riding (although, to his credit, he never gave himself a concussion). That said, he doesn't seem completely recovered from an early-season shoulder injury, and the 6,000 sacks he's taken since.

And if you need another excuse, just blame offensive coordinator Bruce Arians. Everybody's doin' it!

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

11-12-2008 @ 2:59PM

jc said...

Don't feel too bad, here in D.C. our QB is criticism free. In the last 5 1/2 games dating back to the 2nd quarter of the Sep. 28th Skins-Cowboys game, thats 22 quarters, Jason Campbell has thrown 2 Tds and 2 Ints. Yet turn on the radio and he's a candidate for league MVP! I'd take Big Ben or Gus in a heartbeat.

11-12-2008 @ 4:48PM

Vinnie said...

No qb can throw from his back and it's ignorant to compare these two considering who's around them. It is unfair to compare these qbs based on their offensive lines and rbs. The vikings have pro-bowlers on their line and what??--the best rb in the game. Defenses playing against the vikings almost always line up with 8+ guys in the box. Furthermore, Ben has been sacked so many more times that it would throw off any qb's timing. If you gave Big Ben frerotte's line and AD, I'd don't think you'd be comparing qbs.

11-12-2008 @ 4:38PM

terrancecalhoun said...

wow isnt that funny farrote is a average qb at best with a great rb and line he isnt a rookie he is a vet who cant take advantage of who he is playing with so that tells u about him same for ben there isnt no big deal about him any one of his back ups with that line and rbs can make that team win now ben needs to sit down let byron play because ben is hurt and he is hurting the team but he no if he sits u have a qb problen byron can play well and he has a better arm

11-12-2008 @ 5:14PM

the yr the steller went to the superbowl with the bus and willie parker running at that time the back up for ben the qb charlie batch could have taken them there batch is very good he chose to take the back up roll but he is a starting qb at that time when pitt made it to superbowl and if he was hurt he still is a starting qb just like byron

11-12-2008 @ 7:54PM

Thatsabsurd said...

For all you "Stat" collectors out there and if you have paid attention to my "honest" albeit negative criticism of Rothlsberger, you can say yo heard it here first. Bens stats have caught up with him. Stats on an individual player in a team sport is like sh*t on brad it sure doesn't make a good sandwich, caus no matter ow much bread you have you stil taste the sh*t. Jusr like Bens stats the last few years.

Stop blaming the line, maybe not the best line in the league but a damn fine OL.

Arains is another story he sure can't run an offense, but to blame him for Bens poor performance is ABSURD. Put the two of them together and you have a negative---------------- that even the best defense can't keep you from being sucked into the vacuum. (Proof is the indy game).