AZ_Steeler
09-27-2006, 10:46 PM
I hope he's not worried because I am! I know it's to early to start worrying I just hope they can get things turned around and that Big Ben can stop be so indecisive with where he's going to throw the ball... entirely to much double clutching!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A9G_e9B3KBtFO7kAkQM5nYcB?slug=ap-steelers-slumpingben&prov=ap&type=lgns)
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger's play has been so off this season, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback joked Wednesday that he's wondering whether his June motorcycle accident is affecting his play.
"The doctors said there's nothing wrong with my brain, but I'm having brain (cramps) out there," Roethlisberger said. "It's one of those things where you make mistakes and you learn from them."
Only Roethlisberger, who won 27 of his first 31 NFL career starts, isn't accustomed to making so many mistakes or losing so many games in so little time. In two starts since returning from the motorcycle crash and a Sept. 3 emergency appendectomy, Roethlisberger has no touchdown passes and five interceptions in losses to the Jaguars and Bengals.
Two of his three interceptions Sunday in the 28-20 loss to the Bengals came inside their 20-year line, the kind of turnover he had never committed before during a regular-season game.
Even in his first two starts as a rookie in 2004, Roethlisberger's numbers weren't so poor. Then, in beating the Dolphins and Bengals, he had two TD passes and one interception.
"I haven't lost two in a row, I think, since my sophomore year in college," he said, though his recollection was a little off. "It's a weird feeling. There are no excuses. I'm not going to blame it on the wind. I'm going to blame it on the way I'm playing. We'll try to find a way to correct it so it doesn't happen again."
Roethlisberger also lost two in a row last season, to the Colts and Bengals, immediately after returning from a three-week layoff following knee surgery. It's understandable why he might not remember -- the Steelers followed that with the eight-game winning streak that got them into the playoffs and carried them through the Super Bowl.
Slow starts are nothing new for Super Bowl teams; the Patriots went 2-2 last year after winning consecutive Super Bowls. However, the Steelers are accustomed to fast starts under Bill Cowher, and this is only their third 1-2 start under him in 15 years.
Also, there are plenty of reasons for the Steelers' offensive problems besides Roethlisberger's mediocre play.
Wide receiver Hines Ward, out for most of the preseason with a sore hamstring, is consistently being double-teamed and his production is down. The running game all but disappeared against the Jaguars. There also were a half-dozen dropped passes the last two weeks.
To get back on track, Cowher told Roethlisberger that he shouldn't be reluctant to scramble when necessary and take yardage when a defense gives it. He also wants the QB to add a little weight. Roethlisberger, skinnier than a year ago, lost about 15 pounds following his June 12 motorcycle wreck and might have a slight loss in arm strength because of it.
"I think we're getting closer, that's the thing," Roethlisberger said. "I've always said that you need to continue to improve or you deteriorate; you never stay the same. People look at it as if we're sliding backward, and I don't think so, not yet. We do have a ways to go but we're making progress."
The Steelers' problem is that they can't make up any ground during a bye week that again comes earlier than they would like. The Steelers don't play again until Oct. 8 at San Diego, yet they already trail the Ravens (3-0) and Bengals (3-0) by two games in the AFC North.
"I think we can see the wall, but I don't think our backs are against it just yet," Roethlisberger said. "We know there's a sense of urgency. We don't like to lose, nobody around here does. It's time for us to button up the chin straps and go at it because we can't afford to lose many more football games.
"I think you'll see a new team come out of this bye week."
:iagree: and hope so!
http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news (http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news;_ylt=A9G_e9B3KBtFO7kAkQM5nYcB?slug=ap-steelers-slumpingben&prov=ap&type=lgns)
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Ben Roethlisberger's play has been so off this season, the Super Bowl-winning quarterback joked Wednesday that he's wondering whether his June motorcycle accident is affecting his play.
"The doctors said there's nothing wrong with my brain, but I'm having brain (cramps) out there," Roethlisberger said. "It's one of those things where you make mistakes and you learn from them."
Only Roethlisberger, who won 27 of his first 31 NFL career starts, isn't accustomed to making so many mistakes or losing so many games in so little time. In two starts since returning from the motorcycle crash and a Sept. 3 emergency appendectomy, Roethlisberger has no touchdown passes and five interceptions in losses to the Jaguars and Bengals.
Two of his three interceptions Sunday in the 28-20 loss to the Bengals came inside their 20-year line, the kind of turnover he had never committed before during a regular-season game.
Even in his first two starts as a rookie in 2004, Roethlisberger's numbers weren't so poor. Then, in beating the Dolphins and Bengals, he had two TD passes and one interception.
"I haven't lost two in a row, I think, since my sophomore year in college," he said, though his recollection was a little off. "It's a weird feeling. There are no excuses. I'm not going to blame it on the wind. I'm going to blame it on the way I'm playing. We'll try to find a way to correct it so it doesn't happen again."
Roethlisberger also lost two in a row last season, to the Colts and Bengals, immediately after returning from a three-week layoff following knee surgery. It's understandable why he might not remember -- the Steelers followed that with the eight-game winning streak that got them into the playoffs and carried them through the Super Bowl.
Slow starts are nothing new for Super Bowl teams; the Patriots went 2-2 last year after winning consecutive Super Bowls. However, the Steelers are accustomed to fast starts under Bill Cowher, and this is only their third 1-2 start under him in 15 years.
Also, there are plenty of reasons for the Steelers' offensive problems besides Roethlisberger's mediocre play.
Wide receiver Hines Ward, out for most of the preseason with a sore hamstring, is consistently being double-teamed and his production is down. The running game all but disappeared against the Jaguars. There also were a half-dozen dropped passes the last two weeks.
To get back on track, Cowher told Roethlisberger that he shouldn't be reluctant to scramble when necessary and take yardage when a defense gives it. He also wants the QB to add a little weight. Roethlisberger, skinnier than a year ago, lost about 15 pounds following his June 12 motorcycle wreck and might have a slight loss in arm strength because of it.
"I think we're getting closer, that's the thing," Roethlisberger said. "I've always said that you need to continue to improve or you deteriorate; you never stay the same. People look at it as if we're sliding backward, and I don't think so, not yet. We do have a ways to go but we're making progress."
The Steelers' problem is that they can't make up any ground during a bye week that again comes earlier than they would like. The Steelers don't play again until Oct. 8 at San Diego, yet they already trail the Ravens (3-0) and Bengals (3-0) by two games in the AFC North.
"I think we can see the wall, but I don't think our backs are against it just yet," Roethlisberger said. "We know there's a sense of urgency. We don't like to lose, nobody around here does. It's time for us to button up the chin straps and go at it because we can't afford to lose many more football games.
"I think you'll see a new team come out of this bye week."
:iagree: and hope so!