Big Ben Steps Up!

Roethlisberger raises game with maturity
Fourth-year QB recovers from shaky '06 season
By Don Markus Sun reporter
November 4, 2007

PITTSBURGH - Ben Roethlisberger didn't think much of it when Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Tommy Maddox injured his elbow after being sacked early in the third quarter against the Ravens during their first meeting of the 2004 season."I remember just thinking I was going in for a play," Roethlisberger, then a rookie, said last week. "I was hoping that's all it was going to be because everyone knows about Baltimore's defense. I remember being a little scared being in there."One play - and torn ligaments for Maddox - has turned into an eventful four-year run for Roethlisberger as the Steelers' starting quarterback.
Going into tomorrow night's game against the Ravens at Heinz Field, Roethlisberger, 25, has experienced more than most players his age - or any age, for that matter - during their NFL careers."Nobody likes to go through all the things that I went through other than the good," Roethlisberger said as he got dressed for practice Thursday afternoon."When you look at your football career and you go through the highest high of winning a Super Bowl and the lowest low of almost losing your life, I have been through a lot."In 2004, Roethlisberger became the only quarterback in NFL history to go 13-0 as a starter and broke Dan Marino's rookie record for completion percentage (.664) and passer rating (98.1). A year later, at the age of 23, Roethlisberger became the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl.Then came last year, when Roethlisberger was involved in a near-fatal motorcycle accident close to the team's complex before training camp.After making it back for the preseason, Roethlisberger had an emergency appendectomy four days before the start of the regular season.The physical and emotional traumas he endured translated into an erratic season. Although Roethlisberger had his share of strong performances, he had more than a few shaky ones, leading to a career high in touchdown passes with 18 but also a career- and NFL-high 23 interceptions. The Steelers finished 8-8 and out of the playoffs.This season has been almost uncharacteristically uneventful so far for Roethlisberger and the Steelers (5-2). Roethlisberger has thrown 15 touchdown passes and six interceptions, with a completion rate of 64.6 percent and a quarterback rating (102.2) well above his career average (87.9) coming into the season.Given more responsibility in play selection by new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, and helped with some of his technique by new quarterbacks coach Ken Anderson, who played 16 seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals, Roethlisberger has been steadier than at any earlier point in his career."I think he has grown tremendously," Arians said. "He's put the time in and accepted the changes wholeheartedly. We've put a lot on his plate. He's playing extremely confident and consistent. He's practicing and preparing that way. I'd be shocked if it didn't stay that way."Said Roethlisberger: "I think it correlates to me being more comfortable out there. If I'm the one who's helping install stuff, and naming things that make sense to me, that's ultimately what you want. It definitely helps having Ken, a guy who's played in the league. When he gives you advice, it's viable."First-year Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, who came here after being a Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant for six years and the Minnesota Vikings' defensive coordinator for one, wasn't sure what to expect from his quarterback."I am pleased with the professional approach he has taken," Tomlin said. "He is communicating well with his teammates. He is a football junkie."Said Roethlisberger: "I feel like I've probably worked harder than I ever have, physically and mentally, [to] be the best that I can for the team."Tomlin has used Roethlisberger differently than longtime Steelers coach Bill Cowher, taking advantage of his quarterback's size (6 feet 5, 241 pounds) and athleticism to make plays outside the pocket."When you need for him to escape, he is capable of doing it," Tomlin said. "I think that is what he is doing and that is why I am comfortable with where we are. He is not a run-happy quarterback. He is a quarterback that is elusive and can buy time because of athleticism when plays break down."His teammates have noticed another difference in Roethlisberger, who had gained a reputation for being one of the last players to arrive for practice and one of the first to leave."He's finally understanding what defenses are trying to do to him," said veteran wide receiver Hines Ward, who caught two touchdown passes in last week's 24-13 win in Cincinnati. "He may not have everything down, but he has a lot better feel for the game now than he did the last couple of years."The Steelers are hoping that is true tomorrow night. If there were any games Roethlisberger would like to forget from 2006, it was those played against the Ravens. The Steelers lost them by a combined 58-7 and Roethlisberger was sacked 14 times, including nine in a 27-0 setback at M&T Bank Stadium."They just manhandled us, plain and simple," Roethlisberger said. "They just beat the heck out of us in both places. We have to be better. We scored seven points total. That's not going to get it done. That puts a lot of pressure on the defense. We've got the potential to be better."So does Roethlisberger."You've got to pick your spots to be dangerous, to be risky," Roethlisberger said. "Trying not to do too much, I think is the key. You take what they give you, but you also take the situations that you can, so you can try to make the plays above and beyond. That's the key, just being smart with it."don.markus@baltsun.com