Strengths/Weaknesses - Ben Roethlisberger

The range of complaints is wide. He lacks arm strength (and can�t throw a deep ball as a result), he�s out of shape, he can�t read a defense, he can�t carry a team by passing, he isn�t very accurate, he is lazy�most of his critics will probably agree with all those notions. I find it hard to agree with any of them. How, exactly, does a lazy 23 year old QB with a mediocre arm shred the top three seeds in the AFC on his way to winning a Super Bowl? How does he start his career 27-4? It doesn�t make sense.

Roethlisberger has his flaws, like any player - including the great Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. This article isn�t an attempt to knock Roethlisberger, or glorify him. It�s goal is to give a realistic look at a young QB. What does he do well, and what does he struggle at?

I can�t address claims about his laziness or work ethic. I don�t have inside information. I can only say that we shouldn�t pretend to know how much any of these players works. The results on Sunday are all we see. You aren�t there, you don�t see it, and you shouldn�t talk about it. That won�t stop anyone from speculating on such nonsense, though.

The most common knock against Roethlisberger stems from his perceived struggles with the deep ball. You don�t have to look far to find a Steelers fan who will complain about it. It�s been used to show that he has a �weak� arm, a claim that really doesn�t hold up to scrutiny.

First, many often claim that these deep passes are under thrown. While there have been many cases where the receiver has had to stop for them, last season it seemed to be the exact opposite. Many of these deep passes were overthrown (Roethlisberger may have in fact been compensating some). In week two he overthrew Ward when he was wide-open on a fade route. His timing was often off in those first few weeks, though.

Week 3 against Cinci. Roethlisberger appears to grossly under throw Wilson. Some have called this a poor read. Some a poor throw. Others both. Either is nonsense. Wilson had his man beat over top. Safety Madieu Williams had come up to play Ward on a deep crossing pattern, leaving Wilson with one on one coverage over top. However, as Roethlisberger would note in his post-game, and the NFL Network would later highlight in their replay and Game of the Week, Roethlisberger tripped on Marvel Smith�s leg while releasing the football.

Against San Diego, Roethlisberger�s intercepted flea flicker was thrown 53 yards down field, and was pretty much on target. However, there was double coverage. Earlier in the game, Roethlisberger hit Washington in stride on a fade that the receiver could not bring in.

In the Kansas City game, Roethlisberger threw a pass to wide-open Nate Washington. The receiver had trouble judging the pass, which was a floater, and it went incomplete. In that same game Roethlisberger hit Washington on a nifty little play for 40 yards. Roethlisberger faked a handoff from the shotgun, and it turned out to be a relatively quick throw.

Near the end of the second half of the Atlanta game, Roethlisberger hit Holmes on a fade route in stride for over 30 yards, and Holmes was able to add some more.

In the first Cleveland game, Roethlisberger ended up throwing multiple fade passes. He overthrew Holmes several times on what appeared to be mix-ups on the rookies part (Holmes can be seen pointing to himself afterward). He hit Wilson perfectly in stride on a few more, but Wilson was called for pass interference and stepped out on another.

In the second Cleveland game, he hit Washington a pass thrown over 40 yards. It was another fade, which the Steelers ran more and more in the final 8 games. The game was played with intense wind. Cowher himself made note of this pass in his post-game. If any play from this season shows that Roethlisberger�s ARM STRENGTH wasn�t an issue, it�s this one.

Against Cinci, Roethlisberger was picked off on a play-action pass that was overthrown. The play wasn�t there to be made, though. It was into double coverage.

That�s the majority of Roethlisberger�s deep passes from last season. I can think of few if any that actually sailed on him. But this is clearly something that has occurred throughout his career�

There were two cases from the playoffs in 05 of passes that appeared �under thrown.� His first interception in the Super Bowl was on a deep corner route to El. He had a similar play in the game against Indy before the half. This was more successful, with El being in position to jump up for the ball, but he was blatantly interfered with.

I can think of 4 other deep balls Roethlisberger hit perfectly in those playoffs. He hit Wilson and El in perfect stride on similar plays. Both came off pump-fakes in the middle of the field for 40+ yard completions. The trick play that came later sailed, but it was irrelevant. He hit both Miller and Ward for plays of nearly 40 yards in the Colts game. He hit both players in perfect stride. One was off a play-action on a fade. The other on a skinny post on a third and long between Sanders and Harper.

I�ve long held that these problems with the deep ball were overblown. In 2005 Roethlisberger completed 12 passes over 40 yards, more than Tom Brady ever has. And while I believe there is a problem, I don�t relate it to arm strength. Drew Brees has been one of the most successful deep ball throwers for some time now (even before joining the Saints), but hardly has a cannon for an arm. Roethlisberger has been very successful in his short career making plays down field.

We�ve all seen Roethlisberger throw the ball 50 yards down field while on the move and with defenders harassing him. That leads me to believe that arm strength isn�t a problem. Some of those plays above could not have been completed if he did not have a very strong arm.

As I�ve said, though, I do believe there is a problem, and it�s one of his biggest. Roethlisberger at times does a poor job of anticipating when his receivers are coming open. Both of those passes that sailed on him in the playoffs were such cases. Roethlisberger threw the passes too late. El was already at the sidelines in the Super Bowl, and had to stop for the ball that was 5 yards behind him. The play against the Colts was similar.

Many of Roethlisberger�s best deep passes come when the timing is simpler. They are either relatively quick fade passes, such as the one in the second Cleveland game, or come off fakes, such as against the Chiefs.

Roethlisberger likes to eye up his receiver before throwing. He likes to see that he�s open. Ward made an interesting comment about Roethlisberger after the season. He stated that sometimes he needs to just trust his receivers to make a play for him. While many accuse him of being careless with the football after his 23 INT season, his best receiver was suggesting the opposite.

Roethlisberger rarely throws the football away, and I can think of maybe one instance from all of last season when he did so. This has worked well for him at times. Roethlisberger has frequently made big plays out of nothing by extending the play with his legs. He�s great at avoiding a pass rush, and throwing on the move. His eyes are always down field looking to make a big play, and there are times when he does not take the check down pass when he would be better off. There�s a fine line here, but Roethlisberger could stand to learn to take what�s there more often.

This also relates to the last problem, though. Roethlisberger likes to eye up his receiver before throwing the football. He likes to make sure they are open. It�s an odd mix. While he too often looks to hit the big play, he doesn�t like to take many chances doing it.

More often, Roethlisberger would be better off taking an easier completion, or taking a few more chances with the ball down the field. As Ward said, let the receivers make some plays for you. Ward, Washington, and Holmes are capable of this.

It�s easy to argue that 23 INT�s proves that Roethlisberger struggles to read defenses, but this does not seem accurate with closer inspection. Reviewing his INT�s, I find few are actually the product of poor reads.

First, 9 of those 23 INT�s came in the three games against Jacksonville, Cincinnati, and Oakland. That�s compared to a single TD pass in those same three games. Most logical Steelers fans will agree that Roethlisberger was not 100% in any of these games, though. Let�s review how these were thrown, and when many of these INT�s came.

Jacksonville - The first came while running backwards from a defender. The pass was thrown behind Holmes on a slant that Mathis had no problem grabbing. Roethlisberger was gunshy and didn�t want to take the hit.

Cincinnati - The first is almost infamous at this point. Some have actually called it the point in which the season was lost. Off play-action, and with a defender in his face, Roethlisberger threw a pass into double coverage in the end zone. This would certainly appear to be a poor read. His second came on a deep pass that was already addressed. Roethlisberger made the proper decision. The third was almost a throw-away. It was a poor decision, but at a point in the game when Roethlisberger needed to take a shot at the end zone.

Oakland - You have three very poor decisions. Roethlisberger played the game like a chicken with his head cutoff. If a defender got near him, he hurried the pass out, and threw frequently into coverage. Only one was even remotely excusable. On a fourth and short, Roethlisberger had a receiver open on a quick slant. The DE dropped back into coverage just as he released the football. I can�t put blame on him for that.

If healthy, I�m confident Roethlisberger doesn�t touch 9 INT�s in those three games. That�s not exactly a bold statement to make, and I would hope most would agree.

San Diego - The first INT came on an ill-advised flea flicker. I have never had much problem with the pass personally. I have more trouble with the play call. Roethlisberger took a shot down field on a play he most likely didn�t have a check down. Roethlisberger hesitated before throwing this pass. Holmes was obviously covered. It�s a low-risk pass down field with a potentially big reward, and there was probably no other option besides a sack.

The second came with pressure in his face. Roethlisberger made a poor decision to release the ball right as he was being hit, but he had a wide-open Heath Miller in the middle of the field. Not a poor read, but certainly a bad choice. This was a time when Roethlisberger should have just taken the sack. He tried to do too much, and it put the final nail in the Steelers� coffin.

Denver - Cowher himself said two of these INT�s didn�t matter, but that didn�t stop the media from making his three INT�s the reason for the loss, or many fans from doing the same.

The first was costly. The team was in FG range. Roethlisberger threw to the end zone. Wilson on Champ Bailey. The ball goes right to Bailey as Wilson cuts up field. After the play Roethlisberger is seen making hand signals to Wilson, suggesting he was supposed to cut back.

The second came when Roethlisberger was running for his life, and threw a ball up into the end zone. It helped the Steelers field position wise. It was a low risk play. I don�t see a poor decision. I don�t even care about this play. It was beneficial, and Bailey was actually stupid to hang on to it. Roethlisberger did nothing wrong here in my book. Cowher agreed with this sentiment.

The third came on a hail marry to end the game, when two scores separated the teams.

This was Roethlisberger�s best game of the season. I�ll go to the grave saying that.

Cleveland - Three first half INT�s before a fourth quarter comeback. All three were off deflections.

One comes on a hitch to Holmes. Roethlisberger throws the ball well over his head, but the play is harmless�until Holmes jumps up, and bats it to the corner. A bad throw, but bad luck ultimately causes the pick.

Another came on an out pattern to Wilson. The ball bounces off Wilson�s shoulder pads, and is caught by a defender.

The third was intended to Ward on a short crossing pattern. A defender is able to stick his hand across Ward�s body and breaks it up. The ball hangs in the air, and McGinest is able to catch it just before it hit�s the ground.

Who is going to try and argue that any of these were poor reads?

Baltimore - 4 INT�s in two games. All of which came with the game well out of hand. The only ones using these INT�s against Roethlisberger are those who are just blindly looking to crucify him. None mattered when thrown, and it�s surprising that Roethlisberger didn�t throw any INT�s against Baltimore until the fourth quarter of these games given the circumstances.

Tampa Bay - Has a receiver open in the flat. Brooks drifts out. Roethlisberger never saw him. Clearly a poor read.

Cinci 2 - Roethlisberger�s lone INT came early in the game off play-action. Roethlisberger threw the ball without ever even looking. He turned and launched it into double coverage. A poor read. He clearly believed that the Bengals would have bit on the fake.

Of all these INT�s, how many were actually poor reads? 4 from the three �injured games.� 2-4 from the rest of the season, of which two game against Baltimore with the game over.

I�ll say now that, just removing those games he probably shouldn�t have played in would have changed the outlook fans have on his season drastically. Roethlisberger likely gets several more TD�s if healthy, and maybe throws 2-3 INT�s at most. He�s suddenly got 3,500 yards under his belt to go along with 20+ TD�s and 15 or so INT�s. The Steelers are likely in the playoffs, as well.

The 23 INT�s looks awful on paper. But an honest look at his play from last season shows that Roethlisberger�s play was not all bad. It was uneven. He finished the season 6-2, and played well against Atlanta and Denver. We have three awful games, and the two Baltimore games where he played bad at times, but was also let down by the guys around him.

The critics have had a field day with last season, but I�ve put my money where my mouth was on this. I currently have two bets worth 300 dollars on Roethlisberger�s play next season. I see nothing that leads me to doubt his ability, while there are positives. My opinion on him as a QB hasn�t wavered. He�s one of the best in the league.

I expect a big season. And Roethlisberger�s success will lead to the team�s success.