What a fall for Roethlisberger and the Steelers. Through nine games Pittsburgh was 6-3 while riding a four game win streak. Big Ben was having one of his best seasons ever throwing 17 touchdowns against only 4 interceptions -- there was even talk about Roethlisberger as an MVP candidate -- League MVP.
And then came that horrible Monday game against the Kansas City "Chefs" that knocked Ben out for three games with a dangerous rib and shoulder injury. Since then the Steelers have dropped 5 of 6 including three in a row after Ben's return (during which time his TD/INT ratio is 6 to 4).
While many (and especially the Big Ben haters) will lay the blame for the the Steelers' downfall in the game and for the season only on Roethlisberger -- this is simple minded and wrong.
Ownership, management and coaching are all to blame too. Big Ben's game is making plays with his feet and throwing the ball down field. The offense has thrived in the no-huddle and Roethliserger's cut-loose, gunslinging, schoolyard style of play yielded two Super Bowl championships, three AFC titles and four AFC championship game appearances in a seven year span from 2004-2010. And in 2011 Pittsburgh posted a 12-4 record.
But ownership decided to change things (ostensibly, and not necessarily unreasonably) to try and preserve Ben's career. Ownership wanted a more run-oriented offense and wanted Ben to take less sacks by hurrying throws or throwing the ball away, rather than extending plays with his feet. To facilitate this new approach Offensive Coordinator Bruce Arians was fired (ahem, I mean "retired" before he "unretired" and took the same position at Indianapolis, before he became the interim Head Coach while leading the Colts into the playoffs with a rookie QB).
And, the Todd Haley offense was ushered in -- the most devastatingly predictable offense ever. First-and-run-stuffed-at-the-line, second-and-run-stuffed-at-the-line, third-and-obvious-pass-attempt-sacked. Worse yet, Coach Tomlin never demanded any adjustment--even in today's game with the season on the online and the Steelers needing only one more precious score to win the game.
For the game, and for the season, the running game was not there. The only chance Pittsburgh had to win the game today was to open up the offense and throw the ball down field. The Steelers did that once--only once--against Cincinnati even though it produced the game's only offensive touchdown. Trailing 10-0 with a minute to go before halftime Pittsburgh went no-huddle and it took Big Ben only two pass plays to get a touchdown!
And then, inexplicably, the no huddle was abandoned in the second half when the Steeler defense forced turnovers setting up the offense at midfield. It's wasn't Big Ben calling the first-and-run, second-and-run, third-and-obvious -- that's the offensive coordinator -- that's coaching -- and it SUCKED. Oh, and for this style keeping Ben from getting sacked -- he was sacked 6 times today before I stopped counting.
Again, anyone can blame it all on Ben. He's already apologized--and today--took all the blame on himself; but he's not the only one that needs to apologize. If ownership, management and coaching lays this all on Ben it will be toxic for the Steelers. There is plenty of blame to go around. And it needs to go around if the Steeler ship is going to be righted for 2013:
-- Ownership and management need to embrace the strengths of its franchise QB, and not try to make him (and his team) into something it isn't. Big Ben doesn't care to extend his career another five-to-seven years if those years are mediocre 7-9 seasons. He'd rather play all-out for the next three years and maybe win another championship in the process. Let him do it.
-- Coach Tomlin needs to stop cheerleading and start coaching. Learn to call a timeout, call for a two-point conversion even when the game looks "bleak", and drill your players about TWO HANDS ON THE FOOTBALL.
-- And together, ownership, management and Coach Tomlin need rethink its offensive coordinator. Hopefully, the rumors that Haley will go to Arizona to be its new Head Coach are true. Let him go. Maybe we can get Whisenhunt back. Or, maybe the Steeler ownership and management should let their franchise QB have some say in his play caller. If Haley is staying, then for crying out loud, let's run what the Cardinals did in 2008-09 when they went to the Super Bowl.
-- Bottom line: The Rooney's approach to go run-oriented and keep Ben from being Ben backfired -- woefully. Ben has owned up to his shortcomings this year, now it is time for the Art Rooney II, Mike Tomlin and Todd Haley to do the same.
Other parting shots . . .
A big wave-of-the-Terrible Towel to the Steeler defense today -- two interceptions, a fumble recovery and six sacks! I never heard so much Renegade this season as I did today -- there was even a "air towel" tribute.
Congratulations to the Cincinnati Bengals -- you'll be the team this disgusted Steeler fan will be pulling for this postseason. A full Steelers guide to the 2012-13 postseason will be forthcoming.
The Steeler Face was 3-5 in game forecasts for the season, 10-5 last year, 0-1 playoffs, and 13-11 all time (not that any of that matters). However, I hereby predict that the Steelers will beat the Browns next week. Why? Just because it will piss us all off even more that they didn't win today.
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