AUBREY BRUCE
During the 2012 off-season some very interesting things happened as far as the Pittsburgh Steelers are concerned.
Going against the popular belief, the most significant event that occurred entering into the 2012 Steelers campaign was Ben Roethlisberger’s wedding. “Big” Ben then had surgery when the 2013 mini-camp was about to begin. Now he continues to bark about not fully “understanding” the playbook terminology during the transitional period that the Pittsburgh Steelers Offensive Coordinator Todd Haley was hired. “Big” Ben continues deflecting criticism of his sometimes erratic performances on Todd Haley and his offensive playbook, the offensive line, the lack of interceptions and turnovers by the defense.
In a story written by Alan Robinson and published by the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Roethlisberger said, “We had everybody here and one new guy came. When he came in, he brought in his stuff and said, ‘Here’s what we’re going to do.’ “We would get things and we would say, ‘Oh, we know this play it’s the same thing we had but it’s called completely different. So why not call it the same thing?’ So there was a lot of frustration with that. I had them [disagreements] with BA (Bruce Arians) and coach Whis (Ken Whisenhunt). I think they got blown up.”
Ben also said, “I think it was big of Todd to say. ‘OK, let’s change it to things you are more comfortable with.’ Not everything went to a change, but it was nice we all got together.” Roethlisberger also said in the interview with Robinson that “I pulled a couple of the offensive guys aside this offseason and said, ‘Hey, listen I would like to take more of a leadership role of the whole team, and I’d like you guys to be more of the offensive leaders.”
The Steelers offense was ranked 21st in 2012, No. 12 in 2011, No. 14 in 2010. No. 7 in 2009, No. 22 in 2008. Are you kidding me? If indeed Roethlisberger is Pittsburgh’s “franchise” quarterback then by all statistical indicators he or the offense was not very good during the past five seasons regardless of what his personal statistics might suggest.
Now get this, ya can’t tie Todd Haley for the previous four seasons. C’mon now a “franchise” QB has to at least have his offense crack the top ten of a 32 team league, especially when the Offensive Coordinator is your “homeboy.” That’s not me talking ladies and gents, the numbers speak for themselves.
Also, please remember that he threw a “sophomoric” like pick against the Bengals last December that extinguished the Steelers chances of making the 2012 playoffs.
Gregg Rosenthal posted this from ‘Around The League’ on nfl.com: “Trying to make some late-game magic, Roethlisberger threw an inexcusable interception with just 14 seconds left. Dalton delivered one of his best throws of the day on the ensuing play, hitting A.J. Green for 21 yards, and Josh Brown sent the Steelers fans home unhappy with a game-winning, 43-yard field goal.”
Roethlisberger continued on with his “after the fact” pseudo introspection by telling Will Graves of AP that, “We should be (in the playoffs) if it wasn’t for me.” Wah, wah, wah, wah, wah. Being a leader means doing the right things on the field and off the field including learning all of the systems that your coaches have in place and not being catered to and babied on a minute-by-minute basis. but enough of Sesame Street.
Lets now turn our attention to the “Big Nasty D” of the Black & Gold. The Steelers have officially lost all-universe linebacker James “the sledgehammer” Harrison. His potential replacement on defense was ranked No. 1 in total defense is linebacker Jason Worilds. In 2011 the defense was ranked No. 1, No. 2 in 2010, No. 5 in 2009, No. 1 in 2008.
How can you even let a drop of spit fly from your mouth when you discuss the Steelers defense? Steelers veteran linebacker Larry Foote was smiling when he recently said; “Everybody is always counting us out, talking about our age. The guys in that locker room, we like to prove people wrong, and that’s our nature.” As far as losing linebacker James Harrison is concerned Foote said, “Those are some big shoes to fill. He’s been our hammer around here for quite some time. Guys have to step up and own that spot. [Linebacker Jason] Worilds took some big steps last year. Everybody knows that. We’re going to need him to take another leap for us to get back to the top. We’re going to need [Jarvis] Jones to keep growing and it’s going to be fun seeing those guys battle.”
The real franchise “back” that Pittsburgh cannot afford to be without is cornerback Ike Taylor. Being the top defensive back on the number one overall defense would seem, at least to me, to carry more juice than being the number one quarterback on the 21st ranked offense regardless of how the local sports “scribes” try to “spin” it. After Ike’s ankle injury against the Ravens the Pittsburgh squad proceeded to lose three games in a row and were knocked out of the playoffs.
Talk about franchise “quarterback,” how about franchise “cornerback”? As the 2012 season was rapidly concluding just one defensive stop in the Steelers loss in Dallas to the Cowboy’s 24-20 in overtime or a defensive “stiffening” in their loss to the Bengals 13-10 at Heinz Field the next week would have propelled them into the postseason.
Were the Steelers better or worse off losing Ben Roethlisberger from the 21st ranked offense or losing Ike Taylor from the No. 1 ranked overall defense? The numbers indicate to me and anyone else with a significant amount of brain matter that if Ike Taylor had finished out the 2102 season, the Steelers would have more than likely qualified for at least a wild card berth in the 2012 postseason.
Pittsburgh had better stop trying to be like “Mike” and be more like “Ike.”
(Aubrey Bruce can be reached at abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412-583-6741)
Your comments are welcome.
Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier
Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl
Download our mobile app at https://www.appshopper.com/news/new-pittsburgh-courier