The views of the authors on this website are not neccessarily the views of the website. All comments are solely the responsibility of those who write them.

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Big Ben one big worry for the Broncos' defense

André Goodman shakes his head every time he talks about Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. How can somebody 6-foot-5 and 240 pounds be so deceptive?
The next time Roethlisberger tips off a defender will be the first time, the veteran Broncos cornerback said. When Goodman looks into Roethlisberger's eyes, he sees a riverboat gambler holding back all his cards.
"You try to get a read on him in his drop. But there's nothing he gives away that can help you get a jump on the ball," Goodman said this week. "You try to key on whether it's a three-, five- or seven-step drop. But even then, he's a 'gunslinger' type of quarterback and it's not conventional."
Goodman and all the Broncos' defenders expect the "same old Big Ben" on Sunday afternoon when the Steelers (12-4) enter Sports Authority Field at Mile High for an AFC wild-card playoff game against the Broncos. And if Roethlisberger trots out with a noticeable limp because of his injured left ankle, that's when the Broncos' defense had really better be careful not to let its guard down, Pro Bowl cornerback Champ Bailey added.
"I know how tough he is," Bailey said.
Roethlisberger was listed as probable for Sunday's game after he practiced full-go Friday. He suffered a high ankle sprain Dec. 8 in a win over Cleveland but played the following game against San Francisco before shutting down for a week.
Roethlisberger started New Year's Day against the Browns and acknowledged this week that he suffered a "setback" in the second half of that game.
Broncos players suggested Roethlisberger would still be dangerous if he had to hop around on one leg.
"I was watching their first Cleveland game," Bailey said, "and there's no way he should have gone back in. But he did. The Steelers were pretty much already in the playoffs. So to see him go back in the game, that shows his toughness."
In addition to Roethlisberger's deception, opponents say his combination of finesse and brute force sets him apart.
"First, you have to realize that he can make every throw," Goodman said. "He has great zip on the ball. He also can put touch on his throws. There's nothing you can take advantage of."
But it's when Roethlisberger sheds a pass rusher or slides out of the pocket that he really puts defensive backs in a bind.
"Roethlisberger extends the play like no one else," Goodman said. "That's something he's perfected. He doesn't go down easily for the guys trying to get to him.
"He's the toughest one to bring down, the absolutely toughest. He has a good feel for the pocket, and he knows how to get outside the pocket."
It's next to impossible for any cornerback, even an all-pro such as Bailey, to stay with a receiver when a play is extended. And the Steelers' fleet of receivers, including Mike Wallace, Hines Ward and Antonio Brown, is regarded as being among the NFL's fastest.
"I see people hit Ben so much, and he just shakes it off, shakes it off," Bailey said. "He keeps the play going. That's what makes him so tough. It affects us tremendously. Now you've got (receivers) that are fast, running fast routes. And then they go into a second route, getting open for him. That presents a problem.
"I hope our (pass rushers) get him down with one shot, one tackle," Bailey added. "When you've got a guy that is as accurate as he is, when he gets out of the pocket and there is nobody in his face, there's no distraction. It becomes easy for him."
Making the challenge even tougher for Denver's secondary is Roethlisberger's ability to pump-fake, Goodman said.
"He's the best pump-faker in the league," Goodman said. "He can give you a full throwing motion with his fake. Most guys will lose the ball if they do that. He holds on to it. He's not the guy you want to jump the route on.
"What's crazy is, he's always been so talented. I remember facing him his rookie year (2004) when I was in Detroit. I remember the same guy. It's crazy to think, but it was a preseason game and he was the same guy. He always had that poise about him. You just hope the defense gets enough pressure on him so he might make a mistake."

No comments: