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Big Ben confounds critics
By Dutch | November 7, 2009
In the quarter century that followed their win in Super Bowl XIV, the Pittsburgh Steelers had some very good offenses and intimidating, smash mouth defenses. Yet in all that time, they were unable to win another until they drafted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Since his arrival, they’ve won the NFL Title twice. And that’s in just a five-and-a-half year period.
The Steelers have averaged over eleven wins per season under Roethlisberger’s leadership, and it is the wins that he is best known for. He began his career by winning his first 14 games, as a rookie, in 2004 – one of the great sports feats of all time.
Not only did he win his first 14 games, but, in so doing, he laid claim to the best all-time rookie passer rating.
This year, New York Jets QB Mark Sanchez is proving that playing winning football as an NFL rookie is not an easy task. Not even a solid defense, massive offensive line, and good running game has saved Sanchez from costing his team wins. Sanchez was nicknamed “San-chise” (like “Franchise”) after he won his first couple of games. Imagine the scene in the Big Apple if Sanchez would have gone on to win his first 14.
They might have forgotten all about Joe Namath.
Despite all of his early success, it seems that Roethlisberger has not been given his just due. When the Patriots win, it is because of Tom Brady. When the Colts win, it is because of Peyton Manning. When the Saints win, it is because of Drew Brees (who has become the media’s new flavor of the month QB).
But when the Steelers win, it just seems like a lot of people are given the credit. The truth of the matter is that all winning quarterbacks are supported by their team. That includes Manning, Brady, and Brees.
Still Roethlisberger has been largely misrepresented by print and broadcast media his entire career.
Through his first four years, Roethlisberger wasn’t the game manager that so many labeled him. He was more like Joe Montana. A game-changer.
BEN ROETHLISBERGER – JOE MONTANA COMPARISON (entering their fifth years as starters)
Montana played in 56 games during his first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger played in 56 games during his first four years as a starter
Montana had 28 wins during his first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger had 39 wins during his first four years as a starter
Montana won a Super Bowl during his second season as a starter
Roethlisberger won a Super Bowl during his second season as a starter
Montana had a 63.5 completion percentage through first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger has a 63.2 completion percentage through first four years as a starter
Montana had 77 TD passes through first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger had 84 TD passes through first four years as a starter
Montana’s team went 10-6 in his fourth year as a starter
Roethlisberger team went 10-6 in his fourth year as a starter
Roethlisberger had two more touchdown passes than Montana in his first year as a starter
Montana had two fewer interceptions than Roethlisberger in his first year as a starter
Montana averaged 17 touchdown passes per year during his first three years as starter
Roethlisberger averaged 17 touchdown passes per year through his first three years as starter
Montana’s team averaged 141 yards rushing per game in his fourth year
Roethlisberger’s team averaged 139 yards rushing per game in his fourth year
Montana’s team failed to gain 100 Rushing yards in four games in fourth year
Roethlisberger’s team failed to gain 100 rushing yards in four games in his fourth year
Montana had 1622 pass attempts through first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger had 1436 pass attempts through first four years as a starter
Montana had 11,880 passing yards through first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger had 11,673 passing yards through first four years as a starter
Montana averaged 7.3 yards per pass attempt through first four years as starter
Roethlisberger averaged 8.1 yards per attempt through first four years as a starter
In Montana’s third season as a starter, he finished below .500
In Roethlisberger’s third season as a starter, he finished below .500
Montana had a TD percentage of 5.5% during first year as a starter
Roethlisberger had a TD percentage of 5.8% during first year as a starter
Montana’s longest pass completion through his first four years as starter was 78 yards
Roethlisberger’s longest pass completion through his first four years as starter was 85 yards
Montana had a 89.7 passer rating through first four years as a starter
Roethlisberger had a 92.5 passer rating through first four years as a starter
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Topics: NFL, Sports, Steelers | 1 Comment »
November 9th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
I think of Ben as a combo of Montana and Elway
Manning is like Marino