According to the latest post by STATS, Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger currently has the league’s second highest passer rating on play action passes (130.7) to go along with 8 touchdown passes and 0 interceptions. Roethlisberger is second only to Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers in passer rating, as Rodgers boast a 145.3 passer rating to go along with a stat line of 12 touchdowns and 1 interception.
| PLAYER | COMP | ATT | COMP % | YDS | YPA | TD | INT | RATING |
| Aaron Rodgers |
57
|
84
|
68% |
1074
|
12.8 |
12
|
1
|
145.3
|
| Ben Roethlisberger |
34
|
58
|
59% |
560
|
9.7 |
8
|
0
|
130.7
|
| Matt Schaub |
58
|
83
|
70% |
1137
|
13.7 |
8
|
3
|
129.5
|
| Matt Ryan |
56
|
75
|
75% |
663
|
8.8 |
6
|
1
|
122.3
|
| Matthew Stafford |
36
|
59
|
61% |
471
|
8.0 |
6
|
1
|
113.0
|
One thing to note in the listing of the top 5 quarterbacks though is that Roethlisberger has the fewest attempts of the group and also lowest completion percentage. He is also way behind Rodgers and Matt Schaub in the yards per attempt stat on play action.
The post also points out though that the Cincinnati Bengals defense ranks last in the league against the play-action pass, surrendering a passer rating of 144.7 and seven touchdown passes. No stat line is included however to check the completion percentage and yards per attempt allowed, so it is hard to see anything past the passer rating number and touchdowns. It would be nice to see the completion percentage and yards per attempt.
The Steelers of course host the Bengals this Sunday at Heinz Field so I went back and re-watched the first meeting back in week 10 to see how often the Steelers used play action, and what the results were.
In total, Roethlisberger used play action to a running back 7 times and completed just 3 of 7 passes for 43 yards. Three of those passes were to Rashard Mendenhall, two went to wide receivers and two went to tight ends. The most notable completion of the 3 was the late short pass to Weslye Saunders that was good for a first down after a nice effort by Saunders after the catch. That play action stat line for Roethlisberger in that game converts to just a 63.3 passer rating if you are scoring at home.
Although I appreciate the post by STATS, there is quite a bit more to ranking quarterbacks than just by passer rating. Also not knowing the stat line for the Bengals defense, makes them hard to fully judge.
I will watch play action closely this time around against the Bengals and will likely update this post with the results.
Below are the passing plays from week 11 that Roethlisberger used play action in:
2-7-PIT 25 (7:31) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 34-R.Mendenhall to CIN 49 for 26 yards (42-C.Crocker).
1-10-CIN 20 (4:35) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short middle to 89-J.Cotchery.
2-10-CIN 20 (4:29) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 34-R.Mendenhall (93-M.Johnson). {Tipped at the line of scrimmage}
1-10-PIT 13 (7:36) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete deep left to 84-A.Brown (29-L.Hall, 20-R.Nelson).
1-10-PIT 36 (4:11) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass incomplete short left to 34-R.Mendenhall [99-M.Lawson].
1-10-PIT 33 (12:16) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short middle to 85-D.Johnson to PIT 39 for 6 yards (58-R.Maualuga).
2-8-PIT 33 (2:22) 7-B.Roethlisberger pass short right to 82-W.Saunders to PIT 44 for 11 yards (99-M.Lawson; 92-F.Rucker).
