It has been an uninspiring first half of the season for the Ben Roethlisberger and by extension, the Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense. But Roethlisberger says he’s poised to turn things around in the second chapter of 2016. As he told 93.7 on his weekly radio show today via ESPN.
“We’re at halftime, and we’ve had a lot of great second halves in my career and Pittsburgh Steelers’ season history…It’s not over yet, and I’m excited for the second half of the season.”
Last year, the Steelers were 4-4 at the midway point. They finished things at a 6-2 clip and into the playoffs. The same story took place in 2014. A 5-3 start, a 6-2 finish. Even in 2013, when they finished just 8-8 after a horrid 0-4 start, went 6-2 in the second half of the season to finish strong.
Roethlisberger and Pittsburgh will certainly need it. Ben’s numbers are just mild, even acknowledging he missed a game. He’s completed only 62% of his throws, which would be his lowest mark since 2010, and on pace to throw 14 interceptions. He’s on pace to throw double-digit picks in back-to-back years for the first time since the 2008-2009 seasons.
But you don’t need the specific numbers. Roethlisberger hasn’t been great, the Steelers’ haven’t been great. That turnaround begins this Sunday against a tough Dallas Cowboys team, sitting at 7-1 with a rookie quarterback and running back.
Roethlisberger uttered a line we’ve heard time and time again from coaches and players: do your job.
“I think everybody needs to be accountable, that’s from being where you need to be when you’re supposed to be there to doing your job and not trying to do everybody else’s job.”
That starts with this offense finding a #2 receiver, preferably Sammie Coates, to emerge opposite Antonio Brown, taking the pressure off him and giving Big Ben another consistent target.
