Big Ben

[fleaflicker]

He's come out and he's ready to play. He had 160 yards passing in the midst of a Florida thunderstorm, and threw one TD and one pick. Today he had 174 yards and no picks, and Pittsburgh is 2-0 with him starting. I think it might be good to leave him in even when Tommy Maddox does get healthy. The kid is good.

[LionPride]

Tommy is still the starter and should return when healthy. But I'm really looking forward to the Big Ben era starting next year. Ben will flop at some point this year, now that defenses have had a chance to study some of the "rookie" things I'm sure he's doing (I'm not claiming to know what they are, but I'm sure there are little things being picked up on). But he does look good on the field, and I'm as impressed with him as you are.

[ham55]

Tommy won't be the starter if Roethlisberger keeps on playing like he is, you're telling me that if Roethlisberger wins next week, goes into Dallas and gets a W there, that if Maddox is ready after the bye week that they will start a Q that has been out for 4 weeks to play the Pats, I don't think so, Ben might have earned the spot due to an injury, but how many times in all levels does the starting Q get hurt, the replacement comes in, and the former starter is now in the line at the unemployement office. Recently Gutierrez(sp?) from Michigan, Rix of FSU.

[LionPride]

[quote="bdftbllham55";p="63023"]Tommy won't be the starter if Roethlisberger keeps on playing like he is, you're telling me that if Roethlisberger wins next week, goes into Dallas and gets a W there, that if Maddox is ready after the bye week that they will start a Q that has been out for 4 weeks to play the Pats, I don't think so, Ben might have earned the spot due to an injury, but how many times in all levels does the starting Q get hurt, the replacement comes in, and the former starter is now in the line at the unemployement office. Recently Gutierrez(sp?) from Michigan, Rix of FSU.[/quote]

I didn't say it would happen that way, I said he SHOULD be the starter. At this point, I still believe that Tommy gives them the best chance to win. However, if Ben continues to rack up the wins, my opinion could change. I just think that after 2 games, it's premature to crown him. Give defenses a chance to figure him out and I think he's going to struggle. If that doesn't happen though, I may change my tune.

[Bedrock]

You'll get a sore crotch straddling the fence like that Lion.

I don't think it is possible to make a more safe statement than you did.

[ShipWrecked05]

I think that tommy will return as the starter when he is healthy. I'm not taking anything away from Ben, because he has shown that he is very mature at the QB position. Look at the teams that he has beaten. I think that he has not been really challenged in the last two games. The Dolphins and the Bengals. The Bengals are a much better team than the Dolphins at this point, but I agree that the crown should not be given to Big Ben at this point. Maybe after the next couple of games, then we can start to talk about him being the main QB.

[Coach]

The schedule provides lots of home games and games that are winnable. I think Ben is in and will stay in as long as we keep playing like this.

[fleaflicker]

Tommy Maddox is the injured starter at this point, but after seeing him go 144 yards against Oakland and 98 up to the third quarter against Baltimore, I'm unimpressed. Ben came in at the third quarter against Baltimore and threw for 176 yards, 2 TDs, and 2 picks. Against Miami in a rainstorm he had 166 yards and a TD, and a pick, which happens in the rain. And those two teams have tough defenses. Yesterday against Cincy, he had 174 yards, 1 TD, and no picks. He's doing pretty well, and I'm starting to think that maybe he does give the Steelers the best chance to win.

Recently in pro football, I'm sure you all know who Tom Brady is. He came in for an injured Drew Bledsoe 2 weeks into the season and Drew was out for an extended period of time (I think maybe 2-3 months). When Drew came back, Tom Brady still started, in the AFC Championship game, and the Super Bowl, both of which he won. That's doing pretty well for a 6th round draft pick only 1 or 2 years after he was drafted.

[ham55]

Miami's defense has been one of the most effective defense's in the NFL, it's just that the Offense for the Phins hasn't been anything special at all, they have been for the most part a stagnant offense, averaging less than 8 points a game. We will see this upcoming weekend what Roethlisberger can do in a pressure situation, the crowd wasn't really in the game last weekend, but rest assured that they will be up for the home Browns game.

Another reason Roethlisberger has been successful, he has got the ball to Plaxico Burress. And with the deep threat opening back up for the Steelers, Ward and Randel El are becoming more open in the underneath routes. In the first games of the season Burress had maybe 5 catches if he was lucky for less than 100, now since Ben has been in, he has had outings much better, and he almost had a t.d. catch yesterday. Things are begining to look up in the Steel City, if they can be 4-1 heading into Dallas this upcoming week and pick up a win there, look for this team to be extremely tough vs. the Pats after a bye week @ Heinz Field

[CTtrackster]

[quote="Bedrock";p="63060"]You'll get a sore crotch straddling the fence like that Lion.

[/quote]

I like that..good line bedrock. Ya, you need to make a decision. I say go Ben its sorry that maddox went down and lost the job, but I think Ben can do the same thing that Maddox can do, plus he adds a benefit that Tommy does not have...He can run. Ben will be a premire QB in this league.