Ben Roethlisberger announced to the world today that he had suffered a "setback" in Sunday's 13-9 win at Cleveland.
Roethlisberger said the setback put him back a week in his recovery from a high ankle sprain. Even at that, however, playing Roethlisberger in Cleveland was the right move for Mike Tomlin to make.
Here's why:
Had Roethlisberger sat out the game against the Browns, he would have gone into Sunday's game at Denver not having played in three weeks.
That's too much inactivity and the Steelers may not have been able to handle the quarter or half it took for Roethlisberger to shake off the cobwebs.
In addition, had the Steelers started Charlie Batch and lost at Cleveland - and Cincinnati had beaten Baltimore – the Steelers would have looked pretty silly for not starting Roethlisberger, who was feeling good before the game against the Browns.
As it is, Roethlisberger said he feels as good now as he did prior to the game against St. Louis. That's better than he felt before the game at San Francisco.
© There's an undercurrent in the Pittsburgh locker room that Tim Tebow is getting too much attention this week.
Nobody is going to come right out and say it, but it's there if you read between the lines.
The Steelers feel like the Broncos defense has been winning games for the Broncos, not Tebow. They'll get a chance to end the Tebow mystique on Sunday.
© Isaac Redman said he's going to be a full-time back this week, playing all three downs.
That will change some next week if Mewelde Moore gets back, but rookie John Clay isn't going to help on third down at all.
And the Steelers will need Redman's third-down blocking as much as anything to help slow Denver's pass rush.
8 comments:
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I just hope Ben is healthy enough to get them through the Denver game.I am looking forward to see Redman as the top back and think troy going to bury Tebow
Forget about his ankle, he needs to rest his voice. Just shut up already, Ben.
The only way Denver beats the Steelers is if Ben's triple pump ego has a turnover meltdown.
Redman will do a good job as the starter, but I have a feeling that Clay will have to share the workload a little bit. It's hard to carry the ball 20-25 times at altitude, especially when you aren't used to carrying the ball that often.
good point about the altitude superfan.
i think there is an undercurrent in the entire sporting world that tebow is getting to much coverage. (except for the nfl brass) anyone watching sports for decades has saw players in nearly every sport say a quick prayer. not as big of a deal as they are trying to make it.
Dumerville weighs about 260 lbs. A good dose of a 240 and 250lb RB plus a 340+ lb OT right at him should take the edge off his pass rush.
adamg, that SHOULD work. But often our line still lets guys get through like that. Plus Dumervil is small and scrappy, always has his way to get to the qb
Max handled him excellently in 2009 though
This game goes one of two ways..a close nailbiter due to Steeler turnovers, the O looks as bad as they did against Cleveland for a variety of reasons (Ben's ankle, O-line shuffle with Pouncey out once again, lack of takeaways on D, ST breakdowns with Cortez Allen and Curtis Brown both out and our kicker yoinks a few as usual)-OR- They return a few Tebow throws for INT's (he can't really read D's yet), BB's ankle really is a lot better and he can step into throws and avoid the rush and the Steelers get a few easy ones from Antonio Brown.
I have little confidence that this team will perform well on the road. They haven't all year. But I think the Broncs are tailor made for a blowout win. I go with Plan B and see the Steelers winning 21-10.
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