LATROBE, Pa. – Once upon a time, a night practice at Latrobe Stadium ended with a couple of sets of the goal-line drill, a lively and often entertaining exercise to be sure, but also one that relegated the quarterback to the bit part of simply handing off the ball.
That was Bill Cowher's version. Mike Tomlin handled night practice a little differently, in that nothing done under the lights hadn't been done on just any other afternoon at St. Vincent College.
It was a two-hour regular practice that provided very dry viewing for the fans through more than the opening 60 minutes, but then things got a little interesting when Tomlin's practice script put the football in Ben Roethlisberger's hands.
It was a red zone drill, first-team offense vs. first-team defense, and this is in keeping with Tomlin's wont of scheduling periods of situational football within the context of a complete practice. And it doesn't always necessarily have to happen at the end.
The first situation was second-and-7 at the 16-yard line. Roethlisberger dropped back and drilled a perfect pass over the middle to Hines Ward, who caught the ball in front of Anthony Smith at the goal line and got into the end zone for a touchdown.
The second situation was a first-and-10 from the 19-yard line. This time the formation had two tight ends on the field, and Roethlisberger threw a similar pass to a similar spot over the middle. But this time it was incomplete, with one of the reasons being the simple fact intended receiver Jerame Tuman isn't as slick a route-runner as Ward.
The third snap was a third-and-6 at the 11-yard line. Roethlisberger went to his left this time and fired a bullet between Tyrone Carter and Bryant McFadden that stuck between the 8 and the 0 on Cedrick Wilson's jersey. Don't underestimate the job Wilson did to hold onto that throw, either. Touchdown No. 2.
Next play, first-and-goal from the 10-yard line. Again, with the multiple tight ends, and Roethlisberger goes back to the right side of the field with a perfect fade pattern to Heath Miller in the back corner of the end zone. Ricardo Colclough had pretty decent coverage, but he also had no chance because of the execution of the throw and the catch. Touchdown No. 3.
He gets knocked down WAYYYYYY too much for having a rough year. People forget he is still a young QB. Their is a reason why he was a top 5 prospect coming out, and he has played up to that. Their are improvements to be made, yes. But he is still a very good young QB.
comeback player of the year, BU hates him but this is gonna be his breakout year......keep doubting though, i know you will BU54 lol, he was good his first 2 years, did enough to win and handled himself great....he was good but far from a finished product....hes gonna have a good year, just stay healthy lol
comeback player of the year, BU hates him but this is gonna be his breakout year......keep doubting though, i know you will BU54 lol, he was good his first 2 years, did enough to win and handled himself great....he was good but far from a finished product....hes gonna have a good year, just stay healthy lol
KT your making progress. That's the first post I can remember that you don't think Bens god. But you still keep getting it wrong about me. I never have hated Ben, just those that think he's god/the next Montana.
__________________ Bears always have and always will need a quarterback!! But not a MLB.
10-7-07 Bears 27,Packers 20
12-23-07 Bears 35, Packers 7
Then Brett Favre became a Jet...
comeback player of the year, BU hates him but this is gonna be his breakout year......keep doubting though, i know you will BU54 lol, he was good his first 2 years, did enough to win and handled himself great....he was good but far from a finished product....hes gonna have a good year, just stay healthy lol
he cant be comeback player of the year he finished the season if mcnabb finishes the season he will get it
KT your making progress. That's the first post I can remember that you don't think Bens god. But you still keep getting it wrong about me. I never have hated Ben, just those that think he's god/the next Montana.
i dont expect him to put up #s like manning or montana, but its not crazy to think of him as more of an aikmen type QB....aikmen never had the insane numbers but hes one of the best....i just think everyone was to hard on ben for last year when i blame cowher mostly for letting him play and not caring about anything. ben didnt get any credit for winning when he was 27-4 but he got all the credit for losing when we were 8-8
Roethlisberger looking good
Roethlisberger looking good
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