In just reading the comments from Steelers franchise QB Ben Roethlisberger, it sounds like he’s not all that happy with the teams dismissal of his friend and offensive coordinator Bruce Arians.
Roethlisberger wants answers, and says he will look for and try to talk to team president Art Rooney II when he returns to Pittsburgh. Big Ben is currently in Hawaii getting ready for the Pro Bowl on Sunday.
“When I get back I’m going to go up to Mr. Rooney’s office and ask him what he wants from me, what he wants from this offense, because I think that’s a viable question for him,” Roethlisberger said Thursday in an exclusive interview with the Tribune-Review following a light Pro Bowl practice. “He’s our owner and our boss, so I really would like to know kind of what he wants and where he sees our offense going because I’d like to tell him where I see us going.”
Arians and Roethlisberger were good pals on and off the field. The QB took Arians and his wife to Hawaii as a thank you gift for helping him reach the next level and make the Pro Bowl.
Instead of a fun trip, it will be more of a ‘good-bye’ with the OC not coming back after he did not have his contract renewed. Roethlisberger says the offense was making big strides with the more pass happy style.
“We feel like we are really close to being an elite offense,” said Roethlisberger. “For your leader to be gone is kind of a shocker for us, but you’ve got to be ready for it, and whatever the Rooneys and coach (Mike) Tomlin decide is our next step. I think the (Steelers’) mind was made up, and B.A. was kind of ready to move on as well.”
The Steelers finished 12th in the NFL in total offense, averaging 372.3 yards per game this past season. They tied for 21st in scoring (20.3 points per game).
Rooney also said during an interview this week on the Steelers official site that the offense needs to have less sacks, and that Roethlisberger needs to “tweak” his game.
“From what I understood from that was, just not get hit to so much,” said Roethlisberger, who was sacked 40 times in 15 regular-season games in 2011. “I think some of that’s on me; some of that’s on linemen. It’s on everybody, so I’ll put it on me and try to make those adjustments.”
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Pingback: groovgames.com :: Blog Archive :: Steelers QB Roethlisberger Not Happy the Way Bruce Arians Situation Went Down
siggy
January 28, 2012 at 4:31 am
Um…a few inaccuracies….
1. Arians did not go to Hawaii.
2. When you hear the audio, it is not as bad/dramatic as the Trib implies.
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/?podcast_url=http%3A%2F%2Fcbspittsburgh.files.wordpress.com%2F2012%2F01%2Fben-roethlisberger-1-26.mp3&podcast_name=Ben+Roethlisberger&podcast_artist=93.7+The+FAN&station_id=&audio_link=true&config_file=config.xml&dcid=CBS.PITTS
You’re welcome.
Matt Loede
January 28, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Um, looks like the Post-Gazette confirmed what I am reporting:
The Steelers quarterback is taking Arians and his wife to Hawaii with him next week as a reward for him making the Pro Bowl.
Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/12021/1205041-66-3.stm#ixzz1knQb5ejf
Your welcome
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Ben Dover
January 28, 2012 at 5:30 pm
How pretentious is Ben Roethlisberger? Imagine if you strode into your boss and made such a ridicules arrogant statement, how long do you think it would be before you were looking for a new job?
Roethlisberger needs to understand that he is not the Pittsburgh Steelers, he’s merely a Steeler. That huge contract he signed with Art Rooney II doesn’t give him a role in personel decisions with the franchise; he’s a player, not a co-owner, he has no say in who comes and goes. Ben, shut your mouth and play football leave the big decisions to the Rooneys.
As for the sacks, throw the ball away if you don’t have an open receiver and the Steelers’ sack total will be cut in half. It’s not all about you. In Ben’s interview before Super Bowl XLIII he said he thinks that fans cheer when he holds on to the ball too long and takes sacks. I for one don’t, I’d rather see him think more about what’s best for the Pittsburgh Steelers, rather than making a hero of himself. It’s not all about you Ben.
DrGeorge
January 28, 2012 at 8:38 pm
You’re right, Ben D, but we’ve been singing that song on here over a year. And the problem is broader than Ben R. Under Arians, the Steelers offense pursued stats at the expense of winning. Remember Tomlin’s talk with the receivers about letting ego get in the way of team objectives? Or Wallace sleep walking through the last six games? Ben R. is not the only prima donna on the squad. Discipline is one of the first items the new OC must address.
SBSteelers
January 29, 2012 at 6:38 pm
I’m not so sure Arians pursued stats over wins – that’s wild conjecture. Arians is gone and this is what a lot of Steelers fans have been complaining about for several years – the sack total is way too high and the offense doesn’t score enough TDs when in the red zone.
Ultimately the OC is responsible for the offense. When you produce stats though give up sacks & injuries maybe it works out and maybe it doesn’t. Everyone knows the only stat that counts are wins and Arians was part of 3 SBs and lots of wins. So he’s got to be given some credit for that. Nevertheless the brain trust was not satisfied. All we can do for sure is guess what the reasons were. For all we know maybe this was a collective decision between Tomlin and ownership – who knows? And about the only thing we do know for sure is that Ben was not consulted about making this decision.
Jack
January 29, 2012 at 9:24 pm
I wrote a snail mail to Mike Tomlin two years ago and he never answered…not surprising….
I told Tomlin he needs to see to it that the Steelers hire a separate red zone coach.