Roethlisberger practices, looks like Steelers' Sunday starter

By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Ben Roethlisberger had the look of a starting quarterback again today, leading his offense through a full practice and leaving an impression on his teammates that he's ready to return to the field of play Sunday in Cleveland.

"He looked all right," Hines Ward said. "I don't know if he really ran around or stuff like that. He looked good so, with a week [off], he's feeling a little better, it definitley helped him.

"I'm sure he wants to get a little playing time before we head to the playoffs, considering we don't know the circumstances of what's going to happen."

Tackle Max Starks didn't have the best view of Roethlisberger since he lines up to block in front of him but said, "He didn't seem like anything was wrong" and predicted he would start: "I would assume so if he's taking snaps, yeah."

Read more: http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11362/1199885-100.stm?cmpid=steelers.xml#ixzz1hsYKwRHL

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game.

effyou515 wrote:

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game.

If Ben plays, and it's becoming more apparent that he will, he better be instructed to get rid of the ball and not try to extend plays. I'd rather go into the wildcard game with a healthy Ben than get the bye but have to play the first game with a healthy Batch.

Roethlisberger Practices, Hopes To Play Sunday
By: Chris Gates
December 29, 2011 8:39 AM

Ben Roethlisberger, Doug Legursky, Injury Report, James Harrison, LaMarr Woodley, Mewelde Moore, Mike Tomlin, Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers, Troy Polamalu
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) — Four injured Steelers returned to practice Wednesday, the most notable being quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Roethlisberger suffered a high-ankle sprain Dec. 8 against Cleveland and played through the injury Dec. 19 in a 20-3 loss at San Francisco on Monday Night Football. Roethlisberger sat out of Saturday’s 27-0 win against St. Louis and backup quarterback Charlie Batch got the start.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said in his weekly press conference Tuesday that he expects Roethlisberger and any other injured players to play at Cleveland Sunday if they are able to practice during the week.


“I’d like to play just because I like being out there but I don’t know if I necessarily need it,” Roethlisberger told the Tribune Review’s Scott Brown before practice Wednesday. “It would be nice to get another week of rest but I would prefer to play.”


(Read More:) http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2011/12/29/roethlisberger-practices-hopes-to-play-sunday/

im fine with starting him but if its obvious(like it was against the 9ers) that he cant plant his foot to make a proper throw then they should make the change (unlike they did in the 9ers game)

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game. I heard that on NFL network this morning.

Wallace108 wrote:

effyou515 wrote:

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game.

If Ben plays, and it's becoming more apparent that he will, he better be instructed to get rid of the ball and not try to extend plays. I'd rather go into the wildcard game with a healthy Ben than get the bye but have to play the first game with a healthy Batch.

You got that right. 25-30 plays with 5 of them being TD's Then go rest Ben,just chill.

solardave wrote:

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game. I heard that on NFL network this morning.

Wallace108 wrote:

effyou515 wrote:

read some where Tomlin looking at 25 - 30 plays for Ben in the Cleveland game.

If Ben plays, and it's becoming more apparent that he will, he better be instructed to get rid of the ball and not try to extend plays. I'd rather go into the wildcard game with a healthy Ben than get the bye but have to play the first game with a healthy Batch.

You got that right. 25-30 plays with 5 of them being TD's Then go rest Ben,just chill.

thats what I'm talkin about

Big Ben: Pain will determine status
Associated Press


PITTSBURGH -- Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger doesn't want his sprained left ankle to keep him out of Pittsburgh's regular-season finale Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

"As long as I can deal with pain, I'll be out there," Roethlisberger said Thursday. "I don't want to let the guys down, so I'll do what I can to be out there."

Roethlisberger, who sat out the Steelers' win last Sunday against the St. Louis Rams, fully participated in practice again Thursday. He said the ankle, sprained on Dec. 8 in Pittsburgh's last meeting with the Browns, was "a little sore." Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said he was "much more" confident in Roethlisberger's ability to play Sunday after watching his mobility improve in Thursday's practice.

Roethlisberger will play if he's healthy, Arians said.

"I want him out there but not at the risk of injuring himself," Arians said. "If he can't move around and get out of the way, there's no sense in getting him out there."


(Read More:) http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/7401196/pittsburgh-steelers-ben-roethlisberger-says-play-cleveland-browns-handle-pain

This high ankle sprain for Big Ben could be the downfall of our season. I know teams will be gearing up to test the ankle and that means three things have to happen to keep Ben safe:

1. Ben has to take the underneath stuff and stop trying to score in under 10 seconds.
2. The O-line has to do a much better job of protecting Ben
3. Arians needs to call a game that puts Ben in a safe situation

He has a cold now! He can't go play...I will be over to take care of him!

siss wrote:

He has a cold now! He can't go play...I will be over to take care of him!

Siss! Where the hell ya been?

And if you take care of him, just make sure you don't hurt the ankle more than it already is...deal?

HOLY CRAP! A Siss sighting!

How ya been, lady?

Siss stopped by? Did she bring cookies?

I hate to say it, but we're a better coached team without Ben under center. Makes some sense, I guess. Who was going to coach Jordan in Chicago? I'm not sure Ben is in Jordan territory yet, but he's close. I really wanted to see Charlie handle this one, but oh, well...

ricardisimo wrote:

I hate to say it, but we're a better coached team without Ben under center. Makes some sense, I guess. Who was going to coach Jordan in Chicago? I'm not sure Ben is in Jordan territory yet, but he's close. I really wanted to see Charlie handle this one, but oh, well...

I agree to some extent. They do seem to run the ball a little more with Batch under center. I think some of it is Batch himself knowing when to dump the ball off underneath. Ben is always looking for the big play first and will try to extend the play longer to try to hit it. He won't always take the short dump off for 8 yards when he should. Batch is a vet and knows his limitations.

I really wish Ben would take more of a page out of Batch's book concerning his decision making at times. I think the team would benefit greatly from a smarter, more reserved approach. It's either feast or famine with Ben. I'd rather see more consistency.

Buddha Bus wrote:

ricardisimo wrote:

I hate to say it, but we're a better coached team without Ben under center. Makes some sense, I guess. Who was going to coach Jordan in Chicago? I'm not sure Ben is in Jordan territory yet, but he's close. I really wanted to see Charlie handle this one, but oh, well...

I agree to some extent. They do seem to run the ball a little more with Batch under center. I think some of it is Batch himself knowing when to dump the ball off underneath. Ben is always looking for the big play first and will try to extend the play longer to try to hit it. He won't always take the short dump off for 8 yards when he should. Batch is a vet and knows his limitations.

I really wish Ben would take more of a page out of Batch's book concerning his decision making at times. I think the team would benefit greatly from a smarter, more reserved approach. It's either feast or famine with Ben. I'd rather see more consistency.

i dont want ben to change his game in any way. we have been to 3 superbowls with him under center. i doubt we get to any if he plays any other kind of way