Steelers Vertex: Examining the value of QB Ben Roethlisberger

Since one of the crucial urgent points going through the Steelers this offseason is methods to deal with the contracts of numerous gamers with massive wage cap hits, we’re going to take this chance to interrupt down the participant statistics, wage cap implications, and play on the sphere to assist decide what can be within the Steelers’ greatest curiosity. This would be the give attention to our Steelers Vertex sequence over the following a number of weeks.

Beginning off with the apparent selection of Ben Roethlisberger to kick issues off, we’ll depart it as much as YOU, the readers, to assist decide which participant we’ll take a look at subsequent. For now, will probably be gamers beneath contract for the 2021 season however the Steelers might want to contemplate if they’ll retain, prolong, or launch.

Let’s get a fast reminder of the place this nerdiness is coming from.

Vertex– a single level the place two or extra traces cross.

Typically to make an awesome level, it takes two totally different methods of study to come back collectively and construct off one another to be able to drawl a correct conclusion. On this case, the 2 strategies are statistical evaluation and movie breakdown. Enter Dave Schofield (the stat geek) and Geoffrey Benedict (the movie guru) to come back collectively to show a single level based mostly on our two traces of considering.

As said above, the subject at hand this week is Ben Roethlisberger and making a case for if the Steelers ought to have him play out the remainder of his contract, work a contract extension, or launch him.

Right here comes the breakdown from two totally different traces of study.

The Stats Line:

Relating to the 2020 season, Ben Roethlisberger got here off of elbow surgical procedure and led the Steelers to a franchise-best 11-game profitable streak to start out the season. Whereas issues had been using excessive for the Steelers, they had been loads of considerations even because the Steelers had been profitable video games. Sadly, these considerations caught up with them because the season completed up.

Roethlisberger threw for 33 regular-season touchdowns in 2020 which was just one behind his profession better of 34 in 2018. Showing in a single much less sport, Roethlisberger would have presumably hit a profession excessive on this division had he performed the ultimate sport of the common season. Roethlisberger additionally had 10 interceptions on the season which was the fewest he had thrown since 2014 aside from his sport and a half performed in 2019. Roethlisberger did had six interceptions in a five-game stretch going from Week 11 to Week 15. The one sport Roethlisberger didn’t have an interception since Week 10 was the Steelers victory in Week 16 over the Indianapolis Colts. Sadly, Roethlisberger added 4 interceptions within the Steelers Wild Card loss.

Ben Roethlisberger additionally completed with a 65.6 completion proportion in the course of the common season, which was greater than 1% larger than his profession common. Essentially the most regarding statistic from Roethlisberger this season was he eclipsed the 600 passing try mark for the third time in his profession. With 608 makes an attempt each in 2020 and in 2014, the one season by which Roethlisberger had extra was in 2018 when he threw 675 passes. To place this quantity in perspective, Roethlisberger’s first NFL season by which he began all 16 video games was in 2008 which was the final time the Steelers gained the Super Bowl. In that season, Roethlisberger had 469 go makes an attempt, solely 77% of what he had in 2020.

Relating to Ben Roethlisberger’s wage, he is because of earn $19 million in 2021. The best way it’s damaged down, Roethlisberger has a $4 million base wage and a $15 million roster bonus due on the third day of the 2021 league yr. The largest knock on Roethlisberger’s wage is the $22.25 million in useless cash which can rely in direction of the 2021 wage cap regardless. Mixed together with his wage, Roethlisberger is because of rely $41.25 million in opposition to the Steelers 2021 wage cap.

The choices on the subject of Roethlisberger is for him to both retire or be launched which might save the the Steelers the $19 million in wage he’s due. Ought to Roethlisberger retire, the Steelers might try and regain a portion of his signing bonus since he didn’t end out his contract, however this might be one thing uncharacteristic of the Steelers group.

One different choice can be to present Roethlisberger an extension the place the $19 million quantity could possibly be minimize down dramatically, and even renegotiated, and unfold out over a number of years. Whether or not or not Roethlisberger would play nevertheless a few years he can be prolonged can be irrelevant.

So are Roethlisberger’s statistics and wage price conserving him round for 2021? Let’s try the movie to interrupt down what Roethlisberger brings to the desk…

The Movie Line:

Ben Roethlisberger isn’t the identical quarterback the Steelers had beneath middle, 10 years in the past, and even 5 years in the past. He’s approaching 40, and is clearly on the downturn of a Corridor of Fame profession. To guage him coming again we’re going to take a look at three issues: What he brings to the desk, what he struggles with, and what he must succeed.

The Good

Earlier than the 2020 season Ike Taylor instructed us essentially the most precious factor Ben Roethlisberger brings to the workforce is from the neck up. That held true all through the 2020 season, and will Roethlisberger return for an 18th season within the black and gold, it’s what he’ll usher in 2021.

Week 5, 4th quarter, 3:04. Chase Claypool is the third receiver from the underside of the display.

This play sealed the Steelers fifth win of the season, and have become much more well-known after the sport when it was revealed that Ben Roethlisberger gave Claypool an audible that he then needed to clarify, as a result of it wasn’t one thing the rookie had discovered. At that time within the season Roethlisberger had logged extra playoff video games than Claypool had NFL targets. Main a younger workforce with the power to lean on his expertise was an unlimited optimistic.

Week 9, 4th quarter, 15:00. JuJu Smith-Schuster is the third receiver from the highest.

It is a basic Ben Roethlisberger second, he pump fakes to Eric Ebron (second from prime) and it pulls defenders to Ebron, giving Smith-Schuster loads of room in entrance of the safeties for the go. Smith-Schuster does the remaining, getting the ball into the top zone. At his age, Ben Roethlisberger nonetheless has a very good arm and the instruments to make use of it intelligently. Roethlisberger had some dangerous video games later within the season, however even with these video games he posted one of many lowest interception charges of his profession, and he posted his greatest TD/INT ratio since 2012.

The Dangerous

Father time is undefeated, and the very first thing to go along with age is a gamers athleticism. That reveals up clearly in Ben Roethlisberger’s 2020 movie. A participant as soon as most identified for his capability to evade strain and break tackles is now one of many least elusive quarterbacks within the NFL.

Week 14, third quarter, 10:01.

The Bills win the battle to the fitting aspect of the road, and you may see that Roethlisberger’s motion is essentially simply little steps and hops at this level. He backs away and braces for the hit. It isn’t simply his incapacity to evade sacks both. Roethlisberger noticed a very good variety of tipped passes as he doesn’t have the fluid motion within the pocket that he used to, and it permits defenders to intrude together with his throwing movement and lanes extra typically.

Week 14, third quarter, 5:40.

A step up and that throw is clear, however that isn’t Ben Roethlisberger at this stage of his profession. We additionally noticed that whereas many quarterbacks reply to getting strain by leaving the pocket earlier, with Roethlisberger we see him begin throwing faster, throwing to his first goal regardless of if they’re open or not, and lobbing prayers deep as an alternative of ready for somebody to come back open.

How one can get essentially the most out of Ben Roethlisberger in 2021

There’s no miracle serum that may carry again the 2010-2017 model of Ben Roethlisberger, the Steelers can both minimize ties with one of the best quarterback to ever play for the franchise, or they’ll do their greatest to set him up for achievement. Three key issues have to occur to set Roethlisberger up for achievement in 2021.

1. Spend money on the offensive line. A brand new line coach is already on the menu, however the Steelers might want to make investments draft picks and cash into the road to purchase their quarterback extra time to function.

2. Higher scheme and execution. We’ve talked a very good bit about movement and play motion this yr, issues Matt Canada was employed to carry to the offense, and I’ve talked about Ben Roethlisberger’s struggles utilizing them.

Wild Card Sport, 1st quarter, 10:53.

This play has movement and play-action. After which one deep route and the jet sweep movement man within the flat. Late within the play Benny Snell leaks awkwardly out of the pocket and Roethlisberger tries to get the ball to him as he’s getting hit, and it’s the primary of his 4 interceptions.

Take a look at this play, what’s the proper choice right here? Play design must be higher than this. Randy Fichtner is gone now and Matt Canada is anticipated to be the brand new offensive coordinator. This gained’t be Matt Canada working with the run sport, after which throwing movement into a number of of Randy Fichtner’s performs. Right here’s hoping he’s as much as the problem.

That brings us to the third factor that should occur.

3. A critical buy-in from Ben Roethlisberger. I’m not going to impugn Roethlisberger’s work ethic, he wasn’t in a position to throw for a very good portion of the offseason, was on a restricted throw rely when he returned, and the 2020 offseason in all probability had the least follow time in NFL historical past. However for 2021? Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Canada have to be hooked up on the hip this offseason. The Steelers want Ben Roethlisberger to study to learn performs he hasn’t up to now.

Week 16, 2nd quarter, 6:35.

Movement once more, and a close to interception. Ben Roethlisberger sees the linebacker goes to get beat by Eric Ebron and throws the ball, fully lacking the cornerback that’s dropping and who finally ends up with a very good shot on the ball.

Look late within the play on the jet movement man within the flat, and Benny Snell becoming a member of him. With the cornerback again that far, a go to Ray-Ray McCloud has an awesome probability to realize good yards right here with nobody near him and a lead blocker in Snell. This was on first and ten, within the first half and the Steelers are down 7. The quarterback has to know the choices and make the good learn. For Matt Canada’s offense to work, Ben Roethlisberger might want to get higher at studying the sphere particularly for that offense. That can take time, and hopefully this offseason the Covid-19 state of affairs will enable for that to occur.

The Level:

Ben Roethlisberger just isn’t the quarterback he as soon as was, nevertheless it doesn’t imply that he can’t be the best choice for the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2021 season. The $41.25 million wage cap hit can be extraordinarily tough to beat, but when the Steelers need Roethlisberger for just one season they may simply need to go along with it. The very best wager for the Steelers can be to get their quarterback on board with their offensive scheme for subsequent season, give him an improved offensive line, and cut back his 2021 wage cap as a lot as attainable. If the group can pull this off, Roethlisberger might nonetheless lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to a profitable season in 2021.

If.

Which participant would you prefer to see damaged down for subsequent weeks Steelers Vertex? Be sure to vote within the pole beneath.