The Pittsburgh Steelers' future Hall of Fame Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been critical of the offensive play calling during his last two Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger podcasts. This week on Episode 14 of the weekly YouTube-based program, he welcomed his long-time center Maurkice Pouncey who joined cohost Spencer T’eo and Roethlisberger at a hotel room near the Bay Hill golf course in Orlando, FL to watch the Indianapolis Colts game on Monday Night Football.
PITTSBURGH, PA - JULY 28: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Matt Canada of the Pittsburgh Steelers look on during training camp at Heinz Field on July 28, 2021, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
During the previous episode of the podcast, he was very critical of the offensive strategy after the loss to the Cincinnati Bengals 37-30. Roethlisberger thought certain plays were called at the wrong time and hinted without naming Matt Canada that the offense needed to be revamped.
“I feel like there were some maybe ill-timed plays,” Roethlisberger said last week. “We got behind the sticks, whether it was execution or play calls, to not be in there, I hate to comment on something without knowing it. Some of the stuff was like (grunts), I don’t know it lacked something in the second half.”
After a loss, it is easier for observers to second guess strategy and Roethlisberger has inside knowledge of the situation and has been careful not to jump on the fire Matt Canada bandwagon. The legendary quarterback who played for Canada last season found fault with his former offensive coordinator again after the Steelers' 24-17 victory against the Colts.
“They do that play once a game,” Roethlisberger observed during the game winning drive. “I love Zach Gentry.”
“I would never give Zach Gentry a screen," Pouncey interrupted.
“Zach Gentry is awesome, he’s a great dude,” Roethlisberger continued. “They run this play once a game and he’s averaging -3 yards. I feel so bad for Zach because I hate that he does it. It just never is there.”
“That play never works in practice,” Pouncey retorted.
Photo Credit: Jordan Schofield / Steeler Nation (Twitter: JSKO Photo)
Zach Gentry is a good blocker and a huge target at 6'8" tall for Kenny Pickett. Pouncey’s point is valid because very low on the former Michigan quarterback’s list of attributes is open field running. The play is predictable, and it is not a good use of his talent. Connor Heyward and Pat Freiermuth are more dynamic runners if you are going to try a tight end screen and likely would wiggle for positive yards.
Neither legend directly said the offensive coordinator's name, but Pouncey admitted earlier in the podcast he did not like to watch Steelers games without Roethlisberger at quarterback and this was his first time watching an entire Pittsburgh game this season. He retired prior to Canada taking over as offensive coordinator and was not only able to predict the play is doomed to fail but it is being thrown to the wrong option at tight end.
Roethlisberger’s observation that they run that play every game and it fails repeatedly calls into question why they continue to call it. It has failed 11 weeks in a row and a coordinator needs to understand some plays have to be abandoned. If you as a coach in Week 11 of a losing season are so stubborn as to continue calling a play that always yields a negative result, it is not a solvable problem.
Canada has been criticized for bizarre, momentum-killing plays, and losing four yards on first and ten from the Indianapolis 24, when you are driving for the game-winning score, is just the latest example of how the coordinator is hurting drives. Luckily for Canada, Diontae Johnson bailed him out by getting them into third and manageable after an eight-yard grab and on the following play Freiermuth picked up a first down inside the five-yard line.
“Why are you flipping it with your left hand,” Roethlisberger asked out loud when they shovel passed to Derek Watt on the next play. “I understand that’s the play, it’s like a little lateral. At that moment when he (Kenny Pickett) flipped it left-handed the ball took a while to get there. If he would have just done a quick right-handed shovel it would get there quickly and more accurately, and Derek might have scored.”
Photo Credit: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images
Roethlisberger called for them to give Derek Watt the ball on first and goal at the three, but the play was slow developing and a fullback is not going to be able to improvise and make defenders miss on that kind of play. Similar to the screen pass to Gentry, the play design isn’t the only issue, it is who the play is designed to feature. Fullbacks who don’t often touch the ball like Watt need quick-hitting plays to catch defenses off guard.
The Steelers won the game and neither play ultimately doomed the game-winning drive but both lost yards on critical first downs. The Steelers' offense has struggled when they have gotten behind the sticks in 2022. When trailing in or near the red zone with a chance to go ahead in the fourth quarter, it is scary to think those two plays were called at such a critical point in the game.
What do you think Steeler Nation? Do you think the offensive coordinator is improving or is the young talent finally starting to overcome the poor play-calling? Comment below or on my Twitter @thebubbasq.
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