{The Ultimate ANDY DALTON Mega Thread}

[Shake n Blake]

I found this tidbit from Jason LaConfora interesting:

Quote:The curious case of Big Ben

Ben Roethlisberger really has not been himself. Not even close.
He hasn't been sharp or consistent or effective. He can't hit on the deep ball or even the underneath stuff. He has been the primary reason the Steelers offense hasn't come close to reaching the level many of us expected, but it would be naïve to make this out to be a deep collective issue. It's been a quarterback problem.

Antonio Brown is the best receiver in the AFC and has been producing as such. Le'Veon Bell is the best running back in the AFC and has been producing as such and he is the fulcrum of that group. This is still a top-five offensive line that has protected the QB quite well and, while struggling to open some holes early in the season, is thriving now. They have stayed remarkably healthy as a team and the defense has been top notch.
The quarterback has not.

This is Big Ben's worst season since 2008, a time when he was still a young quarterback and one who was dealing with massive expectations at the time and who was getting pounded at a dizzying rate back then (he was sacked 46 times that year and hit a ton more). Now, he just has been off and seemingly vacant at times and all the while his protection has been unreal at a time when most lines stink. He's been sacked just 11 times in nine games despite being hardly as elusive as he once was.

On the season Roethlisberger stands 24th in rating (83.8), 19th in touchdown passes (12), 26th in completion percentage (61.1) and is tied for third in most interceptions thrown (10). You have to go back to 2008 to find him with a worse completion percentage or interception percentage or touchdown percentage and far too often it seems like a lark -- something between a hope or a prayer -- as to whether the ball will go where it needs to go.

I found this interesting for several reasons. (1) Ben is declining, which I love, (2) Some think Ben would somehow do better this year behind this line and (3) The last time Ben played this poorly was "while getting pounded at a dizzying rate". I thought Ben could overcome getting pummeled on a regular basis? Apparently not.

I also found these comments from a couple Steelers fans interesting:

Quote:Johnnymc • 2 hours ago
Does anyone else find it odd that the supposed "leader" had to wait years before being elected captain of his own team?
He has dropped off A LOT this year..not accurate, cannot throw the deep ball (actually his deep ball has NEVER been super accurate).

He has always talked about his injuries way more than he should have...he's been critical of coaches and other players in public on his weekly radio show. This guy is and always will be a dirtbag...he's never been well received in his own locker room. He's a leader only when things are going well..

Brady has done so much more while being surrounded by a bunch of no-names.
Had the Steelers been blessed with Brady as QB and BB as HC....the Steelers, who have had some of the best offensive lines and skill positions over the past decade, would have achieved so much more in the post seasons. Both Cowher and Tomlin have under-achieved.

and by the way..I am a Steeler fan.

Quote:KO - "90 Johnnymc • an hour ago
Agreed mostly. I do though think his teammates have his back, especially his offensive line. However, everything else is pretty much spot on.

So Ben has never been a leader, took many years before being named a captain, and has never been very accurate on deep passes? They sound like Bengals fans talking about Dalton. Even pining for Tom Brady.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/insider-notebook-making-early-calls-on-nfl-division-races-big-bens-big-decline/