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Today is Big Ben's most gripping tale

By GARY SHELTON
Published January 23, 2005

Nice story, Ben Roethlisberger.

If you are looking for football prospects, he came from the wrong Miami. He was supposed to spend his season gripping a clipboard and thinking about 2007. Instead, he has become the league's newest, brightest star. He is the quarterback who can do everything but lose.

Nice streak, Roethlisberger.

He has won 14 straight games, and suddenly, his teammates don't hate going to work with the college kid anymore. He won the Rookie of the Year Award. He's a Pro Bowl alternate. He is one step from being the youngest quarterback to start in a Super Bowl.

Nice celebrity, Roethlisberger.

His is the top-selling jersey in the league. He has his own brand of beef jerky, for those who find the other brands lacking in toughness. During the offseason, he will be able to name his endorsements.

Yep, it sure has been an incredible little season for Roethlisberger.

Now, we find out if he can play at the big table.

For Roethlisberger, his time as a passenger is over. If the Steelers' incredible run is to continue today against New England, Roethlisberger will have to be more than a supporting player in a centerpiece position.

Quick, someone call Geppetto. It's time for Big Ben to become a real boy.

None of this, mind you, is meant to throw tomatoes at Roethlisberger, one of the best stories to hit the NFL in recent seasons. Fourteen straight victories is 14 straight victories, no matter who is responsible for bringing the streak to the table. As much as everyone talks of how Roethlisberger led the Steelers, it's more true to suggest the Steelers led Roethlisberger.

Now, you get a feeling the audition is about to get a little harder on the Kid.

Gee, it's time for him to sing lead.

Say this for the Steelers: They may well have done the best job in the history of the NFL this season of protecting a quarterback. Pittsburgh made darn sure that most of its games didn't rest on Roethlisberger's right shoulder. Yes, Roethlisberger managed games well, and he made his share of plays. For the most part, however, the Steelers made sure they didn't have to count on him making them.

How do you win with a rookie quarterback? First, you play defense. The Steelers did. They were first in overall defense and first in rushing defense. No team gave up fewer points. Next, you run the ball. The Steelers did that, too. They finished first in the AFC, second in the NFL. Pound on a few linebackers, and suddenly, they aren't quite as quick to move around to try to confuse a rookie quarterback.

Next, you protect the ball. The Steelers did that, too. They were plus-11 in turnover margin. That means short drives and quick leads.

In other words, the Steelers circled the wagons around their prospect. They operated on second and 4 for much of the season. They played. They tackled. They played field position. (Against the Jets, their field-goal defense was pretty good, too.)

Most of all, the Steelers won.

Oh, Roethlisberger was pretty good. He is big, and he moves well enough to escape pressure. He isn't overwhelmed by his surroundings, and he doesn't try to force plays that aren't there. His patience is admirable for a young player.

Still, Roethlisberger threw for only 17 touchdowns. In his 14 starts, he threw for more than 200 yards only four times. On the other hand, did anyone mention 14-0?

Today, it figures to get a little dicier for the Steelers.

Today, Roethlisberger has to step over Peyton Manning's prone carcass and make a few plays against the best-coached team in the NFL.

Why? First, if you're going to beat the Patriots, that is pretty much the accepted way. The Patriots have struggled to keep their secondary healthy, and the Steelers receivers are better than most people give them credit for.

Then, there is this. If Bill Belichick has proved he can do anything, it is dictate matchups. The Patriots are good enough to slow the Pittsburgh rushing attack enough to put the ball in Roethlisberger's hands a few more times than normal in a few worse situations.

In other words, New England will want to get the true measure of Big Ben, too.

Who can blame the Patriots? Roethlisberger seemed shaky in the Steelers' victory over the Jets. A little better kicking game for New York, and the world would be nodding in agreement at how the playoffs were Roethlisberger's wakeup call.

Instead, the city spent most of the last week discussing the warmth of Roethlisberger's throwing hand. A single glove hasn't been discussed this much since they found one outside of Kato Kaelin's place. It was as if Roethlisberger put on the glove, and instead of a poised, precise passer, the Steelers had Michael Jackson as their starting quarterback.

It will be interesting to see how much pressure the Patriots can put on Roethlisberger, and it will be interesting to see how he responds. Again, if the Steelers win, the defense and the offensive line will have a great deal to say about it.

Today, however, you get the feeling there will be a point where the game is in Big Ben's hands, gloved or not.

Today, we see just how well this story ends.

[Last modified January 23, 2005, 00:15:19]