Ben Roethlisberger: Keeping Things in Perspective

(Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)

I read an article on Bleacher Report last week that struck me as more than a little odd.  The author was attempting to make the argument that Big Ben was going to be the ticket to the Hall of Fame for several other key Steeler's football players. 

The inference being made was that without Ben Roethlisberger, players like Troy Polamalu, Hines Ward, and Santanio Holmes might never make it into the Hall.

I attempted to digest what I had just read, but try as I might, I just couldn't see validity in what the author was trying say.  Nothing about Big Ben's play as an NFL Quarterback leads me to believe that the Steelers caught lightening in a bottle when they selected him.  

As far as I can tell, the Steelers got exactly what they where looking for when they drafted Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.  A quarterback who could hand the ball off to their high powered running game and manage the offense so that they don't lose the game for the defense.

In fact, I would even go one step further and suggest that the single greatest play that would define Ben Roethlisberger to this point in his career had absolutely nothing to do with him even throwing the ball.  I am talking about the shoe-string tackle that he made in 2005 to bring Nick Harper down, preventing a surefire TD in the process. 

I would certainly suggest that Big Ben is more than capable of playing QB in the NFL.  He has the tools and he has grown into a much more effective QB than the rookie that went 13-0 handing the ball off to Jerome Bettis in 2004. 

My argument is just that the Steelers commitment to stout defense and hard nosed running are likely to put Ben Roethlisberger into the Hall of Fame and not the other way around.  

Still think I am just hating on Big Ben, don't take my word for it, crack open the statistics which are there for all to see.

Year              Rushing Offense      Passing Offense     Total Defense         Record

2004                    #2                             #28                          #1                          15-1

2005                    #5                             #24                          #4                            11-5

2006                    #10                             #9                          #11                          8-8

2007                    #3                              #22                         #2                             10-6

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