Film Study: Ben Roethlisberger's Way Works for Steelers

It's not always pretty. In fact, it's rarely pretty. But it works.

Brett Favre is the classic gunslinger. Tom Brady and Peyton Manning throw the pretty passes from the pocket. Donovan McNabb has the flashy running skills. 

Ben Roethlisberger? He's the guy who thinks every stadium is no different than his own backyard.

He will probably never set league passing records, regardless of an upward trend in pass attempts the last two seasons. 

But he has two Super Bowl rings before entering the prime of his career, so he must be doing something right.

In this week's edition of Film Study, since there is such a focus on what's wrong with the Steelers, we instead take a look at the unique style of play that makes Ben Roethlisberger so successful.

Quarterback Measurables

Stat Line Through Week Three:

78-109 (71.6 percent), 860 yards, three TD, four INT, seven sacks, 88.5 rating

Arm Strength

If you didn't see Roethlisberger's (almost) touchdown pass to Limas Sweed, then you should go back and take a look at the tape. 

Ben didn't just heave the ball deep into the end zone as most quarterbacks do. He gunned an absolute laser right on target to Sweed, who had the ball perfectly cradled until he fell over and let the ground pop the ball loose.

These displays of arm strength by Roethlisberger are not limited to one or two pass attempts. Going back to his rookie season, there are several. 

Ben has the strength to make all of the throws and also can power the ball through coverage using nothing more than sheer speed (and some luck).

Accuracy

As I said in my report card yesterday, throw out the touchdown to interception ratio. At least two of the interceptions were not due to an error in decision making by Roethlisberger, instead being caused by a hit arm (intended for Mike Wallace against Chicago) and a Hail Mary (end of the first half against Tennessee).

Ben would have at least one more touchdown if not for Sweed's drop against the Bengals and would probably have an even higher completion percentage if not for some drops by Santonio Holmes.

As it is, 71.6 percent is extremely good, considering the drops. Ben is certainly hitting on all cylinders in the early going.

For the most part, Roethlisberger throws great to spots and also can lead receivers with passes. Many quarterbacks are good at one or the other, but not both. 

Mechanics

One of the most important parts of quarterbacking deals with throwing mechanics.

Last year, Roethlisberger exhibited one questionable, but not necessarily bad, tendency: He held on to the ball too long.

For most coaches, quarterbacks are supposed to have a four-second clock in their heads, counting down from the snap until the average time it takes the pass rush to penetrate. Holding the ball longer than four seconds is usually considered to be holding on too long, therefore risking a sack or fumble.

But for Roethlisberger, it is a different sort of game. His large build, quick thinking, and escapability allow him to hold onto the ball until the last possible moment and still make a play with his arm.

Outside of that, mechanics consist mostly of footwork. Solid footwork allows you to step into throws and therefore get more power behind them. Poor footwork such as throwing off the back foot leads to passes that "sail" or "flutter." This leads to incompletions or interceptions.

Roethlisberger ever since his rookie year has had solid footwork. He routinely steps up and into throws but also has the strength to throw awkwardly if necessary. He has shown an ability similar to (although the two players are not comparable) Rich Gannon, who was adept at throwing from different arm angles with accuracy.

Ben's physical tools will always allow him to overcome any mistakes in mechanics, so these are not a concern.

Quarterback Intangibles

Leadership

During his first two seasons, Roethlisberger was the beneficiary of a veteran core of leaders. Hines Ward and Jerome Bettis helped Ben adjust to the NFL and tutored him in the finer points of leading the team.

By his third season, Roethlisberger stepped up and took charge on his own. He is now the unquestioned leader. He has also taken a leadership role in the offense, taking on some of the play-calling duties and taking control at the line of scrimmage.

Decision Making

Few of Roethlisberger's decisions can be questioned. So far in 2009, almost none of his decisions have been poor. He has made a bad throw or two, but you cannot discount the possibility that receivers ran incorrect routes or the fact that, every now and then, defenders just make a great play.

Roethlisberger's play-calling in the no-huddle has also been spectacular. Make no mistake, when the team has moved most effectively in 2008 and so far in 2009, it is because Roethlisberger is calling the plays and showing a great knack for it.

Playmaking Ability

Here is where Roethlisberger beats out Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. No one can do as much with nothing as Roethlisberger.

Do you think Brady or Manning could escape the pocket, scramble around for six or seven seconds, reset themselves, and throw a strike while two defenders drag them down?

Roethlisberger can, and often does, do just that.

This is the "it" that coaches describe loosely but can never fully define. It is the ability to make plays when the original formation, routes, and blocking schemes are total failures.

For example, the trademark play of Super Bowl XLIII was essentially a broken play. To hear Roethlisberger explain the play, Holmes was his third read (following Mewelde Moore at the front of the end zone and probably Heath Miller in the back middle of it).

Roethlisberger's pocket was disrupted on the left side, so he angled back and to the right, calmly read the play, and saw Holmes and a small sliver of daylight. 

The next thing he knew, he was hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.

Roethlisberger has 18 times in his still young career led the Steelers on game-winning drives in the fourth quarter or overtime. That pace is unmatched. 

Many people say that he draws a very favorable comparison to another No. 7: John Elway. 

It took Elway his entire career to win two Super Bowls. Roethlisberger still has most of his career ahead of him.

The Bottom Line

Like or hate his style of play, you have to admit that Roethlisberger does what every quarterback is asked to do: He wins football games.

But he does so much more than that.

During his tenure, he not only has shown an impressive and unmatched knack for snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, he has also shown an equally impressive lack of mind-blowing, poor decisions that cost the Steelers games.

Sure, he's had his ups and downs, his signature wins and mistake-filled losses, but he wins a lot more games than he loses.

I don't think too many learned Steelers fans would want anyone else under center during a crucial game.

Is he the best quarterback of this era? Statistically, he's not even close. But he's quickly closing the gap everywhere else.

Guys who win are remembered. In that category, he's almost second to none.