Ben Roethlisberger Needs to Avoid Repeat of 2006 Season

After the Pittsburgh Steelers won their fifth Super Bowl in 2005, many expectations for a repeat performance were anticipated.  Since they won the game with a quarterback playing his first full season, a lot of added pressure fell on Ben Roethlisberger's shoulders.

Now, after leading the Steelers to a second Super Bowl in four years, the question becomes can "Big Ben" repeat again?

What Roethlisberger needs to do is not follow up with a season like he had in 2006. Heading into Super Bowl XL, Roethlisberger had completed nearly 63 percent of his passes, finishing with almost 2,400 yards, 17 touchdowns, nine interceptions and a quarterback rating of 98.6.

Roethlisberger's sophomore season as a starter finished in winning Super Bowl XL over Seattle, 21-10, where he scored one rushing touchdown.

Heading into the 2006 season, expectations were high for the Steelers to repeat, and for Roethlisberger to have another spectacular season.  However, things did not go as expected for Big Ben.

First, he had the motorcycle accident in downtown Pittsburgh.  Then, mere days before the Steelers season opener, Roethlisberger had to undergo an appendectomy, which put backup Charlie Batch under center for Week One.

Roethlisberger would start the remainder of the season, but his numbers were not that of a quarterback who took the sixth-seeded Steelers to a Lombardi Trophy the year before.

Sure, he had thrown for over 3,500 yards and threw 18 touchdowns. However, his passing percentage dropped to 59.7 percent, and he threw 23 interceptions.  His quarterback rating fell to 75.4, a near 25-point drop from the previous year.

What caused this?  The offseason injuries?  The pressure to follow-up a Super Bowl victory?  A lot of expectations for a young quarterback?

It is tough to say, but what is obvious is that Roethlisberger needs to follow his second Super Bowl victory with an equal or better season, both in statistics and performance.

His 2008 season was not his best season statistically in his second year under head coach Mike Tomlin.  Compared to 2007, his passer rating was down along with his touchdown to interception ratio, however Roethlisberger managed the game and put the team on his shoulders when it mattered.

Does this mean that Roethlisberger is a better quarterback now than he was following his first Super Bowl?  It is possible.  Has he learned from that 2006 season?  It is very apparent.

Can he avoid a repeat of 2006?  That question will be answered once the season begins.