Everyone was sorta kinda worried. No, everyone was downright scared about the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns game played this past Sunday at Heinz Field. Although on paper the game seemed like a mismatch, with a Steelers, Browns game the stats may be a bit misleading.
The starting QB of the Pittsburgh Steelers Ben Roethlisberger was relegated to second string status due to a foot injury and Landry (the football genius) Jones (at least according to Roethlisberger) started the game but was knocked out with 8:06 left in the 1st quarter forcing the Steelers to utilize “Big” Ben on short notice after everyone expected Roethlisberger to be roaming the sidelines for at least the next two weeks.
However, the Steeler Nation had no reason to fear. Big “Ben” gouged the Cleveland Browns secondary for 379 yards, propelling the Steelers to a 30-9 victory over the struggling Browns.
As far as Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin was concerned, he seemed to take it all in stride that his 100 million dollar plus QB had to enter the game on such short notice, even if he may not have been 100% healthy.
“He [Roethlisbeger] perked up at the very latter part of the week,” Tomlin said. “He spent the vast majority of the week rehabilitating. He had no helmet to helmet preparation, in terms of what the game plan was. So we gave the start to Landry, because he did. We felt comfortable with his overall readiness We knew we would have Ben available to us, probably in a limited capacity, from a preparedness standpoint. We operated out of the no-huddle a little bit, brought the game to him. It was less game-plan specific and more football one-on-one, and we were able to operate in the fashion.”
As far as Landry Jones was concerned, the man that Roethlisberger “relieved,” #7 had nothing but praise for. “He [Jones] is a great football player and he is doing great things. He improves every single wek. He is above the shoulders, as smart as a football player and quarterback that I have ever been around.”
The game also marked the anniversary of the Steelers Super Bowl XL victory and many of the “alumni” returned to reminisce about that victory. In light of the all of the injuries that the Steelers running back corps has experienced, I asked Jerome Bettis about if “running out of bounds” by a running back was appropriate when there were no more additional yards could be gained.
Ironically, he quoted another Steelers running back Franco Harris, who was sometimes criticized by the “macho squad” of the NFL for sometimes for prematurely seeking the sidelines. “My first year here, Franco Harris gave me a tip and he told me I need to take care of my body because that’s what would ultimately would fail you. Once he told me that I paid attention to it more. When you have a lot of carries you just have to be more aware of things that you can do and that includes when and when not to extend a play.”
It was a great day on and off the field for past and present members of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Steeler Nation. With a bye week and a trip out west to face the struggling Seattle Seahawks, the next few week more than likely will speak volumes as to when and if Pittsburgh will be invited to the “big dance” at the conclusion of the season otherwise known as the 2015 NFL postseason
Aubrey Bruce can be reached at: abruce@newpittsburghcourier.com or 412.583.6741
He is also a contributing columnist for urban mediatoday.com
Follow him on Twitter@ultrascribe
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