Roethlisberger will play in the Steelers' next preseason game
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will play his first game of 2010 and see game action for the first time since being suspended for six games by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell during the offseason.
Despite the fact that Steelers Roethlisberger will miss the first six weeks of the regular season he was the one under centre getting the majority of the reps with the first team at training camp and he practiced with the first team on Monday, which leads many to believe that he will start in the Steelers’ second preseason game against the Giants on Saturday.
It made perfect sense if you asked head coach Mike Tomlin a few weeks ago why is it that Roethlisberger was the one getting as many reps early in camp.
"Because he's missed opportunities, quite frankly, to work with some of those guys," said Tomlin. "Of course, Byron has been doing it for the vast majority of the off-season. Ben's back in the building, so we put him in the huddle to get acclimated with guys that he usually works with.”
He did not play during the Steelers' preseason opener against the Detroit Lions and he is itching to get back on the field and play with his teammates. "I hope I get in," Roethlisberger said talking about Saturday’s game. "I'm not sure when [I will come in the game]. I'll take any time."
Eventually, Tomlin will have to alter his game plan and give projected starter Byron Leftwich the bulk of the reps with first-team offence. Leftwich practiced on Monday against the second string defence and ended his day in a two-minute drill in which he went two for seven.
"Every time I get a rep, I'm going to work my tail off. … I don't have a different mindset now or anything. I've got the same mindset and just still come out here and make plays,'' said Leftwich. “I'm going to do what I do, come out here and make plays, play football. I love being out there, and whatever they ask me to do I'll do."
Roethlisberger's suspension for the start of the regular season was imposed by NFL commissioner Roger Goodell under the league's personal conduct policy. As a result, Leftwich, was named the starter by default. He hasn’t been named the starter since his days in Jacksonville and Tampa Bay.
Expectations are always high in the city of Pittsburgh, so Leftwich is going to have to mimic Roethlisberger's success.
Roethlisberger is a veteran despite his young age having gained valuable experience in a number of big games. He is extremely big for a quarterback and has deceptive speed for a guy his size. He is a double threat making plays with his arm and his legs, making him very difficult to defend.
The Steelers will design simple game plans for Leftwich and call plays designed to his style of play until Big Ben takes over the reins again.
Leftwich is also a big quarterback, but he doesn’t have the kind of speed that we are accustomed to seeing when Roethlisberger is in the game. Tomlin will surely call short safe passes from the pocket to boost Leftwich’s confidence and allow him time to get more comfortable and get used to the timing with the first-team receivers including Pro Bowler Hines Ward.
The commissioner will continue to monitor Roethlisberger's progress before the two meet in New York at the end of the month and Goodell makes a final decision on how long the Steelers star will be out.
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