Why the Steelers Can Win Without Roethlisberger

Timely Plays Will be Needed, But The
 Steelers Can Beat the Ravens w/o Ben

The Steelers are a team that seems to be able to constantly re-tool and move along with that "next man up" mentality.  Every member of SteelerNation is used to Mike Tomlin's "The Standard is the Standard" slogan and team motto.  Nonetheless, there are times where it makes you wonder if the Steelers are able to withstand injuries, suspensions, and other external issues that might have players miss game time.  Take a look at this week as the Steelers prepare for their arch-rival Baltimore Ravens.  The Steelers are having to prepare for this game without team Captain Ben Roethlisberger, who is out indefinitely with a shoulder / rib injury.  The Steelers could also potentially be without the services of: Troy Polamalu, Antonio Brown, Rashard Mendenhall, Marcus Gilbert, and Ryan Clark.  That is one terrifying injury report for Steelers fans...especially with the Ravens coming to town.  Anyone that follows the NFL would tell you that the biggest injury on that list is Ben Roethlisberger.  He is the heart and soul of the team and the offense...without him who knows what the Steelers will look like.  Have no fear, I'm here to talk all of you "Yinzers" off the ledge and tell you why the Steelers can win without Big Ben.

First and foremost is the fact that the Steelers have great QB depth on their team.  Byron Leftwich is a capable backup that has proven he can win as a starter in the NFL.  Charlie Batch has been with the Steelers for years as a backup QB, and we all know he is more than capable if the job is thrust upon him.  However, both of these guys are backups for a reason.  The big question is whether or not Byron (who has been named the starter for the game vs the Ravens) can run the offense the to a degree that Big Ben does / did.  I think that he certainly can, but certain plays will need to be adjusted / removed from the playbook to help increase Byron's chances of success.  For instance, eliminate the quick bubble screen to the WRs.  As you saw vs the Chiefs when Leftwich came into the game, his delivery is so slow that it takes too long to get the ball to the receivers.  The play seems to be dead before it begins.  One of the things that they can do is put in more deep routes / passes.  "Lord" Byron has a stronger arm that Roethlisberger and loves to launch that pretty deep ball down the field.  Put those plays into the repertoire to keep the Ravens secondary deep in their coverage.  Once that has happened, eat them alive underneath with the likes of Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery, and Heath Miller.  Just two examples of how Todd Haley needs to adjust (not change) the offense to help Lefty produce.

The biggest factor, in my opinion, is the offensive line.  Not only giving Leftwich time to get the ball out of his hands, but also to open up running lanes.  The Ravens haven't done a good job in their run stopping defense all year.  They have been gashed by the run all season, and the Steelers' ability to run the football will go a long way to the Steelers victory.  If the offensive line can get the push they had gotten vs the Bengals, Redskins, and Giants then there is no doubt in my mind that Byron will be able to lead this team to victory.  The Steelers are a team now that is going to have to be able to pound the rock to keep the Ravens from pinning their ears back and coming after the statue-esque Leftwich.  The Steelers 3rd down percentage will most likely drop without Roethlisberger,  but if the Steelers can get into manageable situations 3rd and 4 and less, they will be able to convert those via the run or pass...making it difficult for the Ravens Defense.

Winning without Big Ben isn't all on Leftwich and the offense.  The special teams and defense need to do their part.  Remember back to 2010 when Roethlisberger was serving his 4 game suspension at the beginning of the season....the Steelers went 3-1 in those games on defense.  They created turnovers (who can forget Brett Keisel's tip ball INT returned for a TD in Tampa Bay) and suffocated teams with their scheme and physicality.  I wrote in my "quick hitters" piece after the Chiefs game that the defense can't let opportunities slip through their hands (literally).  That is certainly true when having an elite team like the Ravens coming to your home turf.  In the games that the Steelers have beaten the Ravens in the last 3-4 years there has been one underlying theme in those victories...timely defensive plays (mostly turnovers).  Whether its a James Harrison strip sack, a Lamarr Woodley sack, or a Troy Polamalu INT.  All are part of the ebb and flow of the game that tips the scales in the Steelers' favor.  Its a play like that (or a special teams TD) that will help boost the Steelers chances of protecting their home field advantage against the Ravens.

Is it going to be easy for the Steelers without Big Ben?  NO, but that doesn't mean its impossible.  In my personal opinion, there is a good chance that Ben doesn't play the Ravens this year unless its in the playoffs, but the Steelers have to be able to withstand the Ravens this week, the Browns next week, and the Ravens again if they want to stay relevant in the AFC North conversation.  If Tomlin believes that the "next man up" is truly the "standard" then this team won't miss a beat and the Steelers have a great chance to take the AFC North lead this Sunday on Sunday Night Football.  I sure do believe they can...and so should you SteelerNation!