Does Ben Play?

**GOTA** · 11-27-2012, 01:22 PM

The Steelers season is on the line. If Ben is cleared to play by the doctors he's going to play.

**RedSkins Fury** · 11-27-2012, 01:29 PM

no

**Dirt1** · 11-27-2012, 01:34 PM

Suggs and/or Kruger could have a big game on Sunday going against the legendary Kelvin Beachum at RT.

Tomlin leaving door open, but Big Ben not expected this week

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said he’d “leave the door open” for a return by quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but Charlie Batch is expected to start again this week.

A source told Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette he’d be “shocked” if Roethlisberger played Sunday against the Ravens.

Roethlisberger dislocated a rib and injured his shoulder against the Chiefs, and the source said it’s not a pain tolerance issue at the moment as one of performance.

Tomlin said his starter threw Monday, but said: “He’s not going to be allowed to play unless he shows us he’s capable.”

Continued injuries on the offensive line do not help matters, as the Steelers just put Marcus Gilbert on IR and Mike Adams is out with an ankle injury, leaving rookie Kelvin Beachum to start at right tackle.

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...ted-this-week/

**Paintballguy** · 11-27-2012, 01:40 PM

Originally Posted by Dirt1

Suggs and/or Kruger could have a big game on Sunday going against the legendary Kelvin Beachum at RT.

This is from his scouting profile.

He is undersized compared to most professional offensive tackles, but improved steadily in college, displaying the kind of athletic ability, body control and footwork that will make him a late-round draft pick. Beachum has significant strength deficiencies; his ability to physically develop as a rookie will likely determine whether he'll have a future in the NFL.

Strengths
Beachum is very quick off the ball and plays with an obvious sense of urgency. He has a good first step that allows him to get out in front and gain position. When working upfield, he has very impressive short-area quickness and footwork. He is able to adjust against moving linebackers, and he did well in the limited time he spent working in space. Beachum shows smooth, controlled lateral agility when engaging his pass set.
Weaknesses
Beachum is a soft prospect. He comes off the ball and moves quickly, but he is not explosive and has a hard time generating push on his man off the snap. He struggles in the run-blocking game, which doesn't bode well for his development and projected move inside to guard. SMU's style didn't offer many chances to show that he can perform in a classic run-blocking scheme, and NFL teams will have to guess whether he can successfully make that positional shift. Beachum is a mirror and patty-cake blocker who was effective and productive at SMU; whether his skills transfer to the NFL is another question.

Good luck against Suggs and Kruger.

**Shambla** · 11-27-2012, 01:42 PM

For an organization that is usually mentioned among the best, you really have to wonder what they're thinking. Through nine seasons Ben has played 16 games once. How do you not have a viable backup when you know this is going to happen? You can't march out these bums that are over the hill and remain competitive.

If you look at what happened last year, they trotted him out for the 49ers game when he was hurt and he was awful - putting his team at a disadvantage in that game and delaying his recovery which I think showed in the Broncos game. You have to wonder if they've learned their lesson but I wouldn't be surprised to see him glued together and pushed out there. If I was them I would hold off for a couple weeks and make sure he's ready for the Bengals game.

**Jsmoove** · 11-27-2012, 02:13 PM

he better not play for his well being.

**Boulderraven** · 11-27-2012, 02:54 PM

Beachum at RT for Adams. Woodley is out and Ben is per Douchette Doubtful. Cant see them playing Ben to soon with that line on the road. I hope does though. They werent scoring points with him either.

**Tucker: M&T Sec 527** · 11-27-2012, 04:19 PM

Originally Posted by 13ravenfan

Tomlin says "door open" for Big Jen to play, but it will "likely" be Batch:
http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/...tarter-663852/

"

But continues that "[Ben's] not going to be allowed to play unless he shows us he's capable," whatever that means.
Tomlin also says Woodley is doubtful, but says Antonio Brown is "expected to return" and Polamalu "could return" (they are "encouraged by his status").

Originally Posted by 13ravenfan

And there's also this:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports...eturn/1729051/

'

USA Today quotes a person w/ knowledge of [Ben's] condition as saying "IDK if he's 50/50" and then concludes that he should not play.

**Paintballguy** · 11-27-2012, 06:11 PM

If they learned from last year, they won't play Ben.

Ed Bouchette ‏@EdBouchette
Right now, Batch is starter and putting together offensive plan for him. Let practice determine if Ben can change that, or Leftwich

**lobachevsky** · 11-27-2012, 07:12 PM

Originally Posted by JAB1985

Yes... and he'll pay for it.

If he does, so will the Ravens--at 15 yards a near-miss. Count on it.

The fucking Stealers have set the PR game up perfectly. Even if they've backed off the life-threatening-possible-severed-aorta horseshit recently, the notion has been firmly planted in the brain of every zeeb that walks out there, & not a one of them is going to stand by while those awful Crows put poor brave new-daddy Benny's precious life at risk...& that doesn't even assume that Greedell issues them orders to protect him, which 5 gets you 10 he will...

The entire pus&pisscolored OL will be tackling Ravens on every play, & the zeebs will see nussink, nussink--unless anyone gets within hailing distance of #7, when their pocketsize Terrible Towels, sometimes known as penalty flags, will be flying so thick & fast you'd think someone just shot an RPG up Big Bird's ass....

Bastards. I hope our guys kick the snot out of 'em but I don't think they'll be allowed to...

**Skipjacks** · 11-27-2012, 07:35 PM

If he plays it means 1 of 2 things...

Either he and the Steelers are stupid because if he's hurt as bad as they said he is, one clobbering hit from Suggs could literally kill him. I don't mean figuratively 'kill him' like just knock him out of the game. I mean LITERALLY end his life, right there on the field. That's how serious the injury was as they reported it. And I don't believe the NFL would allow him to play in that instance because that's bad for the league. I mean how do they expected to be taken seriously about their commitment to player safety if they let a guy with a rib poking into his heart walk on the field and die?

Or he was never hurt as bad as they said he was, which is probably the safe bet knowing his history for hypochondria. And in that case the league should fine the Steelers for falsifying their injury report like they did with the Ravens over Reed's shoulder.

Like I said yesterday, Ben can fake an illness/injury enough to make Ferris Bueller proud.

**Paintballguy** · 11-27-2012, 08:06 PM

Supposedly the doctor cleared Ben for the rib injury. It's just a matter if he can throw with his shoulder injury.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

**steelerhater** · 11-27-2012, 08:35 PM

Originally Posted by Shambla

For an organization that is usually mentioned among the best, you really have to wonder what they're thinking. Through nine seasons Ben has played 16 games once. How do you not have a viable backup when you know this is going to happen? You can't march out these bums that are over the hill and remain competitive.

If you look at what happened last year, they trotted him out for the 49ers game when he was hurt and he was awful - putting his team at a disadvantage in that game and delaying his recovery which I think showed in the Broncos game. You have to wonder if they've learned their lesson but I wouldn't be surprised to see him glued together and pushed out there. If I was them I would hold off for a couple weeks and make sure he's ready for the Bengals game.

Its the arrogance of the Steelers. They are in denial of the fact that they are nothing without Big Ben. They wouldn't have even smelled a super bowl without him this decade, but they think they are good enough to win without him.

**kelsey59** · 11-27-2012, 10:11 PM

Nope. As Suggs said - “God can have his soul, but his ass belongs to me.”

**bacchys** · 11-27-2012, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Shambla

For an organization that is usually mentioned among the best, you really have to wonder what they're thinking. Through nine seasons Ben has played 16 games once. How do you not have a viable backup when you know this is going to happen? You can't march out these bums that are over the hill and remain competitive.

That's what salary cap hell can do for you. Given that Roethlisberger is likely to not start all 16, they were probably more comfortable having veteran back-ups than trying to go with a young guy.

**TAS_** · 11-27-2012, 10:46 PM

No.

Batch will hand off to Dwyer, play calling will suck, and the Steelers will lose.

We'll hope for a wildcard spot with a healthy Ben, Troy, Harrison, and Woodley. Kinda like last year except we never got healthy and instead got Tebowed.

**jaydee414** · 11-28-2012, 05:34 AM

Originally Posted by lobachevsky

If he does, so will the Ravens--at 15 yards a near-miss. Count on it.

The fucking Stealers have set the PR game up perfectly. Even if they've backed off the life-threatening-possible-severed-aorta horseshit recently, the notion has been firmly planted in the brain of every zeeb that walks out there, & not a one of them is going to stand by while those awful Crows put poor brave new-daddy Benny's precious life at risk...& that doesn't even assume that Greedell issues them orders to protect him, which 5 gets you 10 he will...

The entire pus&pisscolored OL will be tackling Ravens on every play, & the zeebs will see nussink, nussink--unless anyone gets within hailing distance of #7, when their pocketsize Terrible Towels, sometimes known as penalty flags, will be flying so thick & fast you'd think someone just shot an RPG up Big Bird's ass....

Bastards. I hope our guys kick the snot out of 'em but I don't think they'll be allowed to...

THIS.

**ed from Bel Air** · 11-28-2012, 06:23 AM

Originally Posted by Skipjacks

If he plays it means 1 of 2 things...

Either he and the Steelers are stupid Or he was never hurt as bad as they said he was, which is probably the safe bet knowing his history for hypochondria. And in that case the league should fine the Steelers for falsifying their injury report like they did with the Ravens over Reed's shoulder.

Like I said yesterday, Ben can fake an illness/injury enough to make Ferris Bueller proud.

Ben and "smart" are two words rarely used in the same sentence.

**Coastergenius** · 11-28-2012, 06:27 AM

I guess that you could say that Mike Tomlin's opinions on whether Ben should start or not this Sunday are "evolving."

**Paintballguy** · 11-28-2012, 07:35 AM

http://blog.steelers.com/2012/11/27/...till-to-start/

Steelers Coach Mike Tomlin was able to deliver some good news on the injury front with some players who have been battling injuries working their way back to playing.

Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw the ball on Monday and Tomlin said he “Will take steps towards playing this week. We’ll leave the door open for him. He’s got a chance.” In addition Byron Leftwich threw some on Monday, but Tomlin made it clear that Charlie Batch is the starting quarterback at this point for Sunday’s game against the Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

“Right now Charlie Batch is our quarterback,” said Tomlin. “We are working offensively to put together a plan to complement his strengths. That is our plan until otherwise. These guys will be participating in some form or fashion. We’ll let that participation or the result of the participation guide us in terms of their availability as we push to the later part of the week and see where those guys are a little later in the week. As we sit here today and we are preparing and putting together a plan we are doing so with Charlie Batch being our quarterback.”