Big Ben

**leachisabeast** · 11-13-2012, 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by palukaraven

I would honestly prefer if Roethlisberger plays on Sunday. I get sick of hearing excuses from the Steeler crowd about how they would have won if Ben was playing. While it's tougher on the Ravens defense, it certainly makes the game more interesting and doesn't give the Steeler fan base any excuses if and when the Ravens win. JMO FWIW.

Sorry, but if it gives us a better chance of sweeping the Steelers again, idc who the QB is, they can make all the excuses they want, I will be enjoying watching the wild card teams beat up on each other while I can relax for the week after without having a heart attack watching the Ravens play in Denver or somewhere along those lines.

**saintmatthew** · 11-13-2012, 08:31 AM

Meanwhile, Suggs is fuming that he put all this effort into coming back in time for the Steelers games and Ben's ass won't be there.

**RedSkins Fury** · 11-13-2012, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

but you have to book us as favorites to win it, we've won two on the trot in regular season games at Heinz field, so it's not as if we can't win there or anything.

I agree, but there are a fair amount of people here penciling this in as a sure win.... as if PIT is going to field a D3 college football team. I just have to temper that a little bit.

This also complicates out prep. If the Steelers play this right, we have to split time preparing for Ben and Leftwich... And if Ben does play, we have only prepped 50% for him. That sucks.

**leachisabeast** · 11-13-2012, 08:39 AM

Originally Posted by RedSkins Fury

I agree, but there are a fair amount of people here penciling this in as a sure win.... as if PIT is going to field a D3 college football team. I just have to temper that a little bit.

This also complicates out prep. If the Steelers play this right, we have to split time preparing for Ben and Leftwich... And if Ben does play, we have only prepped 50% for him. That sucks.

There is no way the coaching staff isn't going to prepare for Jen, all their focus will be on him, they may bring up one or two clips of Leftwich and that's it. It's not as if you have to be preparing for much anyway.

**Paintballguy** · 11-13-2012, 08:40 AM

Originally Posted by leachisabeast

they may bring up one or two clips of Leftwich and that's it. It's not as if you have to be preparing for much anyway.

I believe the coaching staff has videos of some statues to prepare for lefty.

**Gabrosin** · 11-13-2012, 08:57 AM

There are a lot of injuries a "tough" QB is capable of overcoming, since they don't generally have to run or tackle and you can gameplan to severely minimize how much they could possibly get hit. But an injured throwing shoulder really isn't one of them. You can't switch to throwing with the other hand, and the NFL already requires really high accuracy for even the most routine throws.

If Ben does miss this game, it's all the more important that we take advantage and come away with a win. If we let their running game do what Kansas City and Dallas and Houston were doing to us, with Leftwich at QB, then we'll be squandering a golden opportunity to seize total control of the division.

Hate to see anyone get hurt, even our most hated rivals, but this is a boon for our team, even if Kansas City couldn't finish the job and actually beat them last night.

**wickedsolo** · 11-13-2012, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by Gabrosin

There are a lot of injuries a "tough" QB is capable of overcoming, since they don't generally have to run or tackle and you can gameplan to severely minimize how much they could possibly get hit. But an injured throwing shoulder really isn't one of them. You can't switch to throwing with the other hand, and the NFL already requires really high accuracy for even the most routine throws.

If Ben does miss this game, it's all the more important that we take advantage and come away with a win. If we let their running game do what Kansas City and Dallas and Houston were doing to us, with Leftwich at QB, then we'll be squandering a golden opportunity to seize total control of the division.

Hate to see anyone get hurt, even our most hated rivals, but this is a boon for our team, even if Kansas City couldn't finish the job and actually beat them last night.

True, but had KC actually had a decent QB then they likely would have won last night's game.

**s.r.genovese** · 11-13-2012, 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by wickedsolo

True, but had KC actually had a decent QB then they likely would have won last night's game.

It's amazing the lack of arm strength Cassel had last night. It felt like I was watching a college QB try to muscle passes to his receivers on out-routes. He's just not good.

**DrUnk** · 11-13-2012, 09:16 AM

Here we go....

http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com...y-significant/

**jefe96** · 11-13-2012, 09:17 AM

Who cares if the 'fans' want to make excuses. They're not the ones on the field and the win counts the same. I'm sure Stooler fans will have no problem gloating about a win with Ray Ray and Webb out. Or if Suggs wasn't back yet, or if Flacco was out.

**edgecrusher** · 11-13-2012, 09:19 AM

He will play and we'll have to spend all night listening to Chris Collinsworth talk about how tough Ben is. It will be especially annoying when he escapes from a sure sack and throws a laser down the field for a late TD to seal the win. He'll then add insult to injury by grabbing his shoulder after the TD toss as if it really hurt him.

**Ravenswintitle** · 11-13-2012, 09:24 AM

watching espn and they're showing the play over and over. it just looks like a routine play to me, his elbow hits first and his shoulder really doesnt even hit. just saying it doesn't look like his shoulder was driven into the ground.

anyway they are saying that he is likely out a while but let's wait until this afternoon until the team confirms the MRI.

**NCRAVEN** · 11-13-2012, 09:30 AM

Originally Posted by Ravenswintitle

watching espn and they're showing the play over and over. it just looks like a routine play to me, his elbow hits first and his shoulder really doesnt even hit. just saying it doesn't look like his shoulder was driven into the ground.

anyway they are saying that he is likely out a while but let's wait until this afternoon until the team confirms the MRI.

Hard to describe but that's typically how shoulder's separate. Take a look at this and imagine how he fell and you could see why it could be a separated shoulder.

**Corey** · 11-13-2012, 09:31 AM

Originally Posted by GOTA

Injuries with Ben are always reported much worse than they actually are. If he can walk he's going to play and if he can play he's going to make some plays.

Exactly, he is a drama queen . He loves the attention. I'll believe he wont play until he's inactive on game day. I take the approach with Jen that I warn bengal and steeler fans to take with Reed.

**Corey** · 11-13-2012, 09:34 AM

Originally Posted by JohnBKistler

This is going to be a long week....

It won't matter. I think its pretty safe to assume that Harbaugh doesn't pay the injury report any mind at all. The Ravens will prepare for Jen.

**Corey** · 11-13-2012, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by alienrace

He'll probably play, but he obviously was hurt bad enough to leave the game and go to the hospital, so how effective he might be would remain to be seen.

Even if he doesn't play, a win isn't some guarantee. They have played us tough without him, despite us winning those games.

There was a different spectrum then though. Back then they had the defense to dominate our offense, which frankly wasnt very good. Their defense is limping right now to. And as bad as Flacco has been on the road, he's found a comfort at Heinz field the last few years. This years Steelers team isnt as strong as years past, where they could win without him. I really think he's carrying them right now.

**RedSkins Fury** · 11-13-2012, 09:46 AM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

Hard to describe but that's typically how shoulder's separate. Take a look at this and imagine how he fell and you could see why it could be a separated shoulder.

That's a pretty bad illustration. But by jamming the elbow vertically, pushes the head of the humerus and acromion separating it from the clavicle and tearing those ligaments.

**B-more Ravor** · 11-13-2012, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by GOTA

Injuries with Ben are always reported much worse than they actually are. If he can walk he's going to play and if he can play he's going to make some plays.

I agree. I still say he ends up playing.

I'll believe he's truly out when that final Injury Report on Saturday says "Out" next to his name. Or, when he's not in uniform on Sunday night, if the Steelers want to play games up until the last minute and try and make the Ravens think that he might play.

Originally Posted by JohnBKistler

This is going to be a long week....

**wickedsolo** · 11-13-2012, 09:50 AM

Originally Posted by NCRAVEN

Hard to describe but that's typically how shoulder's separate. Take a look at this and imagine how he fell and you could see why it could be a separated shoulder.

I completely tore my AC ligament and it was a solid 4-5 weeks before I really was able to regain full motion. Even that full motion still hurt a fair amount. I couldn't imagine having to take a hit and/or throw something with that injury. Even the AC tear doesn't necessarily require surgery either. If it's a full tear, then he could be out for the rest of the season. The only reason I say that is because there are only about 7 weeks left in the season and even if he does come back before the end of the season, his shoulder won't be 100% and his throwing motion will suffer because of it. Especially in the cold.