Roethlisberger: "We Need To Figure It Out And We Need To Figure It Out Quick"
PITTSBURGH (93-7 the Fan)- Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger joined The Cook and Poni Show on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan for the #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger.
Roethlisberger told the guys that he is feeling better today than yesterday after losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the final seconds at Heinz Field on Sunday.
"We watched the tape yesterday and there were a lot of good things on tape," Roethlisberger said. "Things happen and they were big plays at big times in the game and that was the unfortunate part."
Roethlisberger said the mistakes that happened that were once in a lifetime kind of mistakes with seeing Antonio Brown drop a pass in the end zone and Maurkice Pouncey missing a snap count.
But the penalties and silly celebrations didn't help either.
"We need to get better and cut it out," Roethlisberger said. "Whether it's being more disciplined, being smarter or growing up. Whatever it is we need to figure it out and figure it out quick."
Roethlisberger says he plans on addressing the penalties with the offensive players when the team returns to practice on Wednesday. He really wants to address the issue with wide receiver Antonio Brown.
"I want to tell him that you are one of the best wide receivers in the league now not some 5th or 6th round guy trying to prove himself anymore. He really has to start being one of our leaders," Roethlisberger said. "He understands that he hurt the team. He is just going to continue to grow as a leader and I know he will take that and use it."
Despite all of the mistakes, the Steelers still had a chance to win the game and it all came down to needing one first down to put it away. Why was it not up to Ben to make a play?
"I am never going to second guess our offensive coordinator," Roethlisberger said. "They had a play they thought was going to be a good one. We have to execute the play that is called and do it to the best of our ability. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't"
Roethlisberger admits that he likes to have the ball in his hands in the final minutes of the game.
"As a competitor, I always want the ball in my hands at the end of the game," Roethlisberger added. "I feel that I have thrived in that situation in past years whether in college, high school or here. If you ask any competitor at any level they will tell you they want the ball in their hands at the end of the game because they feel they are going to make a play."
The Steelers at (2-2) are where many may have believed they would be after four games but it may feel different because of how they got there losing to a previously win-less team at home.
"I feel like we are a good football team," Roethlisberger said. "I really do. I know we are (2-2) and some people probably had us at that some better, some worse. We are finding ways to shoot ourselves in the foot right now. I think if we can continue to play good football and in turn not shoot ourselves in the foot, I think that will transition into wins which we can hopefully start stacking those."
The Steelers will find themselves facing another win-less team when they travel to Jacksonville to play the (0-4) Jaguars at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Roethlisberger said they are expecting a loud crowd going on the road facing rookie QB Blake Bortles making his debut in front of the home fans.
Ben says Bortles is a guy that he knows well, a guy that he has worked out with. They share the same agent. He said Bortles does look like a younger version of himself and he always thought coming out of the NFL Draft that he was the best quarterback available. He wishes him the best of luck moving forward but he doesn't want that first taste of victory in the NFL to come by way of the Steelers.
They may have learned a lesson last week not to take win-less teams for granted.
"I really don't think we took them lightly," Roethlisberger said. "They just played a great game and we didn't."
Listen to the full interview below and catch the #1 Ben Roethlisberger show live every Tuesday morning during the season at 11 a.m. on the Cook and Poni Show on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan.
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