Nick Shook of NFL.com has recently been compiling rankings on players by using metrics from Next Gen Stats and this past week he released an article that had Ben Roethlisberger ranked as the fifth-best quarterback when under pressure last year.
“Roethlisberger attempted 111 passes under pressure, the fifth-highest total of those on this list, yet he still threw only one interception,” Shook wrote. “Roethlisberger is known as a tower of a quarterback who is highly difficult to bring down, and that shined through in the stats. He took just 13 sacks under pressure, tied for the fewest in the league. Roethlisberger didn't look great down the stretch, sure, but when his team's average offensive line (ranked 17th by PFF) didn't do its part, he still overcame adversity at a rate that was among the best in the league.“
Shook also mentions that Roethlisberger got the ball out quicker than anyone in the league in 2020 with an average time to throw of 2.30 seconds. He also posted a total expected points added (a metric that gauges how an individual's performance affects the team's scoring output) of -1.9, the highest in the league when under pressure, which means that Roethlisberger was essentially minimizing risk/damage while also helping his team succeed in less than ideal situations.
Throughout his career, Roethlisberger has been one of the best quarterbacks in the league when it comes to facing pressure, as he always had a knack for escaping defenders and extending plays. Roethlisberger is now 39 and doesn’t have the mobility as he once did, but he was still efficient when under pressure last season thanks to his quick release and his veteran savviness of making smart decisions with the football.
Comments