Much of the National Media have trashed Future Hall of Famer Ben Roethlisberger throughout most of the 2021 offseason. Many have called him 'washed up' or 'too old' and some have said he won't even make it the full season without being benched. Ben Roethlisberger has to be the most criticized quarterback in the National Football League this offseason.
Let's be honest here for a minute. Ben Roethlisberger did all he could do without a running back in 2020. The 38-year old quarterback (now 39) managed to post better numbers than Lamar Jackson, Baker Mayfield, and Joe Burrow. I believe Lamar Jackson obviously had more rushing yards, but if you look at the numbers Ben Roethlisberger did beat them in a number of categories last season.
Yes, Ben Roethlisberger is getting older, but I don't think Ben is the issue with the offense just like ESPN's Orlovsky says too. People who have watched the Steelers all season long last year know this.
Orlovsky says, "The ability to push the ball downfield and the offense's performance in pushing the ball downfield are two different things. What allows the quarterback to push the ball downfield is the offensive line. The quarterback needs time to get to his receivers and pass-catching options downfield. Big Ben's arm can still throw the football. He can still throw the ball down the field. Big Ben is not the problem with the Steeler's offense. The problem with the Steelers offense is their offensive line stinks and then they don't have a schematic identity."
Dan Orlovsky nailed it on the head. Instead of coming onto ESPN and being dramatic toward Ben Roethlisberger he analyzed the tape and saw the issues with the Steelers. Last season the Steelers had a lot of older linemen on their offensive line. Going forward they will be much younger and now they will walk into the 2021 season with a new offensive line coach who loves to get physical. No one knows how the Steeler's new offensive line will perform in 2021. They're just going based on the fact the Steelers lost key veterans on the offensive line.
Adrian Klemm could change the dynamics of the Steelers offensive line and Matt Canada could fix their schematics issues. Those are the two biggest issues the Steelers have on the offensive side of the ball. I always found it funny that the media can doubt a football team without even playing a lick of football yet...