Now that Ben Roethlisberger is putting the trade rumors to rest, the Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback can begin to focus on how to improve the team that has started the season 3-6. While refusing the say the term "rebuilding", Roethlisberger is instead focusing on little ways the Steelers can improve now, instead of later. With three solid running backs on the roster, he believes everything starts with them.
When the Steelers run the ball, they win. While that is no longer the norm in the NFL, several teams are making a point this season to put more focus on the ground and it is working. In the three wins by Pittsburgh this season, the team has averaged over 117 yards rushing. It their losses, they average just 69 yards rushing. When the team's running backs put up 4.6 yards per carry, the Steelers cruise to a win. Roethlisberger believes he needs to be doing more turning around and handing the ball off rather than passing it up to a receiver.
"Being balanced is always the key for us," Roethlisberger said, via Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "We said coming into (the Buffalo) game that we were going to run early and run it a lot."
The Steelers have the players to remain balanced. Rookie Le'Veon Bell leads the back of three productive running backs, each of which bring something different to the table. Felix Jones is a sprinter. Jonathan Dwyer is a short-yardage back and Bell is the physical back that can also function out of the wildcat. The rookie believes the more physical he and the other backs are, the better chance the team has of winning.
"We want to be physical," Bell said. "We like to get in there and move the pile. When we do, we think we can be a good team."
Head coach Mike Tomlin is certainly loving what he sees from the running backs, but he is concerned that the Detroit Lions could limit the team's rushing effort in Week 11. He credits Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley as two of the best run stoppers in the league and understands they will give the Steelers a run for their money.
A focus on the ground game is certainly new for Pittsburgh, but so is a 3-6 start. As a result, Roethlisberger has faced rumors that put his future with the team in question. No matter what, the quarterback says he is in it for the long haul with the Steelers.
"No one wants to win more than I do. It pains me to lose football games, it pains me to lose at anything," Roethlisberger said. "That's just who I am. So that's why I'm going to do everything I can to turn it around and win football games. . . .Just because the season started bad doesn't mean I'm going to quit on the season."