Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger expressed concerns about the team's offensive and defensive strategies following their win over the Indianapolis Colts. He advocated for more runs in the red zone and late games, while questioning if the defense can win without forcing numerous turnovers. Roethlisberger shared these thoughts on his Footbahlin' podcast.
Ben Roethlisberger, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, highlighted areas for improvement in the team's approach after their victory against the Indianapolis Colts. Speaking on his Footbahlin' podcast, Roethlisberger emphasized the need to utilize the run game more effectively, particularly in the red zone and when holding leads.
The Steelers' offense has shown progress in its ground attack this season, driven by running backs Jaylen Warren and Kenneth Gainwell, along with the offensive line. However, Roethlisberger questioned why Warren does not receive more carries near the goal line. 'I also wonder why we got into the red zone so much, and Jaylen Warren can get us like three yards, all the time. Why are we not handing him the ball a lot on the goal line?' he said. Entering the Colts game, Warren had no rushing touchdowns, but he scored twice against Indianapolis—one in the second quarter and another early in the fourth.
Despite these successes, Roethlisberger noted excessive passing in key moments. The Steelers led 24-10 midway through the fourth quarter but ran Warren only once for a yard before punting. Later, up 27-10, they had one run by Gainwell for a nine-yard loss, followed by three passes and a field goal. In four drives with a two-possession lead, Warren carried four times for seven yards total. 'That’s the Steelers’ way, is running the clock out,' Roethlisberger said. 'It was interesting to see us throw the ball so much late.'
Shifting to defense, Roethlisberger wondered about the unit's consistency. Against the Colts, Pittsburgh forced six turnovers and recorded five sacks, securing the win. 'My concern is, can we win without getting a ton of turnovers?' he asked, referencing games like the Jets (win, iffy), Seahawks (loss with two turnovers), Patriots (win with many turnovers), Browns (held to nine points, no turnovers), Bengals (loss, no turnovers), Packers (loss, no turnovers), and Vikings. The Steelers thrived on turnovers last year, tying for the league lead, but Roethlisberger noted their feast-or-famine nature. The team is not built to play from behind, and upcoming matchups against strong offenses will test this balance.
While praising quarterback Aaron Rodgers' arm—responsible for 17 touchdowns, including a red zone score to Pat Freiermuth against the Colts—Roethlisberger suggested leaning more on the run to complement the passing game.