PITTSBURGH (93.7 the Fan) Ben Roethlisberger has always gravitated toward his offensive lineman. After all, they are the teammates most responsible for his health. Not only that, but for the better part of a decade, it was the same group. Lineman are his guys.
But now, Maurkice Pouncey, Ramon Foster and Alejandro Villaneuva are gone, leaving David DeCastro as the last man standing among Roethlisberger's primary protectors. As if turning 39 wasn't enough to make him feel old, seeing so many new faces (or, I guess, rumps) in front of him has to make Big Ben feel more like Uncle Ben.
Yet the position group that Roethlisberger is now most familiar with is also the team's youngest – the receivers, whose oldest player is 25-year old graybeard James Washington. All 5 are back from last season.
Roethlisberger seemed downright enthused, even youthful, the first two weeks of OTA s, the voluntary workouts that veterans – especially 18 -year veterans – routinely skip, which he often did in the past. Ben has been engaged during the workouts and was relaxed, mostly sincere and sometimes playful during a lengthy Zoom session with local reporters.
Roethlisberger obviously realizes that in order for his (final) season to not "end like that," as he said after last year's finish, he needs to work this off-season to not just adapt to new Coordinator Matt Canada's system but so he and Canada can work with one another to construct an offense they're both comfortable with. Ben says he's already had Canada over to his house, something I would imagine didn't happen with Todd Haley.
Speaking of which, remember during one of Antonio Brown's famous rants, when AB said that Ben never invited him to his house? Apparently, things have changed. This year's receivers were there just the other day. They helped Ben feel young by playing a little basketball, or least shooting hoops.
"Had them over and we played P.I.G. at the house the other day," Ben smiled, "and I had to show them the old man still is, you know, hard to beat."
Washington grudgingly admitted that was, indeed the case. "The first game Ben won big but the second game came down to the wire."
Chas Claypool, still just 22, says he didn't give himself a chance. "I think I had worked out right before I went there so my upper body was a little sore," he said shaking his head. "I missed a few shots. Uncharacteristic."
It sounds as if a rematch may be in order. It also sounds like the old man won't mind having the kids over again.
"That group is a fun group," Roethlisberger said. "That's one of the reasons I wanted to come back because that's a special group and I'm excited to really see what they can bring to this offense and his team this year."
Next time, though, play H.O.R.S.E. Give the young guys more of a chance.
BTW, Ben did have game in HS
