PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – If left up to Ben Roethlisberger, you would see a lot of him in the preseason game on Saturday.
“I would love to get as many reps as I can,” Roethlisberger said Thursday. “It’s been how many months since I stepped on a football field to take a hit or play, I know it’s preseason, meaningful reps. With the newness of it, I would like to get as much as I can.”
Roethlisberger even petitioned the coaches to skip the usual day off during the week. He wanted the extra work and said he asked to play in the second preseason game. Saying he wanted to face crowd noise with the opening game being at Buffalo.
“Cause we have a new system,” Roethlisberger continued with by he wanted more preseason action. “There’s a new coach-to-player communication in terms of a new guy.”
“The offense is different. He’s up in the box as compared to on the field. There’s a lot of newness. I think it’s prudent to get as much time as I can in under those circumstances.”
Roethlisberger acknowledged he will be under center more in this offense. More play action, more running. Which has meant more studying.
“The challenge of newness,” Roethlisberger said. “I spent a lot of time at home going over it, reading it, watching film. I was telling my wife last night that I think it’s better there is some new stuff because it refocuses you in a way.”
“If this was still the same stuff, I would go home and watch the film and be ready to move on. Last night, I watched the film and went back over everything to refresh it in my mind.”
“I think because it’s different I want to make sure I’m not the reason that we struggle.”
The 17-year NFL vet is also spending extra time working with rookie center Kendrick Green. Leaving little doubt Green will be there against the Bills, confident in how he’s progressed.
Roethlisberger says he’s both nervous and excited about Saturday. As for his health, he feels fresh and ‘back to normal’.
Ideally, he remains fresh with as few reps as possible.