PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Several times after the game Sunday, Ben Roethlisberger took the blame for the Steelers offensive issues. Steelers only able to score a pair of touchdowns, 331 total yards and only 56 total plays.
“Right now my play is just not good enough,” Roethlisberger said. “If I play better. We have a chance to win the football game. That loss, I will take that. I apologize to the fans. The home opener, they were awesome. It’s disappointing we didn’t get that.”
Roethlisberger finished 27 of 40 with a touchdown and interception. The pick led to the first three points of the game.
What is wrong with the offense?
“I don’t know,” Roethlisberger said. “It’s frustrating because I put a lot of stinking time in. More I probably ever have.”
“I’m not really sure. Got to get it figured out though. I am frustrated that I’m not playing well enough. The good news is it’s still early. We got a long road ahead of us. Got a lot of time to get it fixed.”
Roethlisberger said he hopes it’s a quick fix to their issues with the Bengals coming to Heinz Field on Sunday.
Could it be they didn’t change personnel enough or lined up too much in a three receiver, one tight end and one tailback look?
“You’ll have to ask Coach Canada,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s what he’s going with. We got some really good football players you want to get on the football field. If you don’t have them out there, they are sitting on the bench doing nothing.”
Roethlisberger noted they had too many issues on first and second down, leading to harder third downs to convert. The team was a decent five of 12 on third down, but eight of the third down attempts where eight yards or more.
“We need to run the ball better,” Roethlisberger said. “We need to throw the ball better. We need to do everything better on offense. We don’t need to point at one thing. We need to point at the whole thing.”
Could it be with a new coordinator and young players they are still searching for an identity. They are not staying committed to a run game for instance or certain personnel groups.
“The best way to figure out an identity is for the quarterback to play better,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s what I need to do. I will work on me. Getting myself ready to go. Making better reads, better throws. Trying to put us in a situation to win a football game.”
Only three offensive touchdowns through a pair of games.
“I think we are still working through it,” Roethlisberger said. “That’s the good news if you will. It’s still early and we have time to figure it out. We have a good team coming in here. We have to get it right.”
“It starts with the quarterback. I have to be better.”