PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – This is not meant to compare the two or their careers, however it was something that Najee Harris said that is ringing true about the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers. They finally have someone doing Ben Roethlisberger things.
It was minutes after Russell Wilson threw for 414 yards and as the Steelers scored 44 points. Both of those feats last accomplished by Roethlisberger. After trying with Kenny Pickett, Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Justin Fields, the Steelers again have a Super Bowl-winning veteran under center.
"His experience and knowledge of everything of the game," Harris said of Wilson. "He's knows things in and out. His progression of 'if that's not here, obviously get to the check-down'. He knows his progressions and it's on point."
"Russ coming in with a lot of experience, he's motivating us and telling us certain things in the huddle. We need that."
That experience you can't buy or teach. It must be earned. Earned through over a decade of varied results, but ultimately understanding what it takes to win.
"That's one thing that Russ has, just his knowledge of the game, same thing it was with Ben," Harris said. "Ben would do things because of 10-plus years. That's what you need. You need a guy like that who knows."
All of that information is great, but you still have to be able to play the game. Wilson has shown even just turning 36, he can do that. He throws as pretty a deep pass as any quarterback in the league. He also has the savvy to know when to find an underneath receiver or live to fight another down or series.
He, like Roethlisberger before him, makes other players better. He has a philosophy mirroring Roethlisberger in finding the open receiver and taking pride in finding lesser known targets. Ben turned Chase Claypool into an 873-yard, nine touchdown receiver, Markus Wheaton had 644 yards receiving one season.
Since Wilson took over at quarterback, Calvin Austin has three touchdown catches after having two his first 23 games. Van Jefferson is making big catches, Darnell Washington has doubled his career yardage in six games. Then there is the other tight end who fans chant 'Muth' like they used to yell 'Heath'. In the last two games, Pat Freiermuth has 10 catches for 127 yards and a touchdown.
Credit needs to be given to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, like with a veteran quarterback, the Steelers went from a rookie NFL offensive coordinator to a former head coach.
"Having a lot of fun with Arthur," Tomlin said. "He's wired like I'm wired. He is a big-time competitor. He's excited about the next challenge. He cares less about what's in our rear view, only in terms of how it helps us get better. He's loving being a component of this AFC North football, and so I'm excited about continuing to go with him and what waits on us this week."
What awaits are all three division rivals, plus arguably the best team in the NFC on the road and the best team in the AFC on Christmas. But you feel like you have a shot, because of Wilson.
It was a gutsy move for Tomlin. The Steelers were 4-2 and he went to Wilson to be great. How the season plays out will ultimately decide if he was right, but they were great Sunday.
Wonder what they are thinking in Denver?
"You know, he's a football guy," Tomlin said of why it's working in Pittsburgh. "He loves football, he likes to work. I think that if you had that general approach, this is probably an easy train to get on, because that's my tenor. That's our tenor."
"We love football. We like to work at it. We like to take the mystique out of performance. You do that through high energy and urgent preparation, and all of those things appear to be naturally him."
Steelers have a chance to do something they haven't in seven years, squarely because they've got another player like Big Ben.
