The Bruce Arians haters will absolutely love this post. It is proof that Ben Roethlisberger is better suited in a run first type offense. Arians did this initially in 2007, but has since drifted off into his pass first offense. The most noticeable difference is what happens on 3rd down with Ben and a pass first offense.
The first thing I wanted to show was Ben\’s overall stats for the year. The 98.4 QB rating sticks out as quite good, as he is currently ranked 7th in the NFL in that stat. The passing yards as well are impressive as well, and he ranks 8th in the NFL and 5th in the AFC despite missing one game to injury. His 68.3% completion rating gets him the #3 ranking going into week 15. On the surface these numbers would look like a quarterback on a team going to the playoffs.
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 273 | 399 | 68% | 3346 | 8.39 | 162 | 41% | 19 | 11 | 98.4 |
Next up, we want to see where Ben is post concussion. The first table shows his numbers before the concussion and the second table shows his 2 games since the concussion against the Chiefs. Although he played in just 2 games, nothing really sticks out as far as stats go that would suggest the injury had an effect.
Before concussion
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 237 | 343 | 69% | 2867 | 8.36 | 141 | 41% | 17 | 10 | 98.9 |
Since concussion
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 36 | 56 | 64% | 479 | 8.55 | 21 | 38% | 2 | 1 | 95.8 |
Next we will look at Ben\’s stats on 1st and 2nd down combined this year. Other than the 1st down conversion being a bit mediocre, it certainly is a great stat line. You have to remember though that really you have 3 downs to convert a 1st, so that stat may not be very relevant here.
1st & 2nd down combined
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 219 | 297 | 74% | 2677 | 9.01 | 119 | 40% | 15 | 6 | 109.5 |
Now lets see his 3rd down stats this season. This is where things get very interesting. The QB rating takes a significant dip as does the completion rating. Also the 43% 1st conversion % could be a little better, but that hinges a ton on the completion %.
3rd down stats
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 53 | 98 | 54% | 668 | 6.82 | 42 | 43% | 3 | 5 | 64.5 |
Now lets look at Ben\’s 3rd down stats compared to the rest of the quarterbacks in the league on 3rd down ranked by QB rating. As you can see, Ben ranks 27th against QB\’s with 50 or more pass attempts this season on 3rd down. He also ranks 25th in completion % against that same list of QB\’s. Quite interesting numbers.
3rd down stats
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
| Aaron Rodgers | GB | 2009 | 89 | 131 | 68% | 1295 | 9.89 | 65 | 50% | 11 | 0 | 127.9 |
| Eli Manning | NYG | 2009 | 74 | 119 | 62% | 1180 | 9.92 | 55 | 46% | 10 | 3 | 112.7 |
| Peyton Manning | IND | 2009 | 89 | 124 | 72% | 918 | 7.4 | 65 | 52% | 8 | 1 | 110.9 |
| Tom Brady | NE | 2009 | 73 | 117 | 62% | 845 | 7.22 | 54 | 46% | 8 | 0 | 107.0 |
| Drew Brees | NO | 2009 | 72 | 114 | 63% | 981 | 8.61 | 55 | 48% | 11 | 5 | 104.5 |
| Brett Favre | MIN | 2009 | 89 | 133 | 67% | 1132 | 8.51 | 67 | 50% | 9 | 5 | 100.2 |
| Jason Campbell | WAS | 2009 | 81 | 112 | 72% | 998 | 8.91 | 51 | 46% | 4 | 4 | 96.5 |
| Philip Rivers | SDG | 2009 | 63 | 110 | 57% | 1050 | 9.55 | 53 | 48% | 8 | 5 | 94.9 |
| Alex Smith | SF | 2009 | 45 | 72 | 63% | 410 | 5.69 | 22 | 31% | 4 | 1 | 90.6 |
| Carson Palmer | CIN | 2009 | 79 | 134 | 59% | 994 | 7.42 | 60 | 45% | 7 | 3 | 90.2 |
| Joe Flacco | BAL | 2009 | 78 | 124 | 63% | 888 | 7.16 | 55 | 44% | 7 | 4 | 89.7 |
| Shaun Hill | SF | 2009 | 34 | 52 | 65% | 414 | 7.96 | 18 | 35% | 1 | 1 | 88.1 |
| Matt Schaub | HOU | 2009 | 69 | 113 | 61% | 845 | 7.48 | 52 | 46% | 5 | 3 | 87.8 |
| Matt Ryan | ATL | 2009 | 58 | 98 | 59% | 729 | 7.44 | 43 | 44% | 4 | 2 | 87.5 |
| Kyle Orton | DEN | 2009 | 67 | 118 | 57% | 729 | 6.18 | 44 | 37% | 8 | 3 | 87.1 |
| David Garrard | JAC | 2009 | 69 | 118 | 58% | 875 | 7.42 | 47 | 40% | 4 | 2 | 85.9 |
| Donovan McNabb | PHI | 2009 | 49 | 86 | 57% | 630 | 7.33 | 29 | 34% | 5 | 3 | 84.9 |
| Kurt Warner | ARI | 2009 | 64 | 108 | 59% | 683 | 6.32 | 42 | 39% | 6 | 4 | 80.9 |
| Vince Young | TEN | 2009 | 30 | 54 | 56% | 356 | 6.59 | 24 | 44% | 3 | 2 | 78.9 |
| Trent Edwards | BUF | 2009 | 38 | 56 | 68% | 392 | 7 | 18 | 32% | 1 | 2 | 78.9 |
| Matt Hasselbeck | SEA | 2009 | 54 | 98 | 55% | 537 | 5.48 | 35 | 36% | 6 | 3 | 78.5 |
| Tony Romo | DAL | 2009 | 63 | 116 | 54% | 750 | 6.47 | 43 | 37% | 3 | 2 | 75.7 |
| Jay Cutler | CHI | 2009 | 74 | 124 | 60% | 826 | 6.66 | 48 | 39% | 9 | 9 | 73.5 |
| Chad Henne | MIA | 2009 | 64 | 109 | 59% | 630 | 5.78 | 53 | 49% | 4 | 4 | 72.0 |
| Brady Quinn | CLE | 2009 | 39 | 77 | 51% | 492 | 6.39 | 26 | 34% | 4 | 3 | 72.0 |
| Marc Bulger | STL | 2009 | 39 | 74 | 53% | 354 | 4.78 | 25 | 34% | 2 | 1 | 69.3 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 53 | 98 | 54% | 668 | 6.82 | 42 | 43% | 3 | 5 | 64.5 |
| Mark Sanchez | NYJ | 2009 | 57 | 111 | 51% | 665 | 5.99 | 41 | 37% | 3 | 4 | 63.8 |
| Matt Cassel | KC | 2009 | 62 | 121 | 51% | 727 | 6.01 | 32 | 26% | 4 | 5 | 63.6 |
| Kerry Collins | TEN | 2009 | 29 | 63 | 46% | 338 | 5.37 | 21 | 33% | 1 | 1 | 61.5 |
| JaMarcus Russell | OAK | 2009 | 38 | 79 | 48% | 356 | 4.51 | 17 | 22% | 0 | 0 | 60.9 |
| Ryan Fitzpatrick | BUF | 2009 | 26 | 54 | 48% | 301 | 5.57 | 12 | 22% | 2 | 3 | 54.6 |
| Matthew Stafford | DET | 2009 | 62 | 116 | 53% | 671 | 5.78 | 44 | 38% | 2 | 10 | 40.6 |
| Josh Freeman | TB | 2009 | 26 | 59 | 44% | 305 | 5.17 | 14 | 24% | 1 | 4 | 37.7 |
| Jake Delhomme | CAR | 2009 | 34 | 77 | 44% | 384 | 4.99 | 23 | 30% | 3 | 7 | 34.8 |
Now lets see Ben\’s 3rd down stats from this year and his previous years. You almost have to throw out his rookie year. Even though the Steelers went on to win the Super Bowl, the offense was predicated on the running game and the defense kept the opposition in check. 2007 was when of course the Mike Tomlin head coach era began and Bruce Arians took over as offensive coordinator. Ken Anderson also took over as quarterbacks coach. In 2007 the Steelers ran on 511 plays that year while passing 442 times with 47 sacks. In 2008 the Steelers ran 460 times and passed 506 times with 49 sacks. Thus far in 2009 the Steelers have run 350 times and passed 429 times. Every year since 2007, Ben\’s QB rating on 3rd down and completion % has dropped. Only in 2007 did the Steelers run more than they passed.
Ben 3rd down stats 2005-2009
| Quarterback | TEAM | YEAR | CMP | ATT | CMP% | YDS | Y/A | 1st | 1st% | TD | INT | QBR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2009 | 53 | 98 | 54% | 668 | 6.82 | 42 | 43% | 3 | 5 | 64.5 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2008 | 81 | 140 | 58% | 981 | 7.01 | 62 | 44% | 5 | 6 | 73.5 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2007 | 84 | 130 | 65% | 1177 | 9.05 | 69 | 53% | 13 | 6 | 107.8 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2006 | 90 | 142 | 63% | 1124 | 7.92 | 66 | 46% | 6 | 9 | 75.6 |
| Ben Roethlisberger | PIT | 2005 | 47 | 84 | 56% | 581 | 6.92 | 32 | 38% | 4 | 4 | 73.6 |
Are you drawing the same conclusions I am? The more the Steelers get away from the run, the less effective Ben is on 3rd down. Even with a high completion % and QB rating on 1st and second down. I will next compile how the 3rd down distances have grown over the past 3 years as i am willing to bet the numbers show that the Steelers had many more 3rd and more than 3 yards from 2007 on. You need to also remember that the current offensive line was built to run, not pass. This is probably the biggest proof that Bruce Arians will be fired after this year and an offensive coordinator will be brought in who focuses on a run first offense. Ben is a great quarterback better suited for a run first offense. Adding more play action and screens back into the play calling should get the offense back on track and help keep an aging offense off the field. The question is, can Rashard Mendenhall be a 25 carry a game back and can the offensive line provide the run blocking they were built for. Judging by the success the Steelers have had this year when trying to run the ball, I think the offense can rebound from this season as their is enough play makers on the field on offense.
