I’m still a Big Ben fan so hoping he turns it around and has another 5 years in him. Hoping against hope, I know. Hope they start eying the next “can’t miss” QB of the future in upcoming drafts as well.
mc: Great post MoS! I was also thinking about Ben's poor throwing mechanics and it calls into question the effectiveness of Randy Fichtner. Honestly mc, I may be completely off base. It would absolutely seem to me Fitchner would also see what appears to me to be a possible problem. Fitchner is the pro and if I am right, I hope he can resolve Ben’s mechanics before it gets in to his head and shortens our season by about a playoff game. It should also be noted he's had some gorgeous passes dropped early in this season which cannot but contribute to his problems. He has thrown better than the numbers indicate, but not by much. 4 of 22 on 20+ yarders going in to Jags game? No Dobbs for me, Ben will bounce back and play well enough for the Steelers to win on Sunday. He’s not ready yet but I do see him as someone who can be. I really cannot think of the hat that comes off the field for him to get one but IMO he’s a much better future than Jones. Beach: Great post. I don't have your background but there have been times I thought he was aiming it. I have thought of some of our past conversations as baseball players and in our games the jinxing that goes on during a season. I still feel like a jinx when watching some of the games at times. I’m absolutely sure you have more than enough experience in the greatest team sport ever to see if he’s aiming or not. When my son called, it was after the Bears game, and I looked but did not notice an inordinate mechanical problem @ Ravens… a few questionable throws but that is to be expected in any/all games. His performance @ Jags was the real deal in mechanics error and I only hope he has gotten it out of his system… otherwise that jinx on him will hurt the team and us all for the remaining games he has before he pulls out of it. mano: Thanks for that MoS! I will watch for those warning signs you pointed out. Hopefully its something he can correct. Me too mano. The truth be told, he’s in the driver’s seat for getting well as the best most effective means of correcting is to re-become that gunslinger … throw em all hard and hot right through that little league fence… tell your receivers to wear two pairs of gloves cause they’ll be coming in like rockets thrown by Roger Ramjet. Getting his confidence confirmed with a couple of good throws and good catches will go a long way. If, IMO, he has a moderately good day with a few exceptional catches, backed up with a consistent running game taking off some of that pressure, we’re in the position we want. I sure hope so, because if he short arms more of those passes against that defense, they’ll stack that LOS and we’re cooked for another week, standing @ 500 and wondering who the real powerhouse in the division really is...
Well done beloved brother Beachbum. Thanks for taking time to post Ben's shenanaigans. However this team is not winning anything this season unless he gets his sh1t together. As for the future of the QB position; there is no future with the current backup QBs on the roster today. Jones and Dobbs may win regular season games with this team but they are not winning any SBs. It's Ben or bust
Sadly I have a feeling its going to get worse and it will do so quickly. Ben is one of those QBs that gets by on talent alone and once it starts to fade so will he. Ive said it before and this season is proving it more and more he doesnt have the ability to last past his talent because he is not a cerebral QB. Manning had a noodle for an arm in his last season but he could still be effective because he knew how to play smart. Noodle arm manning probably has this team at 5-0.
Manning led the league in interceptions while only starting 9 games his last season Jean. We would be much worse off. IMHO Denver won in spite of Manning. He was horrible in every aspect of the game, except handing the ball off.
Maybe we are all being bigger drama queens then the big drama queen Big Ben? I went and checked Favres last five years in the league and he had some great seasons and awful seasons then great seasons and awful seasons, but there were those seasons at the end where he would throw as many interceptions as touchdowns, then have a great year .... yo yo Ben is better than no Ben imo. Need him to bounce back. I question his desire though. Brett never lost his desire. With Ben I question it
Overall a decent performance for Ben. I could nitpick here and there but they were playing in hostile territory and he really did his best to manage the game. It's a bit depressing to me that he hasn't become a Kurt Warner - like veteran player but it is what it is. Still saw a lot of ball that floated but his accuracy was certainly better. If this team is going to win meaningul games it will be on the back of the defense. It's basically 2005 again.
Warner is a great comparison for what Ben SHOULD BE at this point. More of the same yesterday vs Chiefs. He just SUCKS now on 3rd down and a lot of it has to do with his decision-making. Yesterday missed AB for an easy touchdown, missed Bryant at end of the game on 3rd and 8 to END THE GAME. And...............STILL UPSIDE DOWN on INTs vs TDs thrown through SIX WEEKS..........vs a light schedule. The lone TD yesterday a fluke tip to Brown. My GOD!!
Ben has nowhere near the intelligence, charisma, and leadership that Warner had. He couldn't aspire to be that good.
Right. I agree. He’s a backyarder, a mudder, a gun slinging creator, one of the best when throwing on the run .... so why why does the OC insist on calling games like he is Kurt Warner when at 35 the guy ain’t going to change - he is what he is. Let him run a muddle / no huddle half game (Crap, at least a quarter a game - he was really good at that) and then go conservative Whis-like with structured emphasis on run and occasional play action for shots down field). Play to our QBs strengths for crap’s sake. What is it with Haley? Blaming Ben for not being Warner is like blaming a Ford Truck for not being a sports car.
Because its NOT A LOT to ask your quarterback to change his style of play somewhat to better benefit the team, ensure his health, make sound decisions given the superior talent around him, not turn the ball over, and maximize possessions so your defense isn't asked to carry the load. You know..............be a professional and GROW at your position and as a player!! Is that really a lot to ask??
You’re misunderstanding me. He cannot be that style of play. Never was, never will be. See my edit above about expecting a Ford truck to be a sports car.
Yes he can, he simply REFUSES to or grasp the concept. Its a CHANGE that A LOT of great QBs typically make as they near or reach their career twilight. Its NOT a lot to ask.
This was the big knock on Favre up here in Green Bay. Holmgren could reel him in but every coach after had to put up with his "gunslinger" crap. He ruined Childress in Minn. I'll take the Warner style any day.
I believe most of that bad play from an injury (plantar fascitits) that finally got so bad in the Kc game he was pulled. When he returned in week 17 vs the chargers amd through the playoffs he threw 101 passes with only 1 interception.
If you really believe Manning played well or even adequate for a NFL QB... Here are his stats of the playoff games, obviously after week 17. 51-92 55% Completion rate. 539 yards passing... 179 yds per game avg. 2 tds - 1 int. I would say that is terrible. They won the SB in spite of him like I said. Mind you he had 2 pro bowl receivers.
And Brown and Bell are better than anything he had on that team. The point being he didnt do stupid things that put his team in trouble.
