Ben Roethlisberger Questions Game Plan
Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday called Ben Roethlisberger's criticism of the play calling in Sunday's loss "natural frustrations" and said his quarterback is "on board with what we're doing."
Tomlin said he met Monday with Roethlisberger. The meeting wasn't because of Roethlisberger's comments, however; the coach and quarterback meet every week after a game.
Roethlisberger seemed to question the Steelers' offensive schemes after Sunday's 27-24 overtime loss at Dallas as he was talking to reporters in the locker room after the game. He was asked why he hadn't targeted Heath Miller in the second half after the star tight end made a key first-half reception for a 30-yard touchdown to tie the game at 10 before halftime.
Miller wasn't targeted at all in the second half after catching six passes for 85 yards and the touchdown in the first.
"I just don't think we called the right plays to get him the ball," said Roethlisberger, who also said he would've liked to have seen the Steelers run more no-huddle sets.
"That was a tough, hard-fought game, an emotional one, and when you come up short, there's frustrations associated with that, natural frustrations associated with that," Tomlin said, according to the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. "I met with Ben (Monday) and he's ready to move forward with this week and he's on board with what we're doing."
Roethlisberger's relationship with offensive coordinator Todd Haley has been scrutinized after the Steelers decided during the offseason to part ways with Bruce Arians, a move with which the quarterback disagreed.
The Steelers (7-7) face the Cincinnati Bengals (8-6) Sunday in a must-win game for both teams in their pursuit of a playoff spot.
Tomlin also said Tuesday that starting cornerback Ike Taylor will miss his third straight game while recovering from a fractured ankle.
The Steelers need to win each of their final two games -- against Cincinnati and Cleveland (5-9) -- to advance to the playoffs for the third straight season. Pittsburgh beat the Bengals 24-17 in the teams' first meeting on Oct. 21.
I feel the losses we have had this year are partly to blame to the coaching staff, but also to players lack of concentration...too many turn overs.
But I have said all year I am not impressed with T.H.'s offense gamie calling.
So M.T. needs to take the blame, he made the decision to get rid of B.A., who only took a rookie QB and a team that was 2-14 and has no big name players to the playoffs.
Then he brings in a stale offense like T.D.'s.
Hope he intends to change O.C.'s this off season again.