Despite Rocky Start, Ben Roethlisberger Has Faith in Offensive Line

Mandatory Credit: Jason Bridge-USA TODAY Sports

If he wanted to, Ben Roethlisberger could criticize essentially every offensive line he has had in front of him over the last half decade and nobody would blame him. The units have been make-shift, injury-riddled, and have simply underperformed no matter how many “high-round” draft choices have been used to upgrade them.

Then again, pointing fingers is just not “Big Ben’s” style and it never has been.

True to form, Roethlisberger discussed his feelings about Pittsburgh’s currently problematic offensive line in a recent interview which appeared on Steelers.com:

"You just have to trust in the group and the individual. I’ll always have faith in those guys up front, whether it’s wide receivers or linemen. You have to trust with the work that they put in that they’re going to be focused and ready, and that they’re going to give it everything they’ve got, either to protect for you or make a play for you. I would like to know who before Sunday morning [who is starting], but you have to have faith in whoever is out there. Whether it’s Kelvin Beachum, Levi [Brown], Mike Adams, whoever it is, you have to have faith. And I have faith in whoever it is."

Although Roethlisberger does not have much of a choice, it is still nice to see that he is standing by his offensive line which has allowed 15 sacks through the first four regular season games.

The unit is already down a three-time Pro Bowl center, the starting left guard is battling a pectoral injury, the former starter at left tackle was just benched earlier this week, the starting right guard and starting right tackle have struggled over the first quarter of the regular season, and the newly acquired veteran tackle was a “swinging gate” of sorts during his stint in Arizona.

While he cannot choose his offensive line and decide how healthy they can remain throughout the course of the regular season, all “Big Ben” can do is stand by his teammates and hope that his confidence can rub off on some of his personal protectors as they try to help him stay upright and kick-start a running game which currently ranks 31st in rushing yards per game (58.0).

Tomorrow would be a great time for Pittsburgh’s offensive line to “sack up,” especially since they are set to face the New York Jets and their stingy defense led by their stout defensive line.

Stats & Contract Info. Provided By: ESPN.com, Steelers.com , Spotrac, and Pro Football Reference

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