Steelers News: Roethlisberger, Pouncey, Harrison
By Kim Myers
The Steelers are getting ready to suit up and take on the Detroit Lions for their first preseason game of the 2016 season.
While the team works the week to get ready for the Lions we’ll be busy looking for mentions of your Black & Gold so we’ve got you covered. Here’s your Steelers Morning Huddle for Tuesday, Aug. 9th.
No change in his game
With the year-long suspension of Martavis Bryant and the pending four-game suspension of Le’Veon Bell it is quite an understatement to say that the Steelers’ success this season depends upon a healthy Ben Roethlisberger on the field at all times.
More from Steelers News
- Mel Kiper Jr. makes predictable pick for Steelers in first NFL mock draft
- Steelers news: Brian Flores odds to land HC job, no projected compensatory picks, and more
- Why Jordan Addison to the Steelers is a good idea
- 4 reasons Steelers would have been embarrassed in the NFL playoffs
- The easiest cut the Pittsburgh Steelers will make in 2023
He tells Mark Maske of The Washington Post
that the goal each season is to stay healthy but he doesn’t see a need to change his style of play which is physical and schoolyard-like.
"“You always want to be on the field, obviously. Any time you’re not on the field, you’re hurting yourself and your team. But the hard part about that is, I play the game one way. I’ve played it that way for 13 years not and I don’t know any other way to play it. So I’ll do everything I can to stay on the field but to play the game the way I know how.” – Ben Roethlisberger"
So if you happen to find yourself not able to can whenever Roethlisberger pump fakes unfortunately for you there is no end in sight for your anxiety. That’s just how he rolls.
Solid like a rock
The Steelers offensive line is getting their rock back this season. Marcus Gilbert tells Teresa Varley that center Maurkice Pouncey is not only the rock of the offensive line but he’s also the rock of the Steelers offense.
Pouncey’s personality and demeanor make him a natural leader and the rest of the guys on the line feed off of his intensity, per Gilbert. Pouncey’s leadership is one of the reasons this unit has evolved from a maligned group on the team to one of the strengths of the team.
I can imagine it’s not an easy job blocking for a quarterback like Roethlisberger. If he drives some fans insane when he dodges would-be sacks and pump fakes imagine what the line goes through?
No rest for the wicked or the Deebo
I’ll admit that I fully expected each report from Steelers training camp practice to include the side note that linebacker James Harrison did not participate in team drills. I thought coach Tomlin would relegate Harrison to the sidelines where he couldn’t be a danger to himself or anyone else.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler explains that Harrison, now 38, is taking fewer rest days than before at his own request. He’s trying to drop some weight before the regular season starts so he’s working with the team to shed the weight.
Next: The versatility of Sean Davis
Maybe it’s a sign that Harrison perhaps already knows this could be it. He’s about to enter his 14th NFL season and would rather be with the team than running up and down the sidelines.