Roethlisberger: "We Have To Play Better, And It Starts With Me"
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The Fan) - Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger joined The Cook and Poni Show on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan for the #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger Show, which airs every Tuesday morning at 11 a.m. during the Steelers season.
The Steelers are licking their wounds after a 31-10 loss to the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday. It was only the second time Roethlisberger has lost to the Browns in his career.
"It was frustrating. I felt like I could and should have played better and do more to give our team a chance to win," Roethlisberger said. "I take it upon myself and it was a long bus ride home. You got to let it fester inside you a little bit because I think that's what motivates you, but you also have to find a way to move on and that is why today we have moved on and were getting ready for this week."
Roethlisberger said it wasn't as bad as it may have looked when they watched the game back yesterday.
"It really came down to not making plays when we had to make plays. They made them and we didn't," Roethlisberger said. "We didn't make a lot of mistakes, we just didn't make the plays that were there to be made."
He said that was the most frustrating part is knowing what to do in making those plays, but just not being able to execute.
Roethlisberger said the game plan was to run the ball against the Browns, and he thought they were having success with it, but it came down to not being able to score inside the red zone. He says they have to start scoring touchdowns instead of settling for field goals.
"We ran the ball and I know that should make the fans happy, because them and the media were asking for us to run it," Roethlisberger added. "But we still have to find a way to get it in the end zone."
The offensive troubles have prompted some to call for the firing of offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Roethlisberger told the guys that all coaches are going to feel the heat when things are not going right, and it's part of the job. He says they have to just let all of the negative comments roll right off their backs, and the simple way to resolve it is to starting playing better and win some games.
"We as players need to play better," Roethlisberger said. "It's our responsibility to play the best we can and right now. I will take the blame that I'm not playing my best football and I need to. So if I play better football, then maybe people will get off the coaches' back."
He told the guys that he will work harder with the receivers moving forward to make sure they are all on the same page and that he gives them the best opportunity to make plays.
Roethlisberger didn't really take kindly to the comments made by his former coach Bill Cowher and former teammate Hines Ward, who both called the Steelers finesse on offense and soft on defense.
"They are in the media now so they are media guys, you know, so they are entitled to their media opinions and that's fine, " Roethlisberger said. "We're not going to change or do anything different because of what people say. We're just gonna bust our butt and play for each other and do what we can to win football games."
That starts Monday night at Heinz Field against the Houston Texans, which will be the first of three straight games at Heinz Field.
Roethlisberger says he hopes to see the Steelers fans show up at all the games, and be the loud fans they have come to love, and show these teams what Heinz Field is all about and that it will present a true home field advantage.
"This will be a huge test for us," Roethlisberger said. "It's one game at a time and we will see if we can step up our play and play our best football."
You can listen to the full interview below and you can hear The #1 Cochran Ben Roethlisberger show LIVE every Tuesday at 11 a.m. during the football season on The Cook and Poni Show on Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan (KDKA-FM).
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