Steelers Insider Ed Bouchette: Big Ben Greatest Quarterback In Team History
PITTSBURGH (93-7 The FAN) - Ed Bouchette was on the Starkey and Mueller show on Thursday for his weekly interview to discuss the Steelers game Sunday night against the Baltimore Ravens, Martavis Bryant, how Ben Roethlisberger stacks up against Terry Bradshaw, honoring "Mean" Joe Greene and who he think is the next Steeler to get his number retired.
Coming off his six touchdown, 522-yard performance against the Indianapolis Colts, Bouchette was asked if Ben has surpassed Terry Bradshaw as the best quarterback in Steelers history.
"I'm going with Ben," Bouchette said. "Although, I will say this, it was a different time. Back then they threw deeper, they had more interceptions, they had lower pass completion rates, but longer yards per attempt and yards per catch. I'm going to preface it with that, but Ben just seems to be a better quarterback overall I think."
Bouchette also looked ahead to Sunday night's AFC North matchup and discussed how tough of a test that the Ravens' pass rush is going to be for the Steelers.
"That's always an issue with Baltimore with Suggs over there. He seem to have Ben teed up at times, and now they have Dumervill who has seven sacks," said Bouchette.
However, he is confident that the Steelers will have more success on offense than their week 2 game where they only scored six points.
"They don't have a lot of sacks; they only have 17. They also don't have many interceptions, only have 5, Ngata has two and they have the 21st ranked pass defense, so you think they can be had," Bouchette said.
Bouchette also talked about how rookie Martavis Bryant can grow and evolve in the offense and continue to earn the trust of his coaches.
"They are going to spoon feed him more and more and more, and if he keeps doing it, then we're going to see him more and more and more," he said.
The 22-year-old fourth-round draft pick out of Clemson has 7 catches for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the two games that he has been active this season.
Bouchette also discussed the retirement of "Mean" Joe Greene's No. 75 at halftime of the game on Sunday and spoke fondly about his leadership in the locker room.
"If you ever hear him speak, you can see why he was a leader of this team. He was a forceful personality," Bouchette said.
Greene's accolades on the field include being an eleven time pro-bowl selection, a four-time Super Bowl champion, the 1972 and 1974 NFL Defensive Player of the Year and the all-decade team of the 1970s. Greene is only the second Steeler to have the honor of having their jersey number retired by the team. Hall of Famer Ernie Stautner, who played for the Steelers from 1950-1963, had his No. 70 retired in 1964.
Bouchette was also asked who will be the next Steeler to have his number retired and he told the hosts that it should be Franco Harris and gave his explanation:
"Until he came here, they (Steelers) really didn't have that complete offense," Bouchette said. He also added, "He came over and took over that offense, he (Harris) was more of a leader on offense than Terry Bradshaw was."
Harris' accolades include being a nine time Pro-Bowl selection, four-time Super Bowl champion including Most Valuable Player of Super Bowl IX and retired as the second leading rusher of all-time behind Jim Brown.
Click the audio link below to hear the entire interview:
Ed Bouchette
(Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
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