By Gene Collier, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Roethlisberger is sacked by defensive end Shaun Ellis and tackle C.J. Mosley for a loss of 2 yards. (at Jets 11/18/2007)
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- On his way to the interview room, along the cold, dark concourse beneath this doomed NFL landmark, Ben Roethlisberger turned to say hello to a fresh-faced young female; it only took a second, but it was the one small thing he had sufficient time to do all day.
That New York Jets nose tackle Dewayne Robertson didn't bust through the walls of the home team locker room at that moment and throw Big Ben to the concrete was practically another Miracle in the Meadowlands all by itself.
The Jets had nine sacks in nine games coming into yesterday's presumed mismatch. Now they have 16, thanks to a Steelers offensive line that functioned essentially like a row of subway turnstiles at New York's evening rush hour.
"You can finger-point," said Steelers coach Mike Tomlin, now 2-3 on the road in his first season as head coach, "but we're all responsible. That's the reality of football. That's what a team is. We win together, and we stink it up together."
There was no doubt this 19-16 overtime loss to a 1-8 team would not have been possible without significant episodes of substandard performance on offense, defense, special teams and coaching, but the hot suspicion that the Steelers have to this point flourished despite a seriously under-performing offensive line got itself validated nearly to the point of embarrassment on the day the Steelers' record slipped to 7-3.
Not only couldn't Willie Colon, Kendall Simmons, Sean Mahan, Alan Faneca and Marvel Smith protect Big Ben, they couldn't erect, let alone sustain, the kind of running game that allows the Steelers to dictate tempo, balance, authority and ultimately dominance.
Peter Diana / Post-Gazette
Roethlisberger can only watch as he looses control of the football and Jets' defensive end Shaun Ellis picks up the ball. (at Jets 11/18/2007)
"We've got to do a lot better job than that," Colon said in the minutes after the Bronx native's Metropolitan homecoming. "It wasn't a good time. I didn't play my best ball [but did contribute a false start penalty]. They just got after it a little better than we did. Especially me."
Colon has the excuse of having only 12 career starts on his callow resume. The four other starters have 356. It's nearly unfathomable that when Roethlisberger pulled on No. 7 early yesterday afternoon, he was wearing the Jets' sack total. Considering the fact that Ben avoided probably another seven with his ever-more-familiar Houdini schtick, and makes similar hair-raising maneuvers every week, it's fair to say Tomlin's offensive line is, uh, an issue.
"I have all the confidence in the world in those guys," Roethlisberger said, just as he has after just about every game in his four-year career. "And that's not going to change. I'll never waiver on that."
Waivering is one thing. Become the stuntman in the personal highlight video of an undistinguished nose tackle like Robertson is another. Robertson was in on three sacks in all of 2005 and 2006. Yesterday, he had 21/2 in a little more than 60 minutes.
The Steelers' resultant predicament crystallized late in the fourth quarter, soon after they had completed an hours-long climb out of a 10-0 hole and into a 16-13 lead. The Jets had just turned the ball over on downs at the Steelers' 41. There was 4:15 to play. Bruce Arians' offense was two first downs from victory. Willie Parker gained 8 yards on two carries that presented a third-and-2 at the 49.
That third-and-2 seemed to freeze the offense in fear.
Not confident enough to run and not competent enough on this day to pass, Roethlisberger dropped back anyway. Robertson and defensive end Kenyon Coleman collapsed on him as though he'd pulled a box of books from a shelf over his head. Four yards behind the line. Forcing a punt with plenty of time remaining (2:23) for New York's improbable tying field-goal drive.
"A lot of different things were breaking down," said Faneca, a Pro Bowl guard whose apparent final season with the Steelers isn't likely to be remembered as his best. "It seemed like it was something different every time. I got into the habit of watching [for answers] on the big screen. I had to stop that. They did a lot of pinching with the defensive ends on third down, and they were spying [Ben] with a linebacker, mirroring him."
The Steelers lost the toss for the overtime, but got one more chance when the Jets went three-and-out on their first possession. On second-and-7 from their 21, Ben dropped back. Robertson dropped Ben 7 yards behind the line. On third-and-14, there was a handoff to Carey Davis.
What confidence. Here Carey, get yourself killed.
Sometime in the offseason to come, the Steelers know they'll be writing Big Ben a contract for a bajillion dollars. Who's going to protect that investment? More urgently, who's going to protect 7 over the next six weeks?
Gene Collier can be reached at gcollier@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1283.
First published on November 19, 2007 at 12:00 am
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