http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
It was a fight that not many would be able to stop.
But into the middle of Chris Kemoeatu wrestling with all 344 pounds of himself stepped Ben Roethlisberger on Monday night. And following the missed block that got Roethlisberger crushed -- the mistake also resulted in a lost fumble and Broncos touchdown -- the Steelers' quarterback essentially ordered his left guard to forget about it.
"I always have a hard time moving on to the next play, especially when our dude back there gets hit," Kemoeatu said. "I think that helped me bounce back and make up for it."
DENVER - NOVEMBER 09: Ben Roethlisberger(notes) #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the Denver Broncos at Invesco Field at Mile High on November 09, 2009 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images)Roethlisberger's impact on the Steelers goes beyond the gaudy statistics he has piled up through the first half of the season. It is also evident in the touch he has shown in lifting teammates like Kemoeatu while guiding the Steelers to a 6-2 record.
Shortly after his pep talk to Kemoeatu, Roethlisberger led the Steelers on a four-play, 80-yard drive. Kemoeatu threw a block that helped spring Rashard Mendenhall for a 24-yard gain on the drive that produced the go-ahead touchdown.
Roethlisberger had earlier taken the same approach with Mike Wallace as he did with Kemoeatu.
When Wallace didn't work his way back to the ball on a third-down pass near the end of the first quarter, Roethlisberger, firm but encouraging, pointed out the rookie wideout's mistake. He also followed through on his promise to keep throwing Wallace's way.
As a result, the two hooked up for completions on a trio of third downs, including one for a 25-yard touchdown with seven minutes left in the game. That allowed the Steelers to open up a double-digit lead over Denver, and they rolled to a 28-10 win.
The victory wasn't just a testament to Roethlisberger's accuracy -- he is tied with Peyton Manning for the NFL lead in completion percentage (70.6) -- but also his comfort level in speaking out.
In being a leader.
"I think it's to the point now where I can go say something to (teammates)," said Roethlisberger, adding he was reluctant to do so as a younger player on a veteran-laden team. "Now I feel like if I need to chew someone, out I'll do it because I hold those guys to high expectations just like I hold myself to it."
Tongue lashings are not quite Roethlisberger's style. The six-year veteran is more inclined to motivate teammates by showing confidence in them.
"No one needs to be embarrassed," said Roethlisberger, who is on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards this season. "If I throw an interception, there's nothing we can do about it now. We learn from it, we go on. That's the mentality I try to instill in them."
The response he has gotten from his teammates affirms that his approach is working -- and that the youngest quarterback ever to win a Super Bowl has taken another step in his development.
"You're not going to come in as a rookie and be a leader over Jerome Bettis and Hines Ward, it's not going to happen," said starting left tackle Max Starks, who was in the same draft class as Roethlisberger, "but you earn your stripes, you earn you stars, and he is the leader on this team."
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