The Steelers might have to go deep into their playbook this week when they host the Bengals at Heinz Field.
No, not to pull out any of the stuff from early in his career, when they only made him read half the field. What we're talking about is some of the stuff from the era when Bruce Arians was coordinator, when Ben Roethlisberger was one of the most feared deep passers in the NFL.
The Steelers, who are off to a franchise-best 8-0 record, expect Roethlisberger to play Sunday against the Bengals, despite the quarterback currently being on the reserve/COVID list because of contact tracing that put him in jeopardy from being near tight end Vance McDonald, who tested positive for the virus last Sunday.
And the Bengals (2-5-1) are last in the NFL in allowing gains of 20 or more yards this season, with 19.2 percent of the passes completed against them going for a big play. They also have little threat of a pass rush, recording just 11 sacks this season.
The problem?
Roethlisberger is averaging a career-low 6.7 yards per pass attempt this season as his touch on deep passes has been spotty, at best. On one hand, he owns the longest completion in the league this season, an 84-yard touchdown pass to rookie wide receiver Chase Claypool. On the other, he's completed just 11 of 35 passes of 20 or more yards downfield for 357 yards and six touchdowns with three interceptions according to Pro Football Focus. That's right in line with the 10 of 31 deep passes that Mason Rudolph connected on last season according to Football Outsiders
As a team, the Steelers are in the bottom half of the league with just 21 plays this season of 20 or more yards. Only seven teams have fewer.
Roethlisberger has taken time during practices this season to work on his accuracy on his deep passes, but it still hasn't clicked as of yet.
Many are blaming the issue on Roethlisberger returning from an elbow surgery that cost him most of the 2019 season. But it's actually been something of a trend in recent seasons. In 2018, when Roethlisberger led the NFL in passing yards, he completed just 21 of 62 passes of 20 or more yards downfield, good for 33.9 percent. That was a significant drop from the 41.9 percent of his deep passes he completed in 2017.
"I'm hoping that they are going to come in clumps," offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said Thursday. "They haven’t come per se on the percentages that we want to have, but it’s going to happen."
The fact is, at 38, Roethlisberger just isn't as accurate down the field as he used to be.
But that doesn't mean he can't be efficient and effective. Roethlisberger is getting rid of the ball more quickly than at any point in his career. He is getting rid of the ball in 2.27 seconds this season, easily the quickest in the league, and it's working, as Roethlisberger is completing a career-best 68.1 percent of his passes. He's thrown 18 touchdown passes and just four interceptions.
All of that, however, has come after a week of practice. This week, Roethlisberger won't be cleared to practice until Saturday. And that practice will simply be a walk-through.
Fichtner, however, is not concerned.
"I know from a mental standpoint, he will be ready to go," said Fichtner, noting that Roethlisberger has taken part in all of the virtual meetings and is doing preparation on his own. "I do have some background idea that there has been various times in his career where he has not practiced all week and has played in games and has played successfully in games. I don’t question that one bit."
But not practicing doesn't help Roethlisberger with his deep passing game, which could partially be the result of working with so many new and young receivers this season. He's in his fourth season with JuJu Smith-Schuster, but he's worked much less with the other receivers on the roster, especially Claypool, the team's best deep threat.
To alleviate that issue, the Steelers could go to the empty-backfield set they've used effectively the past two games that puts Claypool and Smith-Schuster on the field with Diontae Johnson, Ray-Ray McCloud and tight end Eric Ebron.
"It’s a highly skilled group," Fichtner said. "Eric gives you some receiver-type of ability from a coverage standpoint. I think it could dictate certain types of coverages that you might not get based on that type of group. It could either one of two things. It could eliminate certain protection-type issues that they are capable of doing in that or potentially create some isolations and/or in certain instances it might even create zone when otherwise they might not choose to play you in zone in those situations. It’s a unique group. It’s a fast group. It’s a fun group.
"When they are out there, it gives them a great opportunity to showcase their skills. Ben’s done a nice job of keeping them all involved."
Just not deep all that often, though Roethlisberger did connect with Smith-Schuster on a 31-yard touchdown pass out of that package in last week's win over the Cowboys.
"I know that we have to continue to keep pushing the ball down the field," Fichtner said. "That’s the important thing. I believe we will get there. I do."