The news that Ben Roethlisberger will miss the next 4 to 6 weeks of the season was a case of being a good news, bad news scenario. On one hand, when the injury happened in real time, the immediate reaction was that it might be the end of Roethlisberger’s season and with it, any hopes of the Steelers being a Super Bowl contender in 2015.
On the other hand, the sobering reality is the Steelers now must hand over the reins to Michael Vick, an aging backup who was looking for work well into training camp this Summer and was coming off a terrible season with the New York Jets.
Vick does provide experience and the ability to help the Steelers keep the ship afloat until Roethlisberger is able to return, but it won’t be easy as the Steelers have to face a desperate Baltimore Ravens squad that heads to Heinz Field 0-3 and then has a stretch of more tough opponents over the next several weeks.
If the Steelers offense is going to be successful under Vick, it will be with a lot of help and support. Here are three key factors that will make or break the Steeler offense with Vick leading the group.
1. Todd Haley needs to do some of the best work of his career-
Although much has been made about the relationship between offensive coordinator Todd Haley and Ben Roethlisberger the past few seasons, Haley has been the best thing that could have happened to the veteran quarterback. Coming off a career year and comfortable running Haley’s offense, Roethlisberger once again looked terrific to start the season before his injury.
Now Haley will have to shine if the Steelers are going to win with Vick running the show. Although it’s probably more or less accurate when Mike Tomlin verified yesterday that Vick has digested the Steelers offensive playbook, it obviously does not mean that he is capable of doing the things Roethlisberger does at QB.
It’s just as much about the mental part of the game than anything. Roethlisberger has become comfortable enough running Haley’s offense that he was often given full autonomy to make calls and change plays when he felt it was needed. That’s not going to be the case with Vick, especially preparing for the Ravens in a short week.
Haley must get Vick comfortable with a plan that is easy to digest and practice with little time to prepare. He’s also going to have to mix things up in an effort to stay away from being predictable to the Ravens defense, who it must be remembered has little time to prepare for Vick either.
Look for the Steelers to once again utilize Le’Veon Bell in a variety of ways through different formations and looks. The offense will also look to use both Bell and DeAngelo Williams more to dominate on the ground. Haley will also need to make sure to try and put Vick in situations where he can make high percentage passes where he will be less likely to turn the ball over with risky throws.
2. Others need to step up and the offensive line must eliminate mental errors-
No one expects Vick to play at the level of Roethlisberger but he’s good enough to help the Steelers win football games over the next several weeks. That being said, the supporting cast must play well and the unit must limit costly mistakes like turnovers and penalties.
Bell and Williams will likely be focal points of the offense in the coming weeks, and don’t be surprised if players like Heath Miller and Markus Wheaton don’t get more looks in the intermediate passing game. Potentially the player most affected by the loss of Roethlisberger is Antonio Brown, but the league’s best receiver should still find ways to make his normal contributions, something Haley will have to get creative with in his game planning.
The Steelers offensive line took a significant step back in performance in St. Louis. This should not be a total shock considering they faced the vaunted Rams defensive front that gives everyone fits. However, the group still has made too many mistakes and costly penalties through the first three weeks and this must stop now that Roethlisberger won’t be there to bail them out after costly penalties push them back.
Specifically Ramon Foster and Kelvin Beachum have struggled at times with pre-snap penalties and holding calls. Putting Vick in tough spots where he has to convert 3rd and 20 type of scenarios is a sure fire way to get in trouble.
Finally, ball protection is absolutely essential. Vick-led offenses often mean preventable turnovers, and Vick needs to play like an experienced veteran that understands costly interceptions or careless fumbles will kill the Steelers. Vick is not alone, the offense must protect the football as a unit and play error free.
3. Keep Landry Jones off the field-
In other words, the Steelers need to do everything possible to keep the oft-injured 35-year old Vick from getting hurt. Of course injuries happen, but the Steelers must make it clear to Vick that unnecessary risks can’t be taken and that there might be times where sliding instead of trying to get a few extra yards or taking a sack instead of a big hit is the right call.
Losing Vick to injury would be absolutely devastating to the Steelers. Landry Jones is not ready to step in under any circumstances, and with some tough games ahead in the four to six game window that the Steelers will be without Roethlisberger, it could be a season killer if Vick is lost due to injury.
It’s possible the Steelers could look at other options at QB for the next severals to give the team a “better” backup option to Vick than Jones, but that’s not going to help them this week against the Ravens. Plus, the idea that somebody is going to be signed off the street and learn the Steelers offense well enough to help the team win football games against the likes of the Chargers, Cardinals and Chiefs is wishful thinking at best.
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