Pettine no stranger to Steelers
PITTSBURGH – First-year head coach Mike Pettine might be new to the Cleveland Browns, but he’s no stranger to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.
Prior to becoming Cleveland’s 15th head coach and eighth since 1999, Pettine served as the defensive coordinator in Buffalo (2013) and for the New York Jets (2009-12). Prior to that, he served as a defensive assistant with the Baltimore Ravens from 2002 through 2008.
Pettine has faced Roethlisberger 12 times as an assistant coach, with Roethlisberger leading the Steelers to a win in nine of those games, including 23-10 over Buffalo last season.
But that doesn’t mean it’s been easy for Roethlisberger. Though he’s thrown for 2,535 yards and 17 touchdowns against Pettine’s schemes, he’s also been intercepted 10 times and sacked 41 times, bolstered by a nine-sack game in Baltimore in 2006. His passer rating of 84.2 in those games is below his career rating of 92.6.
The two will renew their acquaintances Sunday, when the Steelers host the Browns to not only open the 2014 regular season, but kick off Pettine’s head coaching tenure in Cleveland.
While many of the Browns are familiar with Roethlisberger, they’re don’t have success against him. The Findlay, Ohio, native is 18-1 in games started against Cleveland, including a 9-0 record at Heinz Field.
“We always tell our guys, the play doesn’t begin until he makes the first guy miss,” Pettine said of Roethlisberger. “He has the uncanny ability and it’s a reason he’s one of the elite quarterbacks. Physically, guys have a hard time bringing him down. How many throws has he made with guys just hanging on him?”
Roethlisberger and the Steelers worked hard last season to make sure the quarterback didn’t have to make his trademark playground styled passes. After being sacked 31 times in the Steelers’ first eight games last season, Roethlisberger was taken down just 11 times in the final eight games.
The difference was that the Steelers used a no-huddle attack more often, and Roethlisberger bought into offensive coordinator Todd Haley’s shorter passing scheme that got the ball out of his hands quicker.
Roethlisberger not only was sacked less, but he also threw 16 touchdowns against just five interceptions as the Steelers averaged nearly 28 points per game en route to a 6-2 record.
Roethlisberger expects the Browns to show a lot of the similar defensive looks as he’s seen from other Pettine-coached teams.
“We anticipate seeing a lot of kind of Baltimore-esque stuff (with) a lot of five down (linemen) … a lot of mixing defenses up to try to confuse us on offense. (They have) a very good defense that was top 10 last year.”
Cleveland returns the bulk of a defense that finished ninth in the NFL last season. But even with that top-10 defense, Roethlisberger led the Steelers to a pair of wins over Cleveland in 2013, beating the Browns 27-11 and 20-7.
Even though it will be a meeting in the regular season opener and the Steelers will be breaking in some new receivers, Roethlisberger’s teammates expect a big game out of their offensive team captain.
They saw enough of him in training camp and the preseason, where he completed 24 of 37 passes for 331 yards, three touchdowns and one interception, to know he’s in mid-season form.
“All the way, he’s always dialed in,” said center Maurkice Pouncey. “He always puts up great numbers and leads the team in the right way.”
Odds and end zones
Wide receivers Lance Moore (groin) and Martavis Bryant (shoulder) missed their second consecutive day of practice for the Steelers Thursday. Cornerback Brice McCain (groin), who practiced on a limited basis Wednesday, was held out. … Former Steelers head coach Bill Cowher visited the Steelers as part of his duties for the CBS pre-game show. Cowher’s interview with Roethlisberger will be part of the network’s pre-game show. … The Steelers will hold a press conference today at which former Pro Bowl linebacker James Harrison will officially announce his retirement.