Legendary Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger does not understand the team’s philosophy on defense. This comes after former New England Patriots wide receiver Julian Edelman ripped the Steelers and Mike Tomlin’s defense for not changing with the times.
“You knew exactly what they were doing,” Edelman said on the Games with Names podcast. “And they still do what they did. They still do the same goddamn shit as when I was playing Tomlin’s defense. I’m like, ‘We still have linebackers covering the three slot? Every time we play Steelers, I have at least nine catches. You would think that they would change it. But no, they do what they do.”
Roethlisberger responded to that declaration by Edelman, stating there is ‘some truth’ to what he is saying, and that he does not see the Steelers scheming things up like other teams.
“There’s definitely truth to it,” Roethlisberger said on the Footbahlin podcast. “If you don’t – you’ve got to change with the times. We’re not trying to confuse people like other teams do. Other teams are confusing people. Look at the end of that Chiefs-Bills game. (Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnoulo) sent a corner blitz. They sent it for the first time all game, in a situation where you would never expect it and you need it, and they come home.”
Roethlisberger is just the latest former player to call out the predictable scheme. In the past, Shannon Sharpe, James Harrison, and Steve Smith have all called out the ‘predictable’ Steelers defense.
