Everyone has a plan til they get punched in the mouth. Any quarterback can look like a star if his first read is open. Any offensive line can keep their quarterback upright if the ball comes out quick. The trust test of both is when things break down. The play doesn’t work like it does in the playbook, during practice, or Friday’s walkthrough. When a meticulous, structured play turns into backyard football. Keep the play alive, find someone open.
Five of Ben Roethlisberger’s 22 completions Sunday came of scramble drills. The first read wasn’t open so Roethlisberger, the line, or both had to keep things going and work something out.