Ben Roethlisberger ramps up criticism of Broderick Jones, Steelers coaching and a 'vanilla' defense

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t hold back when it came to criticism of his old team during his most recent “Footbahlin’” podcast, despite a win over the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Specifically, he laid into offensive tackle Broderick Jones for his play in Foxborough.

“I assume (Mike) Tomlin is addressing it. Maybe it goes to the O-line coach (Pat Meyer). I don’t know him. I don’t know what he’s doing. But at some point, there needs to be some accountability from that left tackle,” Roethlisberger said.

Roethlisberger pointed to a specific run play where Jones “didn’t block a soul,” and he highlighted Jones’ habit of being too upright in his pass protection.

“He has got to get low,” Roethlisberger said. “James Harrison. What did he talk about? Leverage. If James Harrison was going up against Broderick Jones, he would have 15 sacks a game. The low leverage, he is going to get around Broderick. Broderick has to be better at protecting.”

As we stated here at “Breakfast With Benz” prior to viewing the episode, Roethlisberger said the Steelers are afraid to take shots down the field.

The retired Super Bowl champion also talked about the “panic button” with the line play. In his words, the team shouldn’t be hitting it yet, but their hand should be right “over the glass case,” ready to flip it open.

Roethlisberger jumped over to the defensive side next.

“It seems like we’re a pretty vanilla defense as it is,” Roethlisberger said. “It doesn’t feel like, to me, we’re getting a lot of unique pressures, unique defenses. Even Coach Tomlin said that (Tuesday) in his press conference. He said that situations or circumstances are preventing them from doing things. And I don’t know what that means.”

Largely, Tomlin was suggesting injuries in the secondary were holding back the Steelers’ ability to throw the entire defensive package at the opposing offense.

More sports

• Tim Benz: Mike Tomlin says a lot while saying little about Aaron Rodgers' pass protection
• Mark Madden: A reminder of better days, Andrew McCutchen belongs with the Pirates
• Steelers' Mike Tomlin not surprised by success Brian Flores is having as Vikings defensive coordinator

Roethlisberger went so far as to suggest that the Steelers might get outcoached this weekend by Kevin O’Connell and his Minnesota Vikings staff in Ireland.

“If I say that I think we’re gonna get outcoached, is that controversial? I’ll say this: I think Brian Flores is a very good defensive coordinator. I think coach Kevin O’Connell is an exceptional offensive mind,” Roethlisberger said. “They’re going to find ways to try and exploit our defense.”

In my opinion, that’s only controversial if you are in denial over what we’ve witnessed the past eight years of the Steelers producing marginal, above-average regular season results and no playoff wins.

Meanwhile, O’Connell’s team — while also failing to win a playoff game his first three years in the NFL — won 14 games last year and 13 in 2022.

So, yeah, I think it is entirely possible they outcoach the Steelers on Sunday in Ireland from an offensive perspective. And, on the defensive side of the ball, those “vanilla” issues dovetail with what Roethlisberger was saying about how Flores approaches things on the other sideline.

The best hope for the Steelers — as we discussed in this space Tuesday — is that the pass rush has rediscovered a rhythm, and that it can force another bushel of turnovers in Ireland as they did in New England last week.

Which, to underscore another one of Roethlisberger’s concerns, is still amazing to believe that the game was tied in the fourth quarter despite five forced turnovers by the defense against New England.