Ben Roethlisberger: Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner ‘should get a lot more credit’
There is a perception among many fans and some in the national media that Randy Fichtner is the problem with the Pittsburgh Steelers’ inconsistent offense.
A very important man, though, has his coordinator’s back. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger wanted to answer Fichtner’s critics in the wake of what were 4½ listless performances by the offense until a stellar second half led to a 28-24 comeback win against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday.
“I saw that (Fichtner) was taking a little bit (of criticism), and he shouldn’t be,” Roethlisberger said during a video conference call with media Wednesday. “The players (should). He calls the plays. We have to execute them.”
An NFL Network report this week insinuated the Steelers offense was so predictable in the first half Sunday that the Colts were calling out plays. But in the second half, Roethlisberger was in charge when the unit put together four long, successful drives in a row. The report cited on-the-record quotes from Steelers receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster.
Roethlisberger wouldn’t go that far.
“In the second half, it’s not just me,” he said. “(Fichtner) is telling me stuff in my ear. We are talking on the sidelines. So he should get as much — if not more, in my opinion more — credit than anyone else for the second-half performance, because he’s the one that’s really kind of giving us the insight and the direction and keeping it moving.”
Fichtner has been part of the Steelers’ coaching staff since Mike Tomlin was hired in 2007. Among a dwindling number of holdovers for all 14 of Tomlin’s seasons, Fichtner is in his third season as coordinator after previously serving as quarterbacks coach.
It is known that Fichtner and Roethlisberger have a good working relationship. In his first season calling the plays, the Steelers ranked sixth in the NFL in total yards and fourth in scoring. Those numbers fell to among the worst in the league last season while Roethlisberger missed all but six quarters because of elbow surgery.
Heading into this season’s finale Sunday at Cleveland, the Steelers rank 12th in the NFL in scoring and 24th in yards gained.
“What I see in Coach Randy’s growth is just understanding what our strengths and weaknesses are,” Roethlisberger said. “Really, it boils down to us needing go make the plays — not the play-calling.”
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Chris Adamski is a TribLive reporter who has covered primarily the Pittsburgh Steelers since 2014 following two seasons on the Penn State football beat. A Western Pennsylvania native, he joined the Trib in 2012 after spending a decade covering Pittsburgh sports for other outlets. He can be reached at cadamski@triblive.com.
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