What are the benefits of practice with Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger? The rookies are finding out
PITTSBURGH 鈥� As JuJu Smith-Schuster and Josh Dobbs are adjusting to the intricacies that come along with football鈥檚 highest level, they鈥檙e more fortunate than most rookies at this time of the NFL calendar.
Why? They have Ben Roethlisberger in their ear as an on-field instructor.
Neither Smith-Schuster nor Dobbs had reached their teenage years by the time Roethlisberger took the league by storm with a Super Bowl championship in his second NFL season. Now, both are alongside him during Steelers organized team activities and are beginning to reap the benefits.
Regardless of spring football in shorts or brutally hot summer days in Latrobe, Roethlisberger isn鈥檛 one to take time for granted when the Steelers begin preparations for an upcoming season. Smith-Schuster and Dobbs have realized he expects the same out of his rookies.
鈥淭here鈥檚 never any wasted reps, that鈥檚 for sure,鈥� Dobbs told The Times after OTAs on Wednesday.
For Smith-Schuster, it may be timing another receiver鈥檚 pick while he breaks out of an out-route to the pylon during red zone work. For Dobbs, it may be establishing proper footwork in the pocket while making an off-balanced throw. If it鈥檚 not done in a meticulous manner, they鈥檒l hear about it from Roethlisberger.
鈥淗e always interacts with each person, he knows everybody by name and has a relationship with them,鈥� said Dobbs. 鈥淭hen, when gets on the field, he gets down to the nitty-gritty details of each play.鈥�
Obviously, Smith-Schuster and Dobbs heard a lot about Roethlisberger following the draft as they were set to begin their respective careers in Pittsburgh. Experiencing his demeanor firsthand through three weeks of OTAs, though, has further driven home the point.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a great teacher,鈥� Smith-Schuster said. 鈥淔rom our side of the ball, he鈥檚 a great leader. He teaches a lot, especially to the young guys. Overall, he鈥檚 just a great dude to be around. He makes the offense much easier to learn and much easier to play with.
鈥淪ince he understands your body and how you move, he helps you along the way. It makes it much easier.鈥�
Normally running with the second and third teams during practice, Smith-Schuster admitted he鈥檚 often a little antsy when he gets reps with Roethlisberger during red zone work. The second-round pick out of USC fits a physical, Anquan Boldin type that with the potential to make combat catches in those types of situations. Any opportunity he gets for a red zone rep with Roethlisberger is vital, even during OTAs.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 something I have to work with Ben with,鈥� Smith-Schuster said. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 thrown in there with Ben, I get too excited, but at the same time, I鈥檝e got to keep calm. (The ball) could go anywhere, but at the end of the day, I鈥檝e got to make my play.鈥�
As a quarterback, Dobbs is working alongside Roethlisberger a more frequently during individual drills. It鈥檚 there that Dobbs has taken minute details of Roethlisberger鈥檚 reps and applied it to his own. Dobbs鈥� intelligence is widely known: He was an aerospace engineering major in college and even designed technology for unreleased F-135 fighter jets during a summer internship.
Sure, learning the ropes as an NFL quarterback isn鈥檛 quite rocket science, but by watching Roethlisberger in OTAs, Dobbs is undergoing both visual and tactile education as he continues to learn to Todd Haley鈥檚 playbook.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been great for me to be around (Roethlisberger), and to be able to capture that, and then take some of that to my game, as well,鈥� Dobbs said. 鈥溾�� He鈥檚 always working the game in some way. Whether it鈥檚 seeing how receivers adjust to different balls, or whether it鈥檚 working his footwork and working the pocket.
鈥淚t鈥檚 everything I expected, and that鈥檚 what has made him so great.鈥�