Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger, will forever go down as one of the best players in the history of the franchise. During his illustrious 18-year career, he brought two Lombardi Trophies back to Pittsburgh and was selected to six Pro Bowls. Perhaps the biggest reason Roethlisberger was able to prolong his time with the Steelers to nearly age 40 was because he changed his style of play. He adopted a new way after about nearly a decade into his career.
The future Hall of Famer went from a gun-slinging, backyard football type of quarterback who was reliant upon his running ability to a composed, pocket passer who had the ability to pick defenses apart with ease.
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Former Steelers' QB, Ben Roethlisberger
With Roethlisberger now retired, there seems to be a new quarterback who has taken over the role of a player desperately in need of a style of play change and that's Buffalo Bills' star, Josh Allen. Over the course of his five seasons with the Bills, Allen has quickly transformed himself into one of the most electrifying young talents in the entire NFL.
His rocket of an arm combined with his impressive athletic ability have made him a fan favorite in Buffalo. However, Allen falls victim to the same problem Roethlisberger had during his career, playing far too recklessly. The Bills' quarterback will take unnecessary hits from defenders and put himself in situations where injury is ultimately inevitable.
According to a report from Bills' ESPN reporter, Alaina Getzenberg, Allen acknowledged he is getting older and described how he plans to play differently heading in to the 2023 season.
"I've been a football player first and a quarterback second and at some point that's going to have to switch," Allen said to reporters on Tuesday during offseason workouts.
Could Allen Benefit From Adopting The Same Style Of Play Change As The Former Steelers' QB?
There is no denying how immensely talented Allen is and no measuring how big of an impact he has made with the Bills' organization. However, it is undoubtedly in his best interest to consider following the same career path as Roethlisberger and steer clear of the 'gun-slinger' type of quarterback play.
Not only did this change help extend the career of the Steelers' signal-caller, but it also allowed him to prove he was capable of winning games as primarily a pocket passer. Roethlisberger had by far his best seasons as a passer during the second half of his career, including the 2018 season where he threw for well over 5,000 yards.
Allen has the same opportunity next season to show what he is capable of. While he has more than proven himself as one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL today, he still has immense room to grow with not only being too reliant with his legs, but also turning the football over. During his five years with the Bills, Allen has turned the ball over 80 times and thrown 60 interceptions.
A style of play change would help cut down on some of these turnovers as it did with Roethlisberger during the second half of his career with the Steelers.
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Bills' QB, Josh Allen
Roethlisberger Proved His Doubters Wrong, Can Allen Do The Same In 2023?
During the early parts of his career, many doubted that Roethlisberger would ever be able to change his philosophy in terms of quarterback play. They believed he would be largely ineffective as a prototypical, stand-in-the-pocket type of passer and would ultimately revert back to his old ways.
The doubters were wrong. Although he won both of his Super Bowls during the first half of his career, Roethlisberger was a much better quarterback from 2012 to the end of his career. He stopped trying to put the entire weight of the offense on his shoulders and instead focused on getting the ball into the hands of his playmakers.
He proved his worth as a pocket passer and enjoyed one of the most memorable careers in the history of any Pittsburgh Steelers' player ever.
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Former Steelers' QB, Ben Roethlisberger
Going in to 2023, Allen may finally be ready to do the same. This style of play change does not necessarily mean he is strictly forbidden from using his legs on occasion; it just means he needs to stop making the same type of mental mistakes that a young Roethlisberger made and instead use his right arm to distribute passes to the Bills' receivers.
If he does so, his chances of enjoying a long and healthy career increase significantly. Allen may find it more than worthwhile to have a conversation with Roethlisberger at some point this offseason. It may prove to be a conversation that could help the entire trajectory of his career.
Thoughts, Steeler Nation?
Would you say that Allen is following a similar career path to that of Roethlisberger? Do you think he is capable of being a consistent pocket passer? How do you feel about the Steelers' current QB, Kenny Pickett going in to 2023? Let us know in the comments!
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