Big Ben's Rookie Season Highlights

[mcmillenandwife]

Watch ---> Big Ben's Rookie Season Highlights

UPDATE: We had lots of complaints about the music we added to the video, so here's an improved quality version with no music and a few added clips. Enjoy!

2004 was a truly SPECIAL season for the Steelers, despite not hoisting a Lombardi at the end. It remains one of my favorite seasons of all time, and other than 1976, the 2004 squad was perhaps the best Steeler team to not win a Super Bowl. It was an incredibly fun year. And central to that fun was the birth of the Ben Roethlisberger era.

Ben elevated the team from the moment he stepped on the field. By his 3rd start, he was taking over games. He very quickly distinguished himself as the best player on offense, and his insertion into the starting lineup almost instantly transformed that team from talented underachiever to heavyweight contender. The young QB wasn't perfect... but he had "Hall of Fame" written all over him right from the start. And the Steelers immediately began winning games with Ben that they would've lost without him.

Throughout his career, it's never been about what Roethlisberger has done "statistically." He's never been a particularly coveted fantasy football player, even in the midst of 5000-yard seasons. That's because fantasy football is 100% stats-based, and stats aren't what make Ben great. It's about what he does in BIG moments, clutch plays that "only" Ben Roethlisberger makes, that winning edge that he brought to the team from the moment he stepped on the field. Ben is largely defined by intangibles. But first and foremost, it's about WINNING. And he's been winning since the start.

This video features highlights from every regular season game of Ben Roethlisberger's amazing "Rookie of the Year" season in 2004. It's a long video (16-1/2 minutes), but I've watched it multiple times and it makes me smile every time.

Enjoy the video, and then go take a look at the remarkable 2004 season for a deeper look at one of the great teams in Pittsburgh Steelers history.

Watch ---> Big Ben's Rookie Season Highlights

Watch ---> The Steelers' Entire 2004 Season

[Barney]

I remember how slowly Ben was given the keys to the offense... I wish we would not have been so cautious with using Ben. He is an awesome QB! Easily the best in his draft class IMHO.

Awesome highlights of a youthful Ben. Thanks!

[Barney]

Error Message:

This video contains content from the NFL, who has blocked it from display on this website or application. Worked for me a few hours ago.

Ironically I clicked the link to watch on Youtube and that did work.

[Noll and Cowher teams no more]

Nice video you made, Tim.
You are correct when you said that Ben had that “IT” about him.
I still believe that it helped a lot to have a potent run game And veteran receivers to help him in his rookie year.

[dbsfgyd1]

Nice video you made, Tim.
You are correct when you said that Ben had that “IT” about him.
I still believe that it helped a lot to have a potent run game And veteran receivers to help him in his rookie year.

Not to mention the best Steeler defense since 1976...

[mcmillenandwife]

Nice video you made, Tim.
You are correct when you said that Ben had that “IT” about him.
I still believe that it helped a lot to have a potent run game And veteran receivers to help him in his rookie year.

Yes, of course it helped to have talent around him. I don't think anyone has ever claimed it didn't.

Yet, by his 3rd start, he was already the best offensive player on the team. And he has been ever since.

[mcmillenandwife]

Nice video you made, Tim.
You are correct when you said that Ben had that “IT” about him.
I still believe that it helped a lot to have a potent run game And veteran receivers to help him in his rookie year.

Not to mention the best Steeler defense since 1976...

I believe that distinction goes to the 2008 defense, although the 2004 defense was top-ranked and damn good.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Great video, thanks for posting.

We need a new Bus and a few WRs!!!

[Chucktownsteeler]

We need to sticky this.

[mcmillenandwife]

We need to sticky this.

Done. 

[Chucktownsteeler]

Thanks, we tend to forget how great Ben was and how early in his career.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I could watch this a thousand times.

Bradshaw and Ben, 2 very special QBs.

[mcmillenandwife]

I could watch this a thousand times.

Same here. I've watched it repeatedly. Makes me smile every time.

2004 was a truly SPECIAL season, despite not hoisting a Lombardi at the end. One of my favorite seasons of all time. 

Other than 1976, probably the best Steeler team to not win a Super Bowl.

[Rollers]

Burress and Ben were really good together

[mcmillenandwife]

Burress and Ben were really good together

They really had a great connection. I hated losing Burress. Ultimately, it didn't matter, because once Burress was gone, we won the Super Bowl.

[Chucktownsteeler]

It would be nice if we had a Terry Bradshaw highlight video, probably not from his rookie year.

[mcmillenandwife]

It would be nice if we had a Terry Bradshaw highlight video, probably not from his rookie year.

Yeah, Terry's only rookie highlights were during preseason.

[Noll and Cowher teams no more]

I watched this again and I could not help but watch the linemen and formations on every play and once again saw what is missing from Ben's great rookie season and now during Rudolph's first year as a starter.
Ben's run offense averaged 164 yards per game. In the play action pass clips the defense bites hard on the fake because they respected the run so much. Play action for Rudolph's non existent offense fools nobody because opposing defenses do not respect the run and challenge Rudy to beat them. Last Sunday's safety was during a play action play and Rudy never had a chance.

Gotta address the o-line and running back position this off season. Love Conner to death but can't rely on him staying healthy.
As far as the receiver position, I'm not to worried about it. These young guy's will get better as time goes along providing we can establish a consistent run game.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I watched this again and I could not help but watch the linemen and formations on every play and once again saw what is missing from Ben's great rookie season and now during Rudolph's first year as a starter.
Ben's run offense averaged 164 yards per game. In the play action pass clips the defense bites hard on the fake because they respected the run so much. Play action for Rudolph's non existent offense fools nobody because opposing defenses do not respect the run and challenge Rudy to beat them. Last Sunday's safety was during a play action play and Rudy never had a chance.

Gotta address the o-line and running back position this off season. Love Conner to death but can't rely on him staying healthy.
As far as the receiver position, I'm not to worried about it. These young guy's will get better as time goes along providing we can establish a consistent run game.

I couldn't agree more. Nothing against Ben but he had a bonefide line, RBs and WRs. And an OC.

The past 8 or 9 years of drafting heavy on the defensive side of the ball has caught up with our offense.

[mcmillenandwife]

Nothing against Ben but he had a bonefide line, RBs and WRs. And an OC.

What does "nothing against Ben" even mean? Why would there be anything "against Ben?" 

Speaking of OC's, loved Whisenhunt running our offense. He was something special. Great timing and very creative. Best at that position in Steelers history IMO.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Nothing against Ben but he had a bonefide line, RBs and WRs. And an OC.

What does "nothing against Ben" even mean? Why would there be anything "against Ben?" 

Speaking of OC's, loved Whisenhunt running our offense. He was something special. Great timing and very creative. Best at that position in Steelers history IMO.

I'm just saying Ben was very, very good, but MR doesn't have the supporting cast and coaches Ben had. Ben was still very, very good to great. I didn't want my comment taken out of context. MR literally has no chance with the supporting cast he has.

[Noll and Cowher teams no more]

Nothing against Ben but he had a bonefide line, RBs and WRs. And an OC.

What does "nothing against Ben" even mean? Why would there be anything "against Ben?" 

Speaking of OC's, loved Whisenhunt running our offense. He was something special. Great timing and very creative. Best at that position in Steelers history IMO.

I'm just saying Ben was very, very good, but MR doesn't have the supporting cast and coaches Ben had. Ben was still very, very good to great. I didn't want my comment taken out of context. MR literally has no chance with the supporting cast he has.

Offense is one dimensional and defenses just pin their ears back and attack against the pass. No respect for the run game. 
Notice that just about every blitz, the defense had someone shadow the backs coming out of the backfield.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Nothing against Ben but he had a bonefide line, RBs and WRs. And an OC.

What does "nothing against Ben" even mean? Why would there be anything "against Ben?" 

Speaking of OC's, loved Whisenhunt running our offense. He was something special. Great timing and very creative. Best at that position in Steelers history IMO.

I'm just saying Ben was very, very good, but MR doesn't have the supporting cast and coaches Ben had. Ben was still very, very good to great. I didn't want my comment taken out of context. MR literally has no chance with the supporting cast he has.

Offense is one dimensional and defenses just pin their ears back and attack against the pass. No respect for the run game. 
Notice that just about every blitz, the defense had someone shadow the backs coming out of the backfield.

Correct, father time, injuries, and drafting heavily on the defensive side of the ball for the past 8 or 9 years has taken its toll on the offense. They need some playmakers at the skill positions (RB, WR) and a little better OC. Losing Darryl Drake at the beginning of the season hurt as well. You have years like this I suppose. We have been very fortunate the past decade or so.

I'm no cap expert or know who will be available but I hope next year is a bit better.

[mcmillenandwife]

Correct, father time, injuries, and drafting heavily on the defensive side of the ball for the past 8 or 9 years has taken its toll on the offense. They need some playmakers at the skill positions (RB, WR) and a little better OC. Losing Darryl Drake at the beginning of the season hurt as well. You have years like this I suppose. We have been very fortunate the past decade or so.

I'm no cap expert or know who will be available but I hope next year is a bit better.

The problem isn't how we've been drafting, IMO. What has really taken a toll on our offense are the following three things:

1. Losing Big Ben.
   
2. Losing Antonio Brown
   
3. Losing Le'Veon Bell
   

Had the Steelers been able to keep the "Killer B's" together, you're talking 3 Pro Bowlers at worst, and three potential Hall of Famers at best. As it stands now, only Ben will get into the HoF, because Bell and Brown both cut off their noses to spite their face. 

Still scratching my head over Bell and Brown. They had it MADE in Pittsburgh. Now, AB is banned (at least temporarily) from the league altogether and Bell doesn't even qualify as an afterthought. His own team looks at him as a liability. He's earning $13M+ a year (significantly less than he would've earned with the Steelers) to average a paltry 45 rushing yards a game with the Jets. 

These guys each went from being considered the best at their respective positions to a couple of nothing burgers. The mind boggles.

[sandfan]

I finally found the time to enjoy the film of Ben's exploits. It was a confirmation of how lucky the fans and ownership of this team have been to have Roethlisberger follow, albeit a bit later, in the steps of Bradshaw.

Thanks for posting. It was a very nice early Christmas present.

[mcmillenandwife]

UPDATE: We had lots of complaints about the music we added to the video, so here's an improved quality version with no music and a few added clips. Enjoy!

[mcmillenandwife]

This video still blows my mind. It's remarkable to compare the number of downfield throws during the 2004 season vs. the lack of anything more than 5 yards in Matt Canada's offense. It feels there were more long passes completed in the 2004 Cleveland game alone than the Steelers have completed during all of 2021.

[dbsfgyd1]

Nice video you made, Tim.
You are correct when you said that Ben had that “IT” about him.
I still believe that it helped a lot to have a potent run game And veteran receivers to help him in his rookie year.

Not to mention the best Steeler defense since 1976...

I believe that distinction goes to the 2008 defense, although the 2004 defense was top-ranked and damn good.

To that point would have been a better way for me to put it.  Agreed that the 2008 D was light’s out. If only Ike could catch a ball….