Ben Roethlisberger avoided interceptions at camp — to prove to Steelers defenders he could
Ben Roethlisberger knows avoiding turnovers is important. During this past training camp, it was all that much more of a priority for him.
Roethlisberger proudly boasted Wednesday that he did not throw one interception during any of the 15 practices the Steelers had at their camp in Latrobe.
“That's always been one of our goals – and my goal especially: don't throw interceptions,” Roethlisberger said after a practice he sat out for non-injury reasons. “Just really kind of taking the pride.”
For Roethlisberger, that pride was personal this preseason.
“The defense was having fun at my expense in (organized team activities) when I hadn't thrown the ball in forever and they were counting how many interceptions they were getting. It kind of upset me a little bit, so I wanted to prove them that I wouldn't throw it to them if I actually cared about practices -- which I do in training camp, and don't in OTAs. More it was kind of me letting them know what was going on.”
Roethlisberger, who has thrown one interception in 71 attempts so far this season, speculated that he threw “four or five in a couple days” during OTAs, of which he does not participate in every session.
Roethlisberger said he doesn't believe he'd ever previously had an interception-less training camp.
During OTA's the defense “absolutely” was counting their interceptions of him, he said.
“I kept seeing (defensive backs coach Carnell Lake) and (player engagement coordinator and former NFL defensive back) Terry Cousin and some of the DBs putting these fingers up like ‘1', you know, ‘We got this-many interceptions in OTAs and minicamps,'” Roethlisberger said. “And those are days that I obviously don't really care about being on my P's and Q's and being the best I can be. So it upset me enough that I was going to come to training camp and keep track on my own.
“Of touchdowns.”
Chris Adamski is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at cadamski@tribweb.com or via Twitter @C_AdamskiTrib.
