OC Bruce Arians Speaks with Reporters

Steelers OC Bruce Arians talked to the media today about the divisional playoff game Sunday. Here are excerpts from Arians’ chat with reporters:

Q: Do you have to do anything special with Terrell Suggs?

A: “Yeah, you’ve got to block him. I think he’s their best player along with Haloti Ngata and Ed Reed on that team. They’re very good, they’re solid. There’s nothing you can do as far as double teaming him because the rest of the guys are pretty good. Whoever draws his number, which he flips both sides, you’ve got a job.”

Q: Why can’t you double-team him?

A: “You’re not sure what side he’s going to be on. And all the different fronts that they play, he rolls around so you’re wasting time doing that. The guy that’s assigned to him’s got to cinch it up and play hard. There really are no guys on that front that we can say ‘We’re double teaming this guy.’ ”

Q: Mike (Tomlin) said he thought their cornerback play has improved in recent week. Have you seen that?

A: “Lardarius Webb looks like he’s healthy again. He’s coming off the edge some in nickel. He looks like he did before he got hurt and we thought he was a heck of a prospect then. There’s no doubt in the last month or month in a half they’re playing really solid.”

Q: Can you talk about the balance Ben has struck between not forcing throws but also making plays outside of the pocket?

A: “Without jinxing him? Yeah, he’s playing extremely well right now. He’s really into it. The guys around him are playing solid. I think the emergence of the young wide receivers have helped him a bunch. Getting Heath (Miller) back has also helped. He’s playing at a very, very high level.”

Q: How do you explain his success against Ed Reed?

A: “Probably because I beat it into his head, ‘When the ball comes out of your hand, you better know where Ed Reed is,’ and that’s 10 years of going against this guy and the respect that we have for him. Our goal is to shut Ed Reed out because when he gets his hands on it, it’s a touchdown normally, and you cannot give them the football, especially to him.”

Q: Did you talk to Ben before he returned about not trying to do too much?

A: “No, he had such a great offseason and training camp, he was in the best position. When he came back he just played football like he knew how to play. You don’t have to do anything different. As we grow with these young wide receivers we’ll be able to do some things but right now just play the game you know how to play it. He’s been extremely solid all year.”

Q: You said he’s been playing at an extremely high level all year…

A: “As good as I’ve ever been around. I think this has been his best year.”

Q: What’s he doing to make you say that?

A: “Just continuing to grow. The ball comes out quicker. He’s still going to make plays with his feet, he’s still going to take a sack because of that. There have been times when we’ve thrown it away, there have been times when we’ve made some plays down the field. I think one of the best plays he made all year was shaking Suggs off in the game down there and throwing the ball away left-handed. That’s the type of play he can make but just his consistency, his accuracy. He worked extremely hard when he was off on his accuracy and he changed his motion a little bit and it’s paid off for him all season.”

Q: Is he playing the smartest ball of his career?

A: “I don’t think there’s any doubt and it’s something where we never try to put in new plays. We probably haven’t put in a new pass play since he’s come back. We should have plenty of them that we don’t have to change them. As long as he knows what he’s doing and he’s comfortable, I couldn’t be any more comfortable.”

Q: How has he changed his motion?

A: “He’s shortened his delivery. He worked extremely hard with (personal quarterback coach) George Whitfield during that time, and George helped him out fundamentally. It’s kind of like a golfer changing his stroke. It was a minor thing, really, just to get it out of his hand faster.”