Roethlisberger ahead of last year’s pace in just one series

PITTSBURGH – Ben Roethlisberger needed only one series of a supposedly meaningless game to play better than he did during last year’s preseason.

Those nine snaps that Roethlisberger took Saturday in Arizona likely will be long forgotten by the time the Steelers’ regular season is winding down in December. So will the three passes he completed in four attempts for 29 yards, or the sack he took after scrambling to his right to try to avoid the Cardinals’ pass rush.

But to suggest that the game meant nothing to the Steelers and Roethlisberger would be incorrect. Perhaps no exhibition game during Bill Cowher’s 15 seasons as coach meant more, if only because the 21-13 loss showed that the Steelers probably don’t have to wonder any longer if Roethlisberger’s recovery from his scary June 12 motorcycle accident is complete.

The Steelers felt it was necessary to show he is ready to deal again with the physical demands of playing quarterback in the NFL. He showed no problems with his delivery, play-calling or ability to read defenses.

Roethlisberger showed no problems and that was a big improvement from an August ago.

That he was playing exactly two months after needing seven hours of surgery to repair a jaw that was broken in four places, his nose and some orbital bones following his motorcycle wreck struck Roethlisberger as being more than relevant.

He is very aware of how far he’s come, and how fast he has done so, even if he keeps insisting it’s no big deal and he’s tired of answering persistent questions about it.

“I feel I could go right now,” Roethlisberger said of the Steelers’ Sept. 7 opener against Miami. “It’s not me. It’s how much do we need the offense to start clicking.”