Roethlisberger: Rodgers should keep feeding Bernard after interception
The short version
- A screen pass off Germie Bernard's chest was intercepted in the third quarter.
- Aaron Rodgers was kneed in the head while tackling on the return.
- Roethlisberger said quarterbacks should immediately re-target rookies after mistakes to preserve their confidence.
- With Michael Pittman Jr. out, Bernard and Roman Wilson have taken on bigger roles.
The former Steelers quarterback says going back to a rookie right after a mistake is the best way to protect his confidence.
A third-quarter screen pass intended for Pittsburgh Steelers rookie receiver Germie Bernard went wrong when the ball ricocheted off his chest and into the hands of a defender. Aaron Rodgers was then kneed in the head while trying to bring down the interceptor, capping a rough stretch for the offense.
Former Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger addressed the play on his podcast, "Footbahlin with Ben Roethlisberger." He described it as the worst possible outcome, with everything going sideways on a single snap, but argued that veteran quarterbacks need to go straight back to a young receiver after that kind of error.
Roethlisberger said that shying away from a rookie following a turnover can create a lasting mental hurdle. He recalled his own approach of immediately revisiting a target who dropped a pass and believes Rodgers operates the same way, since repeated throws help sustain a young player's confidence.
With Michael Pittman Jr. unavailable, Bernard and fellow rookie Roman Wilson are seeing larger workloads. Roethlisberger contends that continued aggression and trust in the first-year receivers is necessary for the offense to find rhythm and handle blitzing defenses.
