The early returns were all positive on the relationship between Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.
Perhaps as a result, Roethlisberger’s getting a little more leeway.
According to Alan Robinson of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, there are signs that Roethlisberger has more freedom to change plays at the line of scrimmage now.
Former Steelers backup quarterback Charlie Batch, now an analyst on the team’s radio network, explained it by paraphrasing a conversation with Roethlisberger: “‘Yeah, you have to run the football, but sometimes there are eight people in the box. Let me turn around and throw this football.’ By not being allowed that flexibility, like [former coordinator] Bruce Arians allowed him to have to change at the line of scrimmage to a pass, that frustrated him a little bit.”
Having more flexibility now is a sign of trust, and if coach and player are on the same page, it can’t hurt the end result.