Ben Roethlisberger did not throw many passes in spring practices and when he did, his own defense mocked him.
One interception, two interceptions, three interceptions, four. They kept a running total. Coaches got involved, too.
“I kept seeing coach [Carnell] Lake and Terry Cousin and some of the DBs putting these fingers up,” Roethlisberger said, “Like ‘We got our interceptions in OTAs and minicamps.’ ...
“It kind of upset me a little bit, so I wanted to prove to them I wouldn’t throw to them if I actually cared about practices, which I do in training camp and don’t in OTAs.”
Roethlisberger did not throw one interception in the entire training camp practices, the first time in his career. He’s been picked off just once since — Cleveland safety Derrick Kindred got him on an overthrow in the opener.
There is a renewed effort by the quarterback to cut down on his interceptions. He threw 29 over the past two seasons in 26 games. That’s his highest two-season total since 2006-2007 when he threw 34.
“Just really focusing on not turning the ball over,” Roethlisberger said. “I think that’s important. I mean that’s always one of our goals and my goal especially — not throwing interceptions and just really kind of taking the pride.”
Mike Tomlin emphasized as much this week, and while he noted that his offense has just that one turnover, his defense has managed just two — an interception by rookie linebacker T.J. Watt in the opener and Artie Burns’ recovery of William Gay’s forced fumble with less than a minute to go against Minnesota.
The Steelers’ defensive coaches haven’t had to count past one since the real season started.
“We are doing a lot of good things,’’ Tomlin said of his defense that ranks No. 3 in yards allowed in the NFL. “We’re running to the ball. We’re largely keeping it in front of us.”
But ...
“I’d like to see us get the ball more. I think we only produced one turnover over two football games and maybe we’re plus-1 in the turnover ratio through a couple ball games.”
Compare that to the Baltimore Ravens, who have produced 10 turnovers through their two victories, eight of them interceptions.
Has the Steelers defense lost its ball-hawk element, especially in the secondary? While Burns had three interceptions as a rookie in 2016, those represented half of the secondary’s combined total on a defense that picked off 13.
In fact, as interceptions go, so go the Steelers to the Super Bowl. Only twice have they had 20 or more interceptions in one season, and both times they reached the Super Bowl — 21 in 2010 and 20 while going all the way in 2008.
“There are some teams out there playing significant ball on the defensive side that are getting turnovers in bunches,” Tomlin said, probably with the Ravens in mind. “And if we want to be one of the elite groups, we have to get in that game and produce those type of days. And particularly it can be much needed as you go into a hostile environment like Solider Field.”
Ah, the Turnover Bears.
The team with more turnovers usually loses, and that is a big reason Chicago is 0-2 awaiting the Steelers Sunday.
The Bears were blown out at Tampa Bay 29-7 last Sunday even though they gained just one fewer yard in total offense than the Bucs. That’s because the Bears lost four turnovers to one for Tampa Bay.
It’s the most telling statistic in football. The Bears have lost six in two games.
“Just got to do a better job protecting the football, our team in that matter,’’ said Chicago quarterback Mike Glennon, who threw two interceptions against Tampa Bay. “Just got to make better decisions and just find completions.”
Burns thought he was in position to intercept one against the Vikings. He had six in 2015 at the University of Miami, then three as a rookie, though he started just nine games.
He said the trick to pickoffs is “just have to be closer to the ball and execute better when the chance comes.”
Veteran safety Mike Mitchell gave this formula for producing more interceptions: “Catch them.”
“They got to throw them in areas where we can catch them,’”Mitchell said, adding that a turnover is “something that is stressed and emphasized every day. We’re working to get them.”
Ed Bouchette: ebouchette@post-gazette.com
First Published: September 20, 2017, 9:11 p.m.
Updated: September 21, 2017, 3:51 a.m.