Vick preps for starting role against Ravens
PITTSBURGH – Mike Tomlin isn’t about to feel sorry for himself or the Steelers because he knows no one else will.
The Steelers began preparations for life without Ben Roethlisberger Monday, less than 24 hours after the star quarterback was knocked out of Sunday’s 12-6 victory at St. Louis.
They don’t have long to prepare. The Steelers (2-1) host Baltimore (0-3) Thursday night.
That doesn’t give backup quarterback Mike Vick much time to get ready. Roethlisberger is expected to miss four to six weeks, though Tomlin wouldn’t speculate on that time frame.
“We’re going to work in his comfort zone and bring the game to him and put us in position to win football games,” Tomlin said of Vick.
An MRI Sunday night revealed Roethlisberger suffered a sprained MCL and a bone bruise in his left knee after being hit low by St. Louis safety Mark Barron. Former NFL head of officiating Mike Pereira, now an analyst for FOX, said the hit should have drawn a penalty.
Tomlin said after the game he felt the hit was clean, but refused to comment on it Monday, saying he did not wish to run afoul of the league.
Meanwhile, the Steelers figure to be without the NFL’s 2014 passing yardage leader for home games against Baltimore and Arizona and games at San Diego and Kansas City.
Tomlin and his coaching staff have just one practice and a couple of walkthroughs in which to get Vick ready for the Ravens.
Vick, 35, joined the Steelers Aug. 25 when backup Bruce Gradkowski suffered a hand injury in a preseason game against Green Bay.
A longtime favorite of Tomlin, Vick offers plenty of experience with 106 career starts. But just nine of those starts came in the past two seasons, when he completed just 54 percent of his passes playing for Philadelphia and the New York Jets.
“This isn’t his first rodeo,” Tomlin said.
Vick completed five of his six passes against the Rams after Roethlisberger left the game in the third quarter but for only 38 yards.
Tomlin admitted offensive coordinator Todd Haley might make adjustments to help Vick because he has been with the team for just more than one month.
“Ben and Coach Haley have been together for three years now and Ben has been in Pittsburgh for over 10 years, so there’s a certain comfort with that continuity,” Tomlin said. “We’re not going to assume things, because Mike is a veteran player and he’s up to speed on our large body of work.”
Vick is arguably the best scrambling quarterback of his generation, having rushed for more than 6,000 yards. He also possesses a strong arm and has thrown for more than 22,000 yards.
With the return of running back Le’Veon Bell from a two-game suspension and a receiving corps that includes All-Pro Antonio Brown, the Steelers feel they have the skill players around Vick to make things work while Roethlisberger is out.
“I won’t put it all on my shoulders,” Vick said. “I’ll take sole responsibility of everything that happens, but I’m just going to prepare myself and get myself in the position to help this football team.”
Tomlin said tight end Matt Spaeth suffered a broken hand against the Rams. He might not play this week. … Linebacker James Harrison suffered a thumb injury that could keep him out of practice, but he is expected to play against the Ravens. … Tomlin said linebacker Ryan Shazier, who missed the game against the Rams, is experiencing weakness in his right shoulder and won’t play until that clears up. Shazier had 15 tackles two weeks ago against San Francisco, but left in the fourth quarter. … Cornerback Cortez Allen and nose tackle Daniel McCullers sat out against the Rams and are dealing with knee swelling. Both are questionable for the game.