Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Paul Guenther appreciates a veteran quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger -- the Pittsburgh Steelers' passer who keeps shuffling behind a mediocre offensive line with help from quality receivers and third-year running back, Le'Veon Bell.
According to a story written by Jeremy Fowler with ESPN, Roethlisberger has been sacked 419 times "in 11 seasons, 132 more sacks than Peyton Manning in his 17-year career." Opposingly, let's not pretend Roethlisberger is an extraordinary alteration of old school philosophy.
Manning is generally viewed as a calculating technician, interpreting the opposing defense and their text-book pressures. According to Pro Football Focus, Manning attempted a pass 2.22 seconds on average after the snap last season, the quickest in the NFL. Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton released the football in 2.25 seconds, second fastest in the league. Make sure we praise Manning as a technician but expose Dalton's quick release as Hue Jackson's "get rid of it immediately before you improvise" philosophy. Dalton haters are nodding in agreement while apologists are noting talking points to support Dalton (you should know I don't care about either "side").
Roethlisberger is viewed as the champion of improvisation who flourishes under chaos. However, Roethlisberger ranked sixth in the NFL with a release of 2.4 seconds in 2014. Maybe that's an aberration, considering Roethlisberger reached career-highs in yards (4,952), touchdowns (32, tied for 2007) and finished with a 103.3 passer rating in 2014 (second-highest in his career).
While Guenther's love for Roethlisberger is being promoted at the defensive offices at Paul Brown Stadium (the same location in which Johnny Manziel was viewed as "not THAT bad"), it should be noted that Pittsburgh has had relative success against the Bengals during Guenther's regime. In two games last season, the Bengals were outscored 69-38 -- with the defense allowing 42 points in Week 14 and then 27 points in the season finale in Cincinnati. Praise the Steelers in July, provided the result is domination in 2015.