5 players who Pittsburgh Steelers need to be great in 2019

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 16: Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, left, gives a hand to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, right, after Pittsburgh's first touchdown of the game in the first quarter. The New England Patriots visit the Pittsburgh Steelers in a regular season NFL football game at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, PA on Dec. 16, 2018. (Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images) /

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PITTSBURGH, PA – DECEMBER 30: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers in action during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Heinz Field on December 30, 2018 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

1. Ben Roethlisberger

When the Steelers elected to let Brown and Bell go it effectively handed control of the team over to Ben Roethlisberger. He hasn’t always been the best leader in the NFL, but that has to change in 2019 if Pittsburgh are going to make a deep postseason run.

Of course, Tomlin and his coaching staff need Big Ben to be more than just an emotional leader in the locker room. They also need him to play like a Pro Bowler on the field. Roethlisberger won’t be surrounded by nearly as much talent at the skill positions as he has in recent seasons. That’s going to put a ton of pressure on him to elevate his offensive teammates.

Asking a 37-year-old quarterback who’s taken a massive beating during his career to do that is a sizable gamble by the Steelers. Roethlisberger had a nice season in 2018, but his physical skills are going to start to decline soon. If that happens this season then Pittsburgh could fall out of the playoff picture quickly.

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Roethlisberger won’t get any sympathy from fans no matter what happens to him this season. The general consensus is that he asked for the team to choose him over Brown. Big Ben has made his bed and now he’ll be forced to lie in it. His ability to thrive without big name stars around him is the biggest wild card for the Steelers’ season.

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