STEELERS QB BEN ROETHLISBERGER
(on how much he's been able to prepare for the Titans defense with Thursday's quick turnaround)
Answering the first part of your question, all day so far. We come in this morning, and we've been looking at film like crazy, trying to figure out this defense. I don't think that their defense is an indication of their record. I think they're a lot better than that. We have to prepare accordingly, because I think they are a good defense.
(on the Titans defense)
I think they get after the quarterback. They have their high motor guys, they never quit. You maybe block for the first couple of seconds and all of a sudden if a quarterback or even a running back on a run play extends the play, they seem to be right there to make the play quick.
(on the Steelers play so far)
We're 2-2, obviously we'd like to be better than that. We're doing some good things. There are some things we need to improve on. I'll never be satisfied with the way we're playing. I always want to improve.
(on getting back on the same page with Mike Wallace)
I don't think it took real long. He worked really hard during the time he wasn't here. When he got back, we worked hard together. I think we kind of jumped right into it.
(on how much Rashard Mendenhall's return helps the offense)
Well it's great anytime you get anybody back. We like to be at full strength. To get our runner back like that, that can take some pressure off the other running backs and spread the ball around and catch the ball out of the backfield, he's an asset to our offense.
(on running the ball successfully in the second half against Philadelphia)
It was great. We want to be able to control it there at the end once we knew we were in field goal range, to be able just to kind of pound it and get us in the position to kick the game-winner.
(on Antonio Brown's development)
He kind of exploded onto the scene last year in the punt, kickoff returns and did some great things at receiver. He just continued to grow. We put him in the backfield, we're moving him around. Every day he gets a little bit better.
(on if the offensive line is settling down)
Staying healthy, to me, is the key for them, as it is for every team, I'm sure. It's been the same five guys for a while now. They kind of get used to playing next to the same guy, it's good for them.
(on what type of player he thinks David DeCastro will be)
I think he's going to be a good player for us. He's a tough guy, very smart. It was unfortunate that he got hurt in the preseason, but we look forward to getting him back and seeing what he can do. But we've got some guys, Ramon Foster, that filled in and is doing a great job. It's going to be tough for David (DeCastro) to come back and get his job back.
(on the wrinkles in Pittsburgh's offense)
(Offensive coordinator Todd Haley) gives me a lot of freedom, which is great. We work well together to work on certain things. He's a good offensive mind, and we've been able to take his offense and kind of run with it.
(on if the offense worked on anything in particular over the bye week)
No, we get those days off. There wasn't anything crazy put in.
(on the most challenging part of a quick turnaround for a Thursday night game)
Getting healthy. Today is usually a day you're resting and getting treatment and healing up from the car wreck that is a Sunday game. Having such a quick turnaround, you have to get your body healed up. Offensively, dealing with a new defense, trying to figure out their tendencies, figure out their blitzes, what they do. It's just a lot of, like coach (Mike) Tomlin likes to say, above the shoulders preparation.
(on if he felt the Eagles came after his head a little bit on Sunday)
I just heard that. I was never quoted as saying (the Eagles played) dirty. I think they're a very physical team, they like to get after you. It might have been misunderstood when I said, 'They get after it.' Getting after me, we tell all those guys to get after the player. That's just being physical and trying to make plays. If I call someone dirty, you'll know it.
(on if he feels the Eagles intentionally went after him)
No, I don't think so. I saw a couple of plays where some of their guys jumped on (Maurkice) Pouncey's back and tried to spike him in the back, but I don't think anyone intentionally tried to come after my head.
(on how many teams he thinks try to take out the quarterback)
I think it happens.
(on how many times it has happened to him)
A number of times.
(on if he thinks defenses will regain the upper hand in games)
I think it'll come back around. I think they're going to start to figure out that they're going to have to do something to slow down these offenses and help these defenses a little bit. But I think a lot of the rules that have helped the offenses are more for safety, not for trying to score points. Defenseless receivers and hitting quarterbacks and things like that are more for health reasons than I think anything.
(on if he's surprised the Titans are 1-4)
I think they're a very good team. Dealing with the injury bug is always tough, quarterbacks, all the things they've got going on. It's not an easy situation.
(on how tricky Thursday night's game is)
To me, in this league, you throw records out the window. I don't care what your record is, you're going against the old line any given Sunday. It doesn't matter, records. You go out there every Sunday, and you could get beat. You have to approach it like you have to play your best game. That's how we're going to approach this.
(on what Ryan Mundy brings to the Steelers secondary)
Ryan (Mundy) is probably one of the best physically-conditioned athletes I've ever been around. He does every special team, he's on every play. He's a very smart and heady guy. He's able to make a lot of plays. He just never seems to really make a big mistake.
(on if he feels he's in a good rhythm)
I think our offense is playing pretty well, I don't know if it's just me. We're controlling the ball, we're converting third downs, we haven't been sacked a bunch. Just trying to get the ball to the playmakers, we've got a whole bunch of them. To me, that's our best offense, get it out of my hand and get it to them and let them do something with it.
