I don’t get Ben Roethlisberger's infatuation with Ryan Switzer.
In yesterday's famous return video, Ben was throwing the ball to JuJu Smith-Schuster, James Conner, and Ryan Freakin' Switzer. Why?
They’re buddies. I’m cool with that.
Hey, maybe Switzer is a super cool dude and Ben has got a little bit of a man crush. Switzer and Ben went to a WVU basketball game together. They’re bro’s.
I don’t care about that. What I do care about is giving this dude a roster spot. He can’t play.
Is Switzer better than JuJu? No.
James Washington? No.
Chase Claypool? No.
Diontae Johnson? No.
And the Johnson thing is what really gets me. Johnson is going to play in the slot. He's a far better version of Ryan Switzer. Johnson had more yards last year than Switzer has had in his three year career.
According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson forced more missed tackles than any receiver in football.
What does Switzer do better than him? Hold onto the ball, I suppose. Johnson filled in for Switzer as punt returner after Switz was hurt, and he LED THE LEAGUE in yards per punt return and had a touchdown.
Johnson had 12.2 yards per return. Switzer? 3.6. 3.6! Where does Switzer fit on game day? He doesn’t.
Ebron is going to line up in the slot a bunch. Johnson going to line up in the slot a bunch. Where’s the role for Ben's buddy?
Is that the role? Ben’s best friend? That’s why there are Zoom calls and cell phones.
If Switzer is around, Tomlin will be tempted to play him. He catches the ball and falls down. He’d be catching the ball at the expense of someone good catching the ball.