Does Ben Roethlisberger have a tell for whether it’s a run or pass?

This isn’t the first time Ben Roethlisberger has been suggested of having a tell as to whether the play is a run or a pass.

In sports, players and coaches are always looking to gain an advantage one way or another. In any sport, there are “tells”, and those can be used to your advantage in some way.

In baseball, you can see if pitchers hold their gloves at a certain height depending on the pitch. Do they move the ball in their glove for an off speed pitch? Is their stance different when they are going to throw a fastball? Does their arm slot change when throwing specific pitches?

We aren’t talking about Houston Astros banging trash cans, or pitchers using sticky substances to help with their spin rate. We are talking about players and coaches who pay close enough attention to gain an advantage. Nothing illegal about it.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are no strangers to these types of tells.

During Antonio Brown’s prime years in Pittsburgh, it was thought whenever he would fasten his receiving gloves when lining up, it was a pass. If he didn’t fasten his gloves, it was a run.

You might laugh at this, but it was right more than it was wrong.

Ben Roethlisberger himself has also been known to have tells. Early in his career, if Roethlisberger had his mouthpiece in his mouth, it was a pass. If he left it out, it was a run.

Again, it was right more than it was wrong.

Both of these situations with the Steelers, the players were eventually told of the situation, and changed their habits. But now there is a new tell circulating the internet with Ben Roethlisberger. This time, it has to do with how he has his feet prior to the snap when in the shotgun formation.

This comes from Theo Ash on Tik Tok. Let me give you some background considering Tik Tok restricts how long your videos can be. Ash is claiming he has never watched the drive from the Buffalo Bills game, and in the video his theory on Roethlisberger’s stance is correct 100% of the time.

Check the video below:

Take this for what it’s worth. Some will find this fascinating, while others will scoff at it and suggest it is a waste of time. Ash himself isn’t sure if defenders would have time to adjust based on such a simple tell.

So, I’ll let you be the judge. Is this a “tell” in the purest sense? Or is this just a habit which doesn’t really carry any significance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and be sure to stay tuned to BTSC for the latest news and notes surrounding the Steelers as they prepare for the 2021 regular season.