Monday, September 12, 2005
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Sometime late in the second quarter, maybe early in the third, Jerome Bettis and Duce Staley learned that one of football's oldest unwritten rules has, quite correctly, been relegated to the junk pile.
Used to be you couldn't lose your job because of injury.
Not any more.
As Tommy Maddox found out last season when Ben Roethlisberger went from untested rookie to budding superstar while Maddox rehabbed, you can so lose your job because of injury on the Steelers.
For the moment, possibly for the remainder of their careers, Bettis, one of the greatest running backs in NFL history, and Staley, who the Steelers signed to a five-year, $14 million contract in 2004, are backups -- regardless of how well the injuries that currently have them out progress.
To do otherwise, in view of the dazzling performance by Willie Parker in a 34-7 whacking of the Tennessee Titans at Heinz Field yesterday, would be the height of foolishness.
On a team that has long lived by the might of bruising running backs -- from Fran Rogel to Franco Harris to Barry Foster to Bettis -- there never has been anything like Parker, who juked, bounced off, bowled over and darted past Titans defenders en route to 161-yard, 22-carry performance. And that after gaining only 4 yards on his first four carries.
He added 48 yards on a screen pass, which meant he accounted for more than 200 yards on the strength of his -- is there any other word? -- spectacular running ability.
Will he start next week?
"I see no reason to make a change at this point," said Bill Cowher.
Just as he did with Roethlisberger last season, Cowher will stay with the player who can produce victories. There's something to be said about loyalty to veterans, but it pales next to winning games.
Parker is the running back who can most help the Steelers win.
He might not have the inside power of Bettis and Staley, but his speed more than makes up for any brute force he lacks. Not that he can't run inside.
"The thing that was exciting to see," said offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt, "was how tough a runner he was inside."
The Steelers did not significantly change their game plan for Parker. There wasn't a lot of wide stuff and no trick stuff for Parker. He pounded the line of scrimmage like Bettis and Staley. What sets him apart is what he does after crossing the line.
"When he hits the hole like he does," said center Jeff Hartings, "sometimes you don't even need to get to the linebackers."
Parker gives the Steelers a dimension they've never had. It's possible they've had faster running backs, but never one who has ever translated that speed into on-the-field production.
Sure, this was Parker's first start, but he has a body of work that indicates this performance was no fluke.
Foremost is the 2004 season finale against Buffalo. In that game, which the Bills needed to make the playoffs, Parker ran for 102 yards on 19 carries, helping to end Buffalo's season.
Before that, he was the sensation of the 2004 exhibition season, running for 202 yards on 46 carries, before being consigned to the bench in favor of Staley and Bettis. It looked like another year of the same for Parker. But, when Staley and then Bettis went down, Cowher quickly anointed Parker as their successor. Cowher was so high on Parker he didn't play him in the final exhibition game for fear of injury.
It was a move that seemed overly cautious at the time, but not so yesterday. Parker is just the kind of precious commodity you don't take chances with. That probably was the reason he carried for the final time with about three minutes remaining in the third quarter.
That final run was good for 45 yards, which means there's no telling what kind of statistics Parker might have compiled had he played all four quarters.
"You've got to find ways to get the ball in his hands," said Cowher. "As you can see, he's very quick with his feet and yet he's got some elusiveness to him. He's a very fast young man, a very powerful guy. He's got a chance to turn a 20-yard gain into a 40-yard gain."
He did that on the Steelers' first possession, after the Titans had taken a 7-0 lead. He took a screen pass from Roethlisberger, darted to the outside and flew down the field for a 48-yard gain to the Tennessee 4, which set up the first Steelers touchdown.
Asked to recount his 45-yard run in the third quarter, Parker said, "I don't even remember that play. I was in another world."
Sure was.
(Bob Smizik can be reached at bsmizik@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1468.)
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