Ron Cook: Steelers' Regulars in Disarray

Friday, September 02, 2005
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It could have been worse, you know?

Hines Ward could have been hurt when he dropped a high pass from Ben Roethlisberger early in last night's game. Carolina Panthers defensive backs Chris Gamble and Mike Minter put ferocious hits on him, momentarily knocking all thoughts of his contract impasse out of his head.

Pro Bowl guard Alan Faneca could have torn a biceps muscle trying to keep Panthers defensive tackle Kris Jenkins from throwing down Roethlisberger. Faneca couldn't stop Jenkins, but he was able to pick up Roethlisberger and say he was sorry.

Even Roethlisberger could have been knocked into next week on one of the eight plays out of the 15 the Steelers' first offense ran that he was sacked, pressured, chased out of the pocket or forced to scramble. Big Ben gave up his body diving for a first down on his final play, but, like the rest of his offense, came up short. At least, he could walk to the bench afterward.

Absolutely, it could have been worse.

Hey, bear with me here.

I'm trying to be positive.

It's not easy after that performance last night in a game the Steelers won, 21-17, only because their subs were better. Their defensive starters were bad and, in what is becoming a frightening trend, their offensive starters were worse. This is a team that looks no more ready for its opener against the Tennessee Titans in nine days than it did when it reported to Latrobe more than a month ago.

OK, OK, so the Steelers aren't that bad. But how do you feel good about anything that happened here? I'm guessing Bill Cowher didn't try afterward.

Cowher has plenty of good reasons to fret.

For the second consecutive game, the Steelers' usually sturdy defense didn't play well. This time, it was Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme who did the surgery, completing all four of his passes for 46 yards on a game-opening touchdown drive.

But it's fair to think the defense will play better once the games start to count. I'm willing to give those guys a pass for what happened in the past two games. Like all veterans, their primary goal was getting to the opener healthy. They'll turn it up Sept. 11.

The offense will try, but it might not be capable.

The starters were shut out again for the third time in four games.

The timing was unfortunate because the Steelers' coaches really were hoping Roethlisberger would do something -- anything -- so he could feel good about himself again.

"I'm not worried about him physically," offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt had said before the game. "I just want to see him have some success so he doesn't start losing confidence in what we're doing."

Roethlisberger didn't look like he had confidence in anything last night. On the Steelers' first play, his arm was hit as he threw by defensive tackle Brentson Buckner. On the second, he was sacked by blitzing cornerback Ken Lucas, only to be saved by an illegal-contact penalty against the Panthers.

Roethlisberger had no presence last night.

Either that, or his line was badly whipped by Buckner, who probably had his mind on the South Carolina-Central Florida game because of his new role as a Harris Poll voter, the other Panthers' starters and, in the case of the Steelers' final drive under Roethlisberger, the Panthers' second-teamers.

It's hard to say which of those choices is more unappealing.

Either way, Roethlisberger and the Steelers had better figure out a way to make their passing game work and do it in a hurry.

Who knows? Maybe Roethlisberger learned something by watching his replacement, Charlie Batch. Not once, but twice Batch went to tight end Heath Miller, who had catches for 29 and 8 yards on the same field where he tore up Pitt a few years ago in the Continental Tire Bowl. Miller can help the offense, but Roethlisberger needs to find him.

It's not hard to come up with a scenario in which the Steelers beat Tennessee. The refocused defense holds the Titans to 10 points. Ward, newly wealthy and content, plays with his normal passion. Willie Parker keeps the Titans' defense honest. The offensive line keeps Roethlisberger clean. Roethlisberger doesn't throw any killer interceptions. Jeff Reed kicks four field goals.
You're right.

Maybe it is a reach.

But it beats thinking 1-15, doesn't it?

(Ron Cook can be reached at rcook@post-gazette.com or 412-263-1525.)

2005 Preseason
Date- Opp.
8/15- Philadelphia W 38-31
8/20- Miami W 17-3
8/26- @Washington L 17-10
9/1- @Carolina W 21-17

2005 Regular Season
9/11- Tennessee 1 p.m.
9/18- @Houston 1 p.m.
9/25- New England 4:15 p.m.
10/2- Off- NA
10/10- @San Diego 9 p.m.
10/16- Jacksonville 1 p.m.
10/23- @Cincinnati 1 p.m.
10/31- Baltimore 9 p.m.
11/6- @Green Bay 4:15 p.m.
11/13- Cleveland 8:30 p.m.
11/20- @Baltimore 4:15 p.m.
11/28- @Indianapolis 9 p.m.
12/4- Cincinnati 1 p.m.
12/11- Chicago 1 p.m.
12/18- @Minnesota 1 p.m.
12/24- @Cleveland 1 p.m.
1/1- Detroit 1 p.m.