Kimo von Oelhoffen and Brett Keisel greet fans as they leave Heinz Field after the Steelers won their home opener, beating the Tennessee Titans, 34-7.
Joe Bendel
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, October 30, 2005
The Steelers defensive line lacks a catchy nickname, such as the Steel Curtain, but all six members sport a snappy individual moniker.
Casey Hampton is "Big Snack" or "Hampburger."
Kimo von Oelhoffen is "Scooby."
Aaron Smith is "Slim."
Travis Kirschke is "Chubs."
Brett Keisel is "Chubs Jr," or "Diesel."
Put them all together, and you come up with a universal description: Successful.
"It's six guys from six different backgrounds, different places around the world," Keisel said. "And the best thing is, we all have a great time together."
Hampton, a 2003 Pro Bowler who is back to form after missing the final 10 games last season due to ACL surgery, considers himself the oddity of the bunch. He's the only one who isn't married, the only one who tips the scales at over 300 pounds (hence the nickname "Big Snack) and the only one with fashion sense, or so he claims.
"They all act like old men," the big nose guard said, laughing. "You would think Kimo's the old guy of the group (which he is, at 34), but Aaron acts like the old one. He always tries to be perfect about everything. Kimo's real laid-back. He thinks he's hip and stuff like that, but he's not at all. He thinks he can dress, but he's old school. I'm the young guy."
Hampton is also the anchor of a three-man front that sets the tone for a defense that ranks eighth overall in the NFL, including sixth against the run at 90 yards allowed per game. Smith and von Oelhoffen flank Hampton as the starting defensive ends, while Keisel and Kirschke backup the ends, and Hoke backs up Hampton.
On Monday night at Heinz Field, all six of those players could be needed against a Baltimore Ravens team that likes to pound though the ball, even though the Ravens' offense has struggled (11.5 points per game) and former 2,000-yard rusher Jamal Lewis (2.9 rushing average) is shell of himself.
"I think the key for us is having everybody fresh against these power teams -- and making sure there isn't a dropoff," Hoke said. "You want to be solid on every snap, no matter who's out there."
The term "solid" aptly describes how the Steelers have played against the run the past two seasons. No running back has eclipsed 100 rushing yards against them in 18 games; and only one team (Houston, 113 yards) has eclipsed 100 rushing yards this season.
Last Sunday at Cincinnati, tailback Rudi Johnson appeared to be on his way to ending the 100-yard, run-stopping streak when he popped loose for 46 yards in the first quarter. But the Steelers made adjustments, in addition to being more aware of the draw play, and he finished with 65 yards, albeit on just 12 attempts.
Ironically, Johnson was the last running back to rush for 100 against the Steelers in October 2004.
"Cincinnati hit us with some big plays early," said Smith, who leads the defensive line with 19 tackles, to go with a sack and an interception. "But we settled down and started making plays."
The big three of Smith, Hampton and von Oelhoffen often fly under the radar because the Steelers defense features its four linebackers. That means they must put aside their egos and understand their work might go unnoticed, at least by the casual observer.
"You might not see what they do, but they're the ones battling up there, taking on double teams, so we can make plays," linebacker Larry Foote said. "Our front has been dominant since the day I came here. That's the way it is with the Pittsburgh Steelers."
"We're blue-collar," said Kirschke, 31, a former star at UCLA who had his first sack of the season last Sunday in Cincinnati.
Smith, who led the team in sacks and went to his first Pro Bowl in '04, von Oelhoffen, who had a sack and tipped a pass that led to an interception by Smith last week, and Hampton have been setting the tone of late.
"In the last three weeks, those three have been pretty impressive," coach Bill Cowher said. "They've played at a very high level, as well as the people coming in behind them."
Joe Bendel can be reached at joecbendel@aol.com or (412) 320-7811.
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