Steelers emerge as work-in-progress contender

Steelers punt returner Willie Reid breaks the tackle attempt of the Panthers punter Jason Baker on a 30-yard punt return in the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium, Aug. 30, 2007.

By Mike Prisuta
TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Friday, August 31, 2007

CHARLOTTE: Ben Roethlisberger played one series. Willie Parker played one play. And Hines Ward dressed for the apparent sole purpose of joining fellow preseason captains James Farrior and Chidi Iwuoma at midfield for the pregame coin toss.

If any of that or anything else that transpired Thursday night at Bank of America Stadium benefits the Steelers when they have to host Jacksonville on Dec. 16 and play at St. Louis on Dec. 20, we can revisit it then.

In the meantime, the Steelers can celebrate the end of an extended preseason, one that offered promise but at the same time failed to forge Mike Tomlin's first team into a juggernaut.

The good news is there might not be any of those in between New England and San Diego in the AFC, which means the Steelers ought to have a legitimate chance of returning to the playoffs and taking another shot at the Super Bowl.
Still, there are kinks to work out, or around, between here and the postseason.

One involves the backup to starting left tackle Marvel Smith.

The Steelers don't have one.

Their experiment with Max Starks at the position seemingly contributed only to Starks no longer lining up as the starting right tackle.

As for Willie Colon, who started at right tackle over the final four preseason games, he and right guard Kendall Simmons were required to play three series last night while the rest of the offensive starters played one or less.

Apparently, Colon and Simmons needed the work.

Parker, meanwhile, needs to stay healthy, which explains his one-play-and-done appearance against the Panthers.

The Kevan Barlow experiment as a potential alternative to Parker running the ball came to a merciful end Monday when Barlow was released. The Steelers knew long before then that Barlow wasn't the answer. And they're aware that whatever they come up with in the backfield behind Parker will include a configuration of position-flexible role players, specialists and potential contributors, as opposed to a guy capable of carrying the load for weeks at a time.

And on special teams, return man Willie Reid answered a challenge that had been delivered by Tomlin in front of Reid's teammates, and then again by Tomlin to the media, with a 30-yard punt return and a kickoff return with burst at Carolina. But Reid is going to have to do it in a game that matters before those who remember what transpired on punt returns early last season can exhale.

As for the bottom of the roster, it's down to details.

Did the hamstring injury suffered by Marquis Cooper, who was prominently featured again on special teams last night, deny him a shot at making the squad?

Has preseason phenom Darnell Stapleton found a way to overcome knee surgery and sneak into the mix?

And is Jason Capizzi suddenly a candidate for more than just the practice squad?

Finally, it's time to prepare for Cleveland.

The Steelers didn't solve all of their problems this preseason.

But they've done enough to inspire confidence against the Browns and beyond.


Mike Prisuta is a columnist for the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. He can be reached at mprisuta@tribweb.com or 412-320-7923.