What we learned: Steelers better but not good enough

By Chris Bradford
http://www.timesonline.com/sports/
August 25, 2013

Pittsburgh Steelers strong safety Troy Polamalu (43) dives to tackle Kansas City Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles (25) in the first quarter of an NFL preseason football game on Saturday, Aug. 24, 2013, in Pittsburgh. Photo: Don Wright/AP

PITTSBURGH -- Better but not great. That, in essence, was the Steelers’ performance Saturday night.

If the third preseason game is indeed the most important of the four, as conventional wisdom holds, the Steelers have shown themselves to be a rather middling bunch. Or worse.

With the benefit of game-planning, something they hadn’t done in their two previous losses, the Steelers “did some nice things” as Mike Tomlin said, but not enough. Again.

Today, Times Steelers writer Chris Bradford breaks down Saturday night’s 26-20 overtime loss against Kansas City. It was the Steelers’ first overtime game in the preseason since 1986.

FELIX IN THE MIX

If nothing else, Felix Jones provides the Steelers with depth at running back for the rest of training camp and the preseason. Whether the former Dallas standout can make the 53-man roster, let alone be the feature back that the organization pines for, remains to be seen. With Le’Veon Bell sidelined for the immediate future with a foot injury, one thing has become increasingly clear: Mike Tomlin is not comfortable with Isaac Redman or Jonathan Dwyer (Read below) being the No. 1 back again. You might recall that the Steelers went 8-8 with Redman and Dwyer carrying the load last season. Jones was used mostly in the second half against the Chiefs, however. He rushed for 29 yard carries on eight carries (3.9 yard per). “I have to show that I still got it, still can run and block, still can do everything,” Jones said.

LITTLE HELP, PLEASE

In one half, we saw the best and worst of Jonathan Dwyer. The running back accounted for 45 yards of offense (25 on the ground) and the Steelers’ first touchdown. However, Dwyer was negligent on both Kansas City sacks in the 30 minutes after failing to pick up the blitz. It’s that type of maddening inconsistencies in Dwyer’s game – last week it was a fumble -- that likely had Kevin Colbert seeking a trade for Felix Jones a day earlier. Those sacks marred an otherwise decent showing from the first-team offense, which needed it after a less-than-stellar outing against Washington. The Steelers put points on the board on each of its first two possessions.

TENACIOUS D

For the first 27 minutes of the first half, the Steelers showed why they’ve boasted the top-ranked defense the last two seasons. It was the final three minutes that’s concerning. The Chiefs put up 10 points on their final two drives of the half, marring what had been an impressive showing from the first-team defense. Penalties, more than anything, was the problem. One of those flags was on Troy Polamalu, who otherwise played his best game of the preseason.

TO YOUR GOOD HEALTH

Due to a plethora of injuries, tight end and cornerback have been two areas of concern in training camp. With the return this week of David Johnson (knee) and Cortez Allen (ankle), the Steelers are getting healthier at the right time. So, at least there’s that.

Allen, who saw time at defensive end and on special teams, was a presence. He led the Steelers with six solo tackles but was whistled for a questionable personal foul on a late hit on Kansas City QB Alex Smith. Johnson, coming off major knee surgery, was just glad to be back. “It just felt good to get in there, and start to get things going,” said Johnson, who reported no problems.

CATCHING ON

Barring unforeseen circumstances, Antonio Brown, Emmanuel Sanders, Jerricho Cotchery and Markus Wheaton will form the Steelers’ receiving corps. Though still young, Brown and Sanders are proven commodities as is Cotchery, who has played twice as many seasons than the starters combined. Rookie Markus Wheaton has star potential – see his 34-yard catch in the third quarter -- and the benefit of being a draft pick. That leaves the fifth and, likely final, roster spot between Rochester’s Derek Moye, Justin Brown and David Gilreath. Moye, who received the bulk of the snaps last week, was targeted six times and had three receptions for 41 yards. “There’s some plays I would like to have back out there, but other than that, I thought I did OK,” he said. Gilreath, who appeared in 15 games last season mainly on special teams, didn’t play last week and might be the odd-man out. He had no catches Saturday.

Barmes' 3-run homer leads Pirates to 3-1 victory

The Associated Press

 http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 24, 2013

Clint Barmes greets Gaby Sanchez and Josh Harrison after hitting a three-run homer in last night's 3-1 over the Giants. (Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Clint Barmes gave Charlie Morton a chance to stay in the game.

Barmes hit a three-run home run in the seventh inning, Morton pitched into the eighth and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Friday night.

Barmes came up with two runners on and Morton in the on-deck circle. The home run gave Pittsburgh the lead and helped prevent manager Clint Hurdle from going to a pinch hitter.

''I was looking to stay inside,'' Barmes said. ''My mindset at that time was to at least get one of them in, to at least tie it. I saw the slider pretty well. It was a pretty good pitch but I was able to drop the barrel on it and stay inside of it.''

Andrew McCutchen and Josh Harrison each had two hits for thePirates, who have won four of five and maintained their one-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central.

Morton (5-3) allowed one run on seven hits, two after the Giantsscored their first run, over 7 2-3 innings. He walked one and struck out three.

''I was pretty efficient and the guys were making good plays,'' Morton said. ''It all added up to me going pretty deep. My whole game plan is to keep the ball on the ground.''

Over his last four starts, Morton has given up 56 groundballs and 17 flyballs.

Madison Bumgarner (11-8) took a shutout into the seventh and wound up allowing three runs on seven hits over eight innings. He walked four and struck out five.

''I thought I made a good pitch,'' Bumgarner said. ''It was pretty much where I wanted it. He just made an adjustment. That's what makes them so good, there is no one way to beat them.''

Roger Kieschnick drove in a run for the Giants, who have lost three straight and five of six overall. Hunter Pence added a pair of hits.

Morton, who has worked through hip and wrist issues, improved to 4-1 over his last eight starts with his longest outing of the season.

''I was very happy for Barmes,'' Morton said. ''We all were, because he's worked so hard. To see him put that swing on the ball, it was a thing of beauty. If he doesn't hit that, I'm out.''

Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his ninth save in 11 chances.

The Giants broke through in the fourth. Buster Posey hit a one-out double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. He scored when Kieschnick's blooper fell safely in short left field.

The Giants had runners on in each of the first four innings. Following Kieschnick's RBI single, Morton retired 12 of the next 13 before giving up a double to Brandon Crawford with two outs in the eighth.

Tony Watson entered the game and struck out Brandon Belt to end the inning.

Bumgarner retired 14 of 16 before giving up consecutive singles toGaby Sanchez and Harrison ahead of Barmes' three-run shot in the seventh.

Russell Martin has thrown out a major-league leading 26 runners after getting both Hunter Pence and Gregor Blanco.

McCutchen extended his hitting streak against the Giants to 10 games and is hitting .475 (19 for 40) over that stretch.

NOTES: Pirates RHP Jason Grilli is scheduled for a bullpen session on Sunday and could throw a simulated game in his following appearance. ... Pirates OF Starling Marte has not played in five days because of a right hand contusion. Marte leads the league in hitting (.407) against left-handers. ... Pirates IF Jordy Mercer made his first MLB start at 3B. ... LHP Francisco Liriano (14-5, 2.53) gets the start against the Giants, the team who signed him, on Sunday. ... RHP Tim Lincecum (6-13, 4.53) goes for the Giants on Saturday. ... RHP Yusmeiro Petit was recalled from Triple-A Fresno to replace Giants RHP Matt Cain, who went on the DL. The Giants also recalled LHP Mike Kickham and optioned IF Nick Noonan. ... Giants LHP Jeremy Affeldt (groin strain) is close to resuming baseball activities and could return to the bullpen Sept. 1. ... Giants OF Angel Pagan (left hamstring surgery) had his rehab transferred to Fresno from the Arizona Rookie League.

Steelers' standard is not the standard

[Mr. Madden paints a somewhat gloomier picture than Mr. Kovacevic did in his column a couple of days ago. - jtf]

By Mark Madden
http://www.timesonline.com
August 22, 2013


Pittsburgh Steelers free safety Ryan Clark (25), cornerback Ike Taylor (24), and linebacker Jarvis Jones (95) combine to tackle Washington Redskins wide receiver Josh Morgan (15) during the first half of an NFL preseason football game Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

So far, so bad. The Steelers look a right mess.

The offensive line is viewed as a potential strength. But it was spotty in Monday’s preseason game at Washington, allowing four sacks and committing four first-half penalties. Rookie back Le’Veon Bell got hurt -- again -- but the run-blocking was good enough to make Jonathan Dwyer look decent, no small feat. Well, except for that fumble.

But how much does run-blocking mean in today’s vertical NFL? The Steelers’ quarterbacks were running for their lives.

Washington nose tackle Barry Cofield embarrassed Steelers center Maurkice Pouncey. Ran past him so quick, Pouncey is lucky he wasn’t hospitalized with windburn. Isn’t Pouncey supposed to be the line’s anchor? He couldn’t free Aaron Hernandez, but he let Cofield run amok.

It’s tough to be optimistic about the Steelers. They scored 13 points in each of their first two preseason games. If they do that in the regular season, they start 0-2.

Tomorrow night's home exhibition vs. Kansas City looms large. The Steelers badly need to generate something positive. Preseason means little, or so the cliche dictates. But will the Steelers be a train wreck in August, then world-beaters in September? Not likely.

The Steelers’ biggest hope is their rookies.

Not Bell. Not right now. Ironic, because Bell had the most hype. Knee, ankle, foot: It’s always something with Bell. The second-round pick is reportedly out 6-8 weeks.

But the top pick, linebacker Jarvis Jones, forced a fumble vs. Washington. Receiver Markus Wheaton had three catches. Safety Shamarko Thomas forced a fumble and made six tackles. Thomas hit hard.

Jason Worilds has proven he can’t do it. Play Jones instead.

The Steelers have to do receiver by committee anyway. Wheaton should get ample opportunity.

Troy Polamalu and Ryan Clark are aging and creaky. Give Thomas 40 percent of the snaps. With Polamalu and Clark, less might be more.

The Steelers don’t like to feature rookies. They have to “earn” it.

But desperate times -- for example, 8-8 last year and two horrific exhibition performances so far this year -- call for desperate measures. Logical measures. Jones, Wheaton and Thomas seem to be “earning” it, anyway.

Dispense with tradition and do whatever’s necessary to improve. This is Worilds’ fourth season with the Steelers. He’s had his shot.

Featuring their rookies would help. It probably wouldn’t be enough.

The early-season absence of tight end Heath Miller is nuclear. Miller has always been the Steelers' great equalizer offensively. Miller makes up for receiving deficiencies. For blocking deficiencies. The Steelers have nobody of quality to replace Miller. The standard isn't the standard. The next man up stinks.

There already seems to be a deep rot about the Steelers, a rot that reeks of bad coaching, mismanagement and arrogance. The franchise’s biggest problem has always been when it doesn’t realize there’s a problem. Reputation earns the Steelers respect, but reputation doesn’t score points.

It would be interesting to shoot Todd Haley up with truth serum, then give the Steelers’ offensive coordinator a lie-detector test.

When Haley was at Arizona, he had Kurt Warner. He filled the air with footballs. When Haley was at Kansas City, he had Jamaal Charles. He slugged it out on the ground. Haley has always played to his strengths. Always fully utilized his most talented assets.

Why won’t Haley do that with the Steelers? Why won’t he maximize Ben Roethlisberger? Why is Haley eschewing his long-time philosophy? Who is pulling Haley’s strings? Is it team president Art Rooney II?

There isn’t any trusting the Steelers’ decision-making process.

The Steelers think they’re following their own old-school model, but they couldn’t possibly be further removed. The Steelers used to be about plain speaking, not empty platitudes. The Steelers used to be about integrity. Now they’re populated by punks, just like every other NFL team. The Steelers haven’t been able to avoid those changes.

But, ironically, the Steelers won’t change the one thing that needs altered: Their prehistoric football philosophy, especially on offense.

The mediocrity of the AFC North may spare them major embarrassment.

But that’s not the way to bet.

Mark Madden hosts a radio show 3-6 p.m. weekdays on WXDX-FM (105.9)

Pirates come out swinging, beat Giants 10-5

By JANIE McCAULEY (AP Baseball Writer)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 23, 2013

Garrett Jones gets a high-five from Gaby Sanchez after hitting a home run against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning in San Francisco, Thursday, Aug. 22, 2013. Photo: George Nikitin/AP

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Clint Hurdle is never sure how the Pittsburgh Pirates will win.

On a night breakthrough pitcher Jeff Locke struggled with his command, the offense delivered all through the lineup.

Garrett Jones and Jordy Mercer homered, Jose Tabata hit a three-run double, and the NL Central-leading Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 on Thursday night.

Pedro Alvarez hit a go-ahead, two-run double to start a seven-run fifth and matched his career high for RBIs in a season with 85. Russell Martin and Gaby Sanchez added sacrifice flies and Tabata doubled in his second plate appearance of the inning.

''You can't write this stuff up. It's a great game, it's a crazy game, it makes you laugh, it makes you cry,'' Hurdle said. ''This team, we believe in us and whatever it's going to take. We don't always know how it's going to happen but we're going to keep playing and covering each other's back and keep having fun along with it. Sometimes that's a little bit more of a challenge than other times.''

Marco Scutaro had a tying two-run single in the fourth for San Francisco after scoring in the third on Buster Posey's sacrifice fly.

Giants right-hander Matt Cain departed after getting hit on his pitching arm on a line drive by Sanchez. X-rays on Cain's bruised forearm were negative.

Jones' 12th homer leading off the second was a splash-hit drive into McCovey Cove beyond the right-field wall. It was the 28th at AT&T Park by an opponent and second by a Pirates player. Adam LaRoche hit one on Aug. 11, 2007, against Tim Lincecum.

''It's definitely a step forward in the right direction,'' said Jones, batting .239. ''I felt better up there timing wise. I just need to do it consistently.''

Cain was hit when Sanchez led off the fourth with a groundout. Trainer Dave Groeschner and manager Bruce Bochy hustled out to check on the pitcher, who walked off the mound on his own moments later.

Manager Bruce Bochy expected to know more about Cain's condition Friday.

''That ball was smoked. It caught him flush. He has a pretty good contusion. He's really sore. We'll know more tomorrow. We're not going to take any chances.''

Cain allowed three runs and seven hits in 3 1-3 innings. Guillermo Moscoso (1-2) relieved with the Giants trailing 3-1.

Cain, who had been on a nice roll since the All-Star break, threw 64 pitches, 40 for strikes.

''It caught me pretty good. It didn't feel right, right off the bat,'' he said. ''Like the time in 2009, I had the feeling it wasn't very good.''

Tabata added a pair of singles for his third three-hit game in August.

Jeanmar Gomez (3-0) pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the win following Jeff Locke, who allowed three runs, five hits and four walks in four innings.

On a day the Giants lost outfielder Andres Torres perhaps for the season to a strained left Achilles tendon, the defending World Series champs were dealt another blow with the early exit for Cain. San Francisco was outscored 21-4 in a losing three-game series against the Red Sox - including 12-1 in Wednesday's finale.

It wasn't much better in the opener of a four-game series with the Pirates. Brandon Crawford added a two-run double in the eighth for San Francisco.

''It's definitely not what we had planned with Pittsburgh coming in,'' Cain said.

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval returned to the Giants' lineup after missing two games with a sore back. He grounded into a double play in the second and wound up 1 for 3 with a walk.

NOTES: Pirates GM Neal Huntington said LHP Wandy Rodriguez (forearm tightness) felt pain during his simulated game and will be examined by Dr. James Andrews early next week. ... Bochy said struggling LHP Barry Zito (4-9, 5.63 ERA) is scheduled to make his next start. ''We're keeping the guys in the rotation where they're at,'' Bochy said. ... Pirates RH closer Jason Grilli, nursing a strained tendon in his throwing arm, threw a 25-pitch bullpen and is scheduled for another side session Sunday before a likely rehab outing. ''Another good day for Jason,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ''We'll see how he bounces back tomorrow.'' ... Hurdle believes OF Starling Marte is close to returning and won't need a DL stint. He missed his fourth straight game because of a bruise on his right hand after getting stepped on during a headfirst slide against Arizona on Sunday. ''I think Marte is right on the edge of coming back,'' Hurdle said. ''He's closing in on that - return to play.'' ... The Giants are 9-22 vs. the NL Central.

What's this? Panic in preseason?

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger is sacked by the Redskins' London Fletcher in the first quarter on Monday, Aug. 19, 2013, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

About Dejan Kovacevic

Dejan Kovacevic 
Sports Columnist
Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 
Dejan Kovacevic is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. 

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By Dejan Kovacevic 
http://triblive.com/sports/
Published: Tuesday, August 20, 2013 10:54 p.m.

Ben Roethlisberger wasn't exactly quick on the draw Monday night in Maryland, culling from the classic Ben-being-Ben playbook and causing coast-to-coast coronaries for Steelers Nation.

But he sure was quick to address the following annoying, amateurish question from the media after that preseason loss to the Redskins: Do Ben or his mates put much stock in outside forecasts or expectations of this team for 2013?

“Nope.”

Yeah, you're welcome.

Hey, someone had to ask, right?

I mean, with all of the doom and gloom one gathers from the Internet and talk shows over where these Steelers are headed this season — assuming they don't just forfeit all 16 games on discouragement alone — it felt entirely appropriate to ask if it's become a distraction.

To Ben's credit, he clearly took the question in the intended spirit, smiled and continued: “Well, we're two games into the preseason and we've got two more games to go, and then the regular season starts. We've got some room for improvement, but that's what this is for.”

Beautiful. Exactly. That's what preseason is for.

And, yet, the premature panic over the Steelers is stretching beyond the general public. Among other forums local and national, the fear of how the team “looks” in the preseason made its way into an ESPN.comcommentary this week entitled, “Can Steelers Avoid Mediocrity?”

(The glaringly obvious answer to that headline is, of course, NO, given that they just failed to avoid mediocrity in 2012 by going 8-8 and, thus, meeting the official NFL definition of mediocrity. But that's quibbling.)

Glancing around the Web and gleaning from the various Jaworskis and Hoges and Mayocks on the tube, you'll hear predictions as dire as 7-9, even 6-10.

Sorry, but I'm not getting that.

And by that, I don't mean not accepting that it couldn'thappen. Anything could happen in the NFL, as we're seeing with the Bengals being favored in the AFC North, even a Super Bowl pick for some. The same Bengals who employ Andy Dalton, a league-average quarterback in a league where average no longer cuts it at quarterback.

No, what I'm not getting is the thought process that's burying the Steelers before the first snap.

Can't be the defense.

Not after it was ranked No. 1 in fewest yards allowed, No. 6 in fewest points allowed and will have four personnel changes — Jarvis Jones for James Harrison, Cortez Allen for Keenan Lewis, Steve McLendon for Casey Hampton and this year's LaMarr Woodley for last year's LaMarr Woodley — that all promise to address the lack of sacks and takeaways.

Can't be Todd Haley's playcalling, can it?

Oh, please, tell me that the regional spawning ground of Johnny Unitas, Joe Montana and Joe Willie Namath isn't fussing over strategy that's aimed infinitely more at testing players than producing actual points.

If so, Roethlisberger explained the ABCs by describing the first series, which was handoff after handoff to Le'Veon Bell, as “just wanting to establish the run and see what we've got.”

When Haley fails to throw downfield in the real opener against the Titans, light the torches. In the interim, Roethlisberger was 5 of 6 for 66 yards Monday with a 26-yard strike to David Paulson. His shoulder's feeling “great,” he says, and the ball is moving with as much zip as anyone's seen in two years.

Can't be the offensive line, can it?

Well, sure, if all anyone had seen was this game. Maurkice Pouncey was way-out-of-character abysmal, and the tackles, Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert, looked little better. But this is the franchise's youngest line since 1957, and the tackles switched sides since last season. It takes time, and there's a ton of pedigree there. The 49ers had the same problem with a gifted group this time last year, only to watch them bulldoze their way to the Super Bowl.

Look, it isn't all sunshine and roses, either. There's “a lot of room for improvement,” as Brett Keisel was saying, and that needs to happen in a hurry.

But if you'd have asked in June what would be the ideal No. 1 problem at this stage, I'd say the cohesion of the offensive line.

Similarly, if you had asked what would be the ideal bright spot, I'd cite the rookies. Well, Jones is a beast, Bell is hurt now but has shown as much potential as anyone, Markus Wheaton has reached the point where Tomlin must promote him to first team, and Shamarko Thomas forced a fumble Monday.

Think the front offices of the Ravens, Bengals and Browns have enjoyed watching all that?

Nope.

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Burnett's 7 strong innings help Pirates beat Pads

By BERNIE WILSON (AP Sports Writer)

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/teams/pit

August 21, 2013

Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez looks to the third base coach on his way to scoring from first base after a double by Russell Martin against the San Diego Padres during the first inning in a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 20, 2013, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull) / AP

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Until Tuesday night, the only time A.J. Burnetthad beaten the San Diego Padres was on May 12, 2001, when he threw a no-hitter against them while with the Marlins.

''Was that the only time? There you go. You walk nine, you beat them every time,'' Burnett joked Tuesday night.

Twelve years after that erratic gem, Burnett pitched seven strong innings against the Padres and the Pittsburgh Pirates had six extra-base hits, including Neil Walker's home run, to beat San Diego 8-1 Tuesday night.

''I had guys diving left and right behind me today and they were swinging the bat,'' said Burnett, who is now 2-5 against San Diego. ''It's just fun to see everybody in this room contribute to what's going on right now. I'm glad I was part of it tonight.''

Burnett (6-8) held San Diego to one run and four hits, struck out seven and walked one. He bounced back from two starts in which he allowed 10 earned runs and 16 hits in 10 innings.

The Pirates opened a two-game lead in the NL Central over St. Louis, which lost 6-3 at Milwaukee.

The Padres loaded the bases with two outs in the third before Burnett struck out Yonder Alonso.

''His sixth inning was as good as any he had all night, pitching to the middle of the lineup,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ''So we decided when he came in 3-1, he was going back out. He had pitches to work with. He was able to reboot tonight. He used all his pitches. Very good outing for him.''

Burnett was backed by some nice defense. Left fielder Jose Tabata made a diving catch of Alexi Amarista's sinking liner in the first. Third baseman Pedro Alvarez made a diving stop of Nick Hundley's grounder in the second and Walker, the second baseman, made a diving stop of Jaff Decker's grounder in the third.

Walker homered into the sandy play area beyond the fence in right-center on a 3-1 pitch from Tyson Ross with one out in the first. It was his eighth. Alvarez reached on second baseman Jedd Gyorko's throwing error and Russell Martin followed with an RBI double to right.

Alvarez tripled in the third to bring in Walker, who was hit by a pitch leading off the inning.

Andrew McCutchen hit a two-run triple in the seventh. His fly ball landed just in front of diving center fielder Alexi Amarista and rolled into the gap in right-center. After Alvarez and Russell Martin walked, pinch-hitter Josh Harrison tripled to right-center to clear the bases and cap the five-run inning.

''All our hits were to the big part of the field,'' Hurdle said. ''Couple balls were pulled to the gap. Everything else, big part of the field, opposite. That was big for us tonight. Something we've been talking about, something we've been working on. We were able to put it in play tonight.''

The Padres have lost 10 of 14 and tied their season high by dropping 17 1/2 games behind the NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

Gyorko homered to left on a 1-2 pitch from Burnett leading off the fourth, his 14th.

''I was able to get to him the one time but he did a good job of mixing his pitches,'' Gyorko said. ''Sometimes you don't always get the read you want to on the ball.''

Ross (3-6) allowed five runs, four earned, on six hits in 6 1-3 innings, struck out six and walked two.

''It was a tough game. It was a bit of a struggle executing pitches early,'' Ross said. ''But I did my best to keep the team in it. But Burnett did a good job.''

NOTES: The Pirates hit three triples for the third time this season. ... The series concludes Wednesday afternoon when Pirates RHP Gerrit Cole (6-5, 3.88 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Ian Kennedy (4-9, 5.12 ERA). .... Pirates closer Jason Grilli, on the disabled list since July 23 with a strained right forearm, is improving, although there is no timetable for his return. ''Jason is moving forward at a very good fashion,'' manager Clint Hurdle said. ... OF Starling Marte didn't start for the second straight game because of a bruise on his right hand. He was stepped on during a head-first slide against the Arizona Diamondbacks. ... LHP Wandy Rodriguez will throw live batting practice Thursday before the Pirates begin a four-game series in San Francisco. Rodriguez said he continued to feel discomfort in his left arm after a bullpen session Monday. He went on the disabled list June 11 (retroactive to June 6) with left forearm tightness.

Dwyer on tap? Not a bad thing

Chaz Palla | Tribune-Review

Steelers offensive lineman Ramon Foster blocks for Jonathan Dwyer during the second quarter against the Redskins on Monday, August 19, 2013, at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

About Dejan Kovacevic

Dejan Kovacevic 
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Pittsburgh Tribune-Review 
Dejan Kovacevic is a sports writer for the Tribune-Review. 

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By Dejan Kovacevic 
http://triblive.com/sports
Published: Monday, August 19, 2013 , 11:34 p.m.

LANDOVER, Md.

If this preseason is proving anything for these some-old, some-new Steelers, it's that a script is spectacularly useless.

That Todd Haley plan to keep Ben Roethlisberger safe?Ha! He was dodging and ducking defenders like it was mid-December in Baltimore.

Jarvis Jones as second-team linebacker behind Jason Worilds?

Not after another forced fumble by the first-round pick who Ike Taylor this week called “Ballhawk.”

Offensive line as a strength?

Um, no.

Le'Veon Bell as feature back?

Not anymore. Bank on it. Not after a left knee has hobbled him throughout camp, only to have his right foot knock him out after one series of the 24-13 loss to the Redskins on Monday night at FedEx Field.

Jonathan Dwyer buried on the backs' depth chart behind Bell, Isaac Redman, maybe even Baron Batch because of special teams?

Scratch that, too, and do it in indelible ink: Dwyer rushed for 68 yards on 14 carries, caught two passes for 12 yards, generally acquitted himself in all other areas and, no, never once tapped himself out.

“I thought he did a great job, both in the running and passing game,” Roethlisberger was saying on a night on which there was scant reason to applaud either. “That's why, when people talk about our running backs … I've felt all along we've got a whole bunch who can do some great things.”

Mike Tomlin was complimentary, too, albeit with a predictable point to Dwyer's fumble that was his only blemish.

“He did some good things,” the coach said. “Obviously putting the ball on the ground doesn't help him or us. But he had his moments.”

Bet on there being more.

Dwyer's been my pick to click all summer, and I'm sticking by him even though he ticked off Tomlin by taking too long to get into prime shape, even though Redman should still play when he's back from a pinched nerve, even though Bell should still come with high expectations and, yeah, even though it took both those guys plus LaRod Stephens-Howling plus Batch going down with injuries for Dwyer to get this chance.

Oh, well. Can't play if you can't play.

Tomlin's already stretched his own standard — which is saying something considering that the standard is, in fact, the standard — by promoting Bell to first team even though he couldn't play in the preseason opener. And the elastic found new length when Bell missed more practices this week but still was first on the field Monday.

Enough's enough. No way the kid will be ready for Tennessee.

Besides, it should at least be considered that Dwyer might be the best option.

Absolutely, it was lousy last season that he seemed to gasp in the direction of the sideline after every other carry. But he knew it. And he reacted — even if late — by reporting to Latrobe lighter, faster and, by his estimation, more than ready to snap the tap.

“You won't see that anymore,” Dwyer vowed early in camp.

So all Dwyer had to do once Bell was felled was to back it up. One carry was a 23-yard burst through tackle that stressed what he does best: Find the hole and hit it unflinchingly. Another was a 14-yard dash around end, a dimension Haley is eager to add to the rushing game and that, maybe, a lighter Dwyer can deliver on occasion.

“It felt good,” Dwyer said. “I was supposed to split the first half with Le'Veon, and I wasn't going to play the third quarter until Baron got hurt. But I had fun. And I did what I had to do, which was step up for my team.”

What's not to like?

For all the grief Dwyer took after last season, he also had back-to-back 100-yard performances in October and wound up with a team-best 637 yards.

He's 24, only three years older than Bell, and eminently deserving of a longer look.

If he changes the script for the better, so be it.

Read more: http://triblive.com/sports/-topstories/4557876-74/dwyer-bell-though?printerfriendly=true#ixzz2cVYIrSUt 
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