By Ron Cook, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
http://www.post-gazette.com/sports/
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. -- It's hard to think the Steelers didn't lose more than they won here Sunday. They went home with a terrific 23-22 win against the Miami Dolphins and kept first place in the AFC North Division. But they lost star defensive end Aaron Smith for the game, almost certainly for the season and maybe forever because of a torn left triceps muscle."I don't want to see his career end," wide receiver Hines Ward said.
"Not like this."
Smith, 34, in his 12th NFL season, was injured on the third play of the third quarter when he tackled Dolphins fullback Lousaka Polite for a 2-yard gain. His loss can't be overestimated to a Steelers' defense that has been mostly responsible for the team's 5-1 start. It won't be nearly as good without him. It just can't be.
"The heart and soul of our defense," linebacker James Harrison called Smith.
"Anytime he's not in there, it kills us," nose tackle Casey Hampton said.
"I'm sick," linebacker James Farrior said.
This is the third time in four seasons that Smith has had a season-ending arm injury. In 2007, his right biceps muscle was torn in December. The team went 1-2 down the stretch and lost its wild-card playoff game to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Last season, his right rotator cuff was torn in October. The team went 6-5 without him and missed the playoffs.
This is not a good trend.
By the way, the Steelers won the Super Bowl in '08 when Smith stayed healthy and played in every game.
"We're going to find out if we can win without him," Ward said. "Everybody talks about Troy [Polamalu] and worries about him getting hurt, but Aaron makes it all go for our defense. The problem is you can replace him with five or 10 guys and they can't do what he does."
Not surprisingly, Smith's teammates were more concerned about him than themselves and the team. He might be the most respected player on the squad because ...
Here's backup defensive end Nick Eason, who, suddenly, becomes much more valuable to the team:
"Aaron's a great player, a great role model, a great friend, a great teammate, a great family guy ... "
That about covers it.
The players also know Smith is at the age where it's not so easy to come back from a major injury. He talked about that at training camp in August.
"You do this long enough, something is going to start to wear out. How many people tear their rotator cuff and have a biceps tear? That's probably from reaching to make tackles all those years."
Now, you can add a torn triceps.
"I don't even know what to say to him," Harrison said.
"I know it's killing him inside," Farrior said.
The pall left by Smith's injury ruined what should have been a nice celebration in the Steelers' locker room. South Florida buzzed Sunday night and is buzzing again this morning because the Dolphins were robbed by the officials, who botched the call on a late fumble by Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and gave kicker Jeff Reed a chance to make the winning field goal. But that doesn't change the fact the Steelers played a strong road game, not just without Smith, but without defensive end Brett Keisel (hamstring), who didn't dress, and outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley (hamstring) and offensive tackle Flozell Adams (ankle), who were injured early.
"We say it all the time: 'The standard is the standard,' " Farrior said. "We're always telling the young guys, 'You've got to keep working while you wait. You're always just one play away. Be ready.' "
Eason, Ziggy Hood and Chris Hoke rotated to pick up the slack left by Keisel and Smith. They helped limit the Dolphins to 64 rushing yards.
Veteran Larry Foote and rookie Jason Worilds filled in for Woodley. Foote, who played inside and bumped linebacker Lawrence Timmons to Woodley's outside spot in the Steelers' base defense, had a sack and tackled running back Ronnie Brown for no gain on a third-and-1 play early in the fourth quarter. Worilds, who subbed for Woodley in passing situations, hit Dolphins quarterback Chad Henne and forced an imcompletion on Miami's final offensive play.
Tackle Jonathan Scott took over after Adams left early in the second quarter. The Steelers struggled to run the ball, but Roethlisberger had enough time to throw for 302 yards and two touchdowns.
You've heard of a team win?
This was a classic.
"I told the guys, 'The best thing we can do for Aaron is to win this game,' " Eason said. Asked what he said to Smith specifically, Eason said, "Just that I love him and that we had his back."
Smith was appreciative. "That's what's so great about this team. Someone goes down and someone else comes in and the team doesn't miss a beat."
For one game, maybe.
But for the rest of the season?
How do you replace a guy who's nearly irreplaceable?
"Absolutely these guys can do it," Smith said. "Look at the talent in here."
So I did.
I took a good, long look around the room.
I saw a lot of great players.
But I didn't see another Aaron Smith.
The Steelers definitely lost more than they won on this bittersweet October day.
Ron Cook can be heard on the "Vinnie and Cook" show weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on 93.7 The Fan. rcook@post-gazette.com
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