P I T T S B U R G H   S T E E L E R S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Offseason Movement

Glance Head coach: Bill Cowher 2001: Results 2002: Draft picks Training camp: July 24 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe, Pa.  2002 Schedule Date  Vs.  Time  Sept. 9  at N.E.  9 p.m.  Sept. 15  OAK.  8:30 p.m.  Sept. 22  Open     Sept. 29  CLE.  1 p.m.  Oct. 6  at N.O.  1 p.m.  Oct. 13  at Cin.  1 p.m.  Oct. 21  IND.  9 p.m.  Oct. 27  at Bal.  1 p.m.  Nov. 3  at Cle.  1 p.m.  Nov. 10  ATL.  1 p.m.  Nov. 17  at Ten.  1 p.m.  Nov. 24  CIN.  1 p.m.  Dec. 1  at Jac.  1 p.m.  Dec. 8  HOU.  1 p.m.  Dec. 15  CAR.  1 p.m.  Dec. 23  at T.B.  9 p.m.  Dec. 29  BAL.  1 p.m.

By B. Duane Cross, CNNSI.com

It was just enough to whet the appetite: A first-year offensive coordinator shuffling the deck and drawing high card. A quarterback under duress, bringing his A-game to the table and dealing a flush.

But with a full house on hand at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh dropped the ball (again) in the AFC Championship Game. New England dealt the Steelers four of a kind -- its fourth home loss since 1994 in the conference final.

After the setback, veteran tackle Wayne Gandy said: "It's a very empty feeling. To get to this point, then go out like this? It's a very, very lonely feeling."

Six months later, the Steelers will begin preparing for getting past that disappointment, beginning with Mike Mularkey's continuing project for reviving Kordell Stewart's once-languishing career.

For much of 2001, Stewart wasn't the Same Old Kordell, prone to throwing picks and making turnovers. Then, in the team's biggest game since the 1997 AFC Championship Game against Denver, SOK returned. Trailing the Patriots 24-17, Stewart threw two critical INTs.

"What have you done lately" came the call from Pittsburgh fans. For his part, Stewart cut to the chase: "1997 was 1997," he said. "In no way, shape or form am I going to say anything negative about anything. We had a great season."

Mularkey did a remarkable job getting Stewart to buy into his system. Still, others believe Pittsburgh needs a QB to make that next step. Since 1990, the Steelers have drafted five QBs; only one -- Stewart -- was taken in the first four rounds. During that same time, the Steelers drafted 12 wide receivers, 11 linebackers, nine defensive linemen, seven defensive backs, four running backs and two tight ends in the first four rounds.

Pittsburgh did not draft a QB this year, so the message is clear: It's Stewart's job to lose. Or until the SOK returns.

Fact Jerome Bettis trails Franco Harris by 4,165 yards on the Steelers' all-time rushing list. If he averages 80 yards per game (his career avg.), he'll break the team record in 2005.

Jerome Bettis, RB -- Leading the NFL in rushing when he was sidelined with a severe groin injury, Bettis missed the final five games of the 2001 regular season.

He was scheduled to start the Steelers' playoff opener against Baltimore on Jan. 21, but a bad reaction to a painkilling shot that morning numbed his left leg and he did not play. Bettis returned for the AFC title game, but was not effective. He tied his worst game with the Steelers with 8 yards on nine rushes in the loss to New England.

Bettis, who was forced to skip the Pro Bowl, now admits he re-injured the groin against the Patriots. But Bettis contends he'll be ready when the Steelers open training camp in July. "It's all healed up, it's just a matter of being confident and running back on it," he said.

Bettis participated in the Steelers' May minicamp and said it "felt good."

"That's always the question. How does it feel? Can you do this? Can you do that? But it just felt great. It was fun to get out there for a change."

Entering the season, Bettis is 12th on the all-time rushing list (10,876 yards) and second only to Emmitt Smith (16,187) among active players. With 477 yards -- roughly the sixth game of the season against Indianapolis -- Bettis will supplant John Riggins at No. 10.

Bettis joined Pittsburgh in 1996 after three seasons with St. Louis. He has led the Steelers in rushing each season since, averaging 1,297 yards and six touchdowns, though he has failed to crack double-digit TDs since '96 (11).

Fact Seventeen players have worn No. 10 with the Steelers, including former Supreme Court Justice Byron "Whizzer" White (1938), who died April 15.

Kordell Stewart QB -- While the Steelers may not put a premium on drafting quarterbacks, that doesn't mean there aren't a few of them mulling around -- and we're not talking about Tommy Maddox and Tee Martin.

Pittsburgh drafted Antwaan Randle El in the second round (62nd overall) because they think he can be the slot receiver in their third-down offense. Yes, that Antwaan Randle El, the one who was a QB for all but one game of college career. The one who became the first player in Division I history to have 7,000 yards passing and 3,500 yards rushing.

And don't forget about wide receiver Hines Ward, a former quarterback-turned-running back at Georgia.

So, is the pressure on Stewart? Only from those on the outside looking in. Stewart began improving his game during the second half of the 2000 season, leading the Steelers to a 4-1 record the last five games with a passer rating of 85.6.

Last season, his rating was 81.7, his best effort for a full season. He also posted career highs in completions (266) and passing yards (3,109) and rushing yards (537).

Stewart, who is in the final year of his contract, remains confident. Since his arrival in 1995, several key offensive players have left via free agency, and the Steelers' offensive coaching staff has been a revolving door. "I'm a stronger person because of all the crazy things I went through," Stewart said.

What remains to be seen is how he rebounds from his AFC Championship Game miscues -- an overthrow to Ward on a third-and-8 play at the Steelers' 35 with three minutes to go, and ditto to Plaxico Burress on second-and-10 from the Steelers' 40 with two minutes remaining.

Is Plaxico Burress ready to be an NFL receiver?

Fact Plaxico Burress is adorned with seven tattoos. His favorite: a shoulder job that says "Live For the Day."

The Steelers ranked No. 3 in the NFL in total offense last season, due in large part to Burress and Hines Ward. After first-year offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey broke down the offensive game plan and simplified the routes, Burress (1,008) and Ward (1,003) each topped 1,000 yards receiving -- the first time in team history that two players had 1,000 yards receiving in the same season.

Burress also had 66 receptions and a team-leading six TD catches. Not bad for a guy who has overcome numerous early career drops (and exactly where does that "spike" against Jacksonville in 2000 rank?) -- not to mention being called "Plexiglas" by Shannon Sharpe during the Steelers-Ravens war of words last season.

Drafted No. 8 overall in 2000, Burress was the second of two consecutive first-round picks spent on a receiver (Troy Edwards, No. 13, in 1999). Ward was the Steelers' second pick in the third round in 1998.

After a forgettable rookie season (22 catches, 273 yards -- zero TDs -- and season-ending wrist surgery), Burress began asserting himself last season, beginning with a six-catch, 151-yard showing against Tennessee in a 34-7 win Oct. 29, 2001. Then on Nov. 25 -- also against the Titans -- he had his second career 100-yard game. He backed those games up with two 100-yard performances in the season's final four contests.

But the maturity of Burress remains a question mark. His Nov. 19 party in Pittsburgh Strip District climaxed with the arrest of Cleveland's Gerrard Warren. "It was just a little thing I have every year," Burress said of his get-together. "I had one in my hometown [Virginia Beach, Va.], I've had one in Florida. I decided to have one up here [Pittsburgh] this year."

After Burress' second 100-yard game against Tennessee, Steelers head coach Bill Cowher was presented with the question of whether Burress could party in celebration as he saw fit. "No, I won't say that," said Cowher, scowling.