Steelers starters to play 'a couple series'

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Coach Mike Tomlin said quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and the other starters will probably only play a "couple series" Thursday night when the Steelers open their preseason against the Arizona Cardinals at Heinz Field.

Tomlin also refused to rule out any player from the game, though he said it is understood that guard Darnell Stapleton, who had arthroscopic knee surgery last week, will not play.

If center Justin Hartwig does not play, as expected, Tomlin said first-year free-agent center Doug Legursky will start.

"More than anything, I'm just concerned about coming out and playing the game extremely fast, extremely hard," Tomlin said this morning at a news conference at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. "We realize we're not going to be perfect. But we have to have Steelers-type tempo."

Then he added, "You want people to play with great tempo and speed. You use some core stuff that they're familiar with. We're not interested in tricking Arizona."

The Steelers took two return specialists in the April draft -- wide receiver Mike Wallace in the third round and cornerback Joe Burnett in the fifth round -- and they each will get a chance to return kicks against the Cardinals. Tomlin said Wallace, the second-fastest receive in the draft, will return the first kickoff and Burnett will return the first punt.

 

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Exhibition game is important for Mendenhall


Tonight, it's all about the binoculars. NFL exhibition games, especially first ones, are never about the winning and rarely about the starters, who play little.

This night belongs to the rookies, the unknowns and the untested, along with veteran free agents (of which the Steelers annually have few). Those who harbor the most attention are first-round draft choices.

And this season, the Steelers have three -- one from each of Mike Tomlin's tenure as their coach -- who have reasons of their own for tonight's game being significant against the Arizona Cardinals.

So more Heinz Field binoculars likely will be focused on rookie defensive end Ziggy Hood, second-year running back Rashard Mendenhall and third-year linebacker Lawrence Timmons.

For Hood, it's his first professional game. For Mendenhall, it's another step on his comeback trail after his rookie season ended early with a crushing blow from Ray Lewis. And for Timmons, he finally steps into the starting lineup after becoming the Steelers' only No. 1 draft pick to fail to win a starting job in his first two seasons since tackle Jamain Stephens, drafted in 1996.

Timmons, though, was excellent as a nickel back last season and his coaches expect that to continue as he takes over at inside linebacker for Larry Foote.

Hood's first training camp has gone well as he has shown why the Steelers drafted him No. 1.

"He hasn't disappointed in that regard," Tomlin said. "Doesn't mean that his play is above the line just yet. We will probably know a bit more Friday morning."

Mendenhall, on the other hand, remains an enigma. Is he the big-time back that prompted the Steelers to draft him in 2008, overjoyed he lasted until their pick at No. 23? Or is he the ordinary back he appeared to be in his two training camps and early last season before his shoulder was fractured in the fourth game?

That process resumes tonight, a game Mendenhall could start because Willie Parker missed several days of practice this week with what was described as back spasms.

"I expect the jump from him that I expect from all second-year players to take," Tomlin said. "This is his second lap around the track in terms of being a professional athlete and pro football player. ... He acts like a guy who has been here before, a guy who is ready to burst onto the scene, a guy who is willing to put his hand in the pile and help us win."

It often is difficult to fully evaluate running backs in modern training camps because of the lack of live hitting. Mendenhall has gone through two live snaps in camp, two runs from the 1-yard line in a goal-line team drill Sunday against the first-team defense. He was stuffed once and thrown for a 3-yard loss the other time. That drill is traditionally unfair to the offense.

The Steelers still are not sure what they have in Mendenhall.

"The key for him, like all young guys, they have to play," said Kirby Wilson, who coaches the Steelers' backs. "He's still trying to develop a style -- who he is, what kind of runner he's going to be in this league, his style, and the whole key."

That cannot happen in practice.

"To do that is to play and to get touches," Wilson said. "I'm sure all those things will occur come Thursday night. The more he plays, the more he'll identify who he is, and all of us -- myself included -- we can say, OK, this is who he is, this is his style, this is what we can expect from him every week. Until we see it week-in and week-out, he's still a mystery man."

Mendenhall, the team's only running back drafted in the first round since Tim Worley in 1989, led the Steelers last preseason with 222 yards rushing. He averaged 4.1 yards per carry and scored one touchdown. He rushed 19 times for 58 yards in the regular season before his early exit.

"In the preseason you figure out what works and what doesn't in this league," Mendenhall said. "You're able to be a little more loose, try things, try moves; that's what I think the preseason is for. I feel good about that and was able to learn about that.

"At the beginning of the season last year I felt like I was season-ready. As far as this year coming around, I feel like I'm ready to go."

That first hit will carry no special meaning for him, despite what happened on his last hit.

"No, because since I put on pads I haven't felt anything in my shoulder at all. We hit Big Bertha every day and that's no slouch, so I really don't even think about my shoulder anymore."

Big Bertha, the big tackling dummy the running backs use at practice, never hits back. Starting tonight, Mendenhall will remember what that's like, and his coaches are more interested in his response than all those binoculars that will have him in their sights.

 

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3 areas Cardinals coaches will watch



Preseason games are meaningless in the standings but carry big-time impact in player evaluation. Here are three areas that coaches will be watching:

*How sharp is the first-team offense? The Cardinals offense has had its ups and downs in camp, which is to be expected. But are the downs because the defense has improved? Or because considerable more work needs to be done? Quarterback Kurt Warner continues to be bothered by a sore hip, but he says it feels worse when he's standing around and better when he's playing. Rookie running back Beanie Wells won't play tonight, but another rookie runner will: seventh-round pick LaRod Stephens-Howling. He played at the University of Pittsburgh so this will be a special night for him.

*The battle for No. 2: Brian St. Pierre is competing with Matt Leinart for the backup quarterback job to Kurt Warner. Both have played well in training camp, but preseason games will be a big factor in the decision. St. Pierre knows if the contest is close, Leinart will keep the job.

*How does defensive right end Calais Campbell fare? Campbell is the biggest question mark on the defense. He replaces Antonio Smith, who signed with Houston in free agency. Campbell will get a considerable amount of work tonight. He's a solid run defender who needs to work on making moves out of his initial stance.

 

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Sitting out Thursday night --Cards

There are no surprises among the Cardinals expected to sit out Thursday's preseason opener in Pittsburgh. Receiver Early Doucet (shoulder) and tight end Anthony Becht (hamstring) won't play, according to coach Ken Whisenhunt. Neither will tackle Elliot Vallejo (dislocated kneecap) and defensive end Keilen Dykes (quadricep strain). Whisenhunt didn't rule out running back Beanie Wells (ankle sprain) but it would be a surprise if he plays.