Aug 29, 2002 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 4 min read

PITTSBURGH – Pittsburgh Steelers coach Bill Cowher’s philosophy on playing starters in the final preseason game usually doesn’t vary: get ’em in, get ’em out in a hurry and don’t get ’em hurt. Not this time.

With the Steelers’ traditionally strong running game not yet productive, quarterback Kordell Stewart recovering from a concussion and the Sept. 9 opener still 11 days away, Cowher expects his starters to play the first half tonight against Minnesota.

They won’t be going against backups or soon-to-be-cut players, either – Vikings coach Mike Tice plans to do the same thing.

“I just thought it was too long to go without playing, from the third preseason game (Aug. 24) to playing the Monday night game in New England,” Cowher said.

Tice has similar thoughts, if for different reasons.

“I’m not a three-series-and-out guy,” Tice said. “I believe they need to work on timing. You don’t talk about timing, you create timing by working together. …They’re in good shape, but they still haven’t come out and started the second half.”

Tice is also trying to sort out who his No. 2 receiver will be – Derrick Alexander or D’Wayne Bates – and Everett Lindsay needs as much work as he can get with the first unit at left tackle.

Projected as a backup to first-round draft choice Bryant McKinney and former NFL Europe player Lewis Kelly, Lindsay finds himself playing as McKinney remains unsigned and Kelly deals with the unexpected death of his wife earlier this week.

Before leaving for Pittsburgh, some Vikings players, coaches and staff members attended a memorial service Wednesday for Rakiva Kelly, who died Sunday at age 24 of a blood disorder.

Thursday’s game also may decide which backups make each team’s 53-man roster.

“We have some races that are really close,” Tice said. “There are a handful of guys that the game is going to play a big role in whether they get their mail here or they get their mail somewhere else.”

Stewart has been out since the first half of the Aug. 18 game against Washington, when he was injured while being run out of bounds by linebacker LaVar Arrington. Stewart expects to play the first half, with former Lions starter Charlie Batch going the rest of the way.

The Steelers also want to get the ball into Jerome Bettis’ hands a few times. Bettis is coming off his sixth consecutive 1,000-yard rushing season but, after missing the final month of the regular season last year with a groin injury, he has carried only 19 times for 32 yards in the preseason.

With the NFL’s top-ranked rushing offense of a year ago still developing, the Steelers were far more productive throwing the ball than running it in their first three exhibition games. They are averaging nearly 293 yards passing, compared to 79 yards rushing.

“We’re not going to stop trying to run the ball,” Stewart said. “But if we need to throw the ball, we will. It’s not a bad thing if you throw the football. I know people are used to seeing us pound the ball all the time, but if we can put points on the board by putting the ball in the air, so be it.”

One Vikings assistant coach probably isn’t looking forward to the reception he might get in Heinz Field.

Special teams coach Jay Hayes was fired by the Steelers after his unit was blamed – even by other players – for their upset loss to New England in the AFC title game. Three of the four touchdowns scored against Pittsburgh in the postseason came on special teams.

For now, Hayes is more concerned with getting kicker Doug Brien straightened out. Brien is only 1-for-5 during the preseason.

“It’s a crucial game for all of us,” Hayes said. “This is a results business, and he knows that.”