Commentary
Cowher got exactly what he wanted against Vikings PITTSBURGH – Steelers coach Bill Cowher got exactly what he wanted out of Thursday’s last exhibition game, a 17-14 win over the Minnesota Vikings at Heinz Field.
Cowher’s starting offense played long enough to score a couple of touchdowns on a couple of impressive drives and his defense was equally impressive, keeping Randy Moss and the potent Minnesota offense off the scoreboard. Moss later scored against Pittsburgh’s reserves, but that may have helped Cowher more than it helped the Vikings.
Equally important was that the starters on both sides of the ball played long enough to sweat and managed to retreat to the sideline without suffering any significant injuries.
Now, all but 15 of Cowher’s players have to wait 11 days before they open the regular season under the bright lights of Monday Night Football a week from Monday at New England. The unlucky 15 will find out at some point over the weekend that they did not make the final 53-man roster.
Most of the cuts will be names you may have never heard, certainly names you won’t long remember even one or two sound familiar. A former first round pick, wide receiver Troy Edwards may be among them. He hasn’t earned a spot on the team, but may be kept around while he rehabilitates a bum knee.
But the important names are not those who will not make the team. Rather, the important names belong to those who will comprise what may become a Super Bowl roster.
The Steelers showed during Thursday’s final tune-up that they can do the two things necessary to win a lot of football games this season. They scored points and they kept the Vikings from doing the same.
This they did instead of their usual final dress rehearsal, which consisted mostly of dressing, playing briefly, then cheering for their understudies as they struggled for one of those final available roster spots.
The Steelers had work to do and accomplished plenty, not the least of which was Cowher’s own throwing motion with a red flag in his right hand.
The coach, who a week earlier couldn’t get his push-button replay-requesting device to function, threw two perfect flags and showed excellent form on both tosses. He was perfect in more than his form, as both of his challenges resulted in overturns of poor calls.
But back to the real action. And there was plenty of it for Pittsburgh’s starters.
On their second offensive possession, the Steelers moved 98 yards on nine plays and the drive was even more impressive than those numbers because it involved just about the entire offense. There was a pass attempt to Antwaan Randle El, two completions to Plaxico Burress, three Jerome Bettis runs (including a 27-yard burst), a Dan Krieder run and a 14-yard scramble on third-and-8 by Kordell Stewart that gave the drive life.
Along the way, Cowher won his first challenge when a Stewart scramble was ruled short of a first down, but was overruled and led to Bettis’ 2-yard TD run.
The Steelers also scored on their next offensive possession, this time going 80 yards on 13 plays, mostly on the ground, as Pittsburgh’s offense seemed to have its way with Minnesota’s starting defense. Actually, there were a lot of reserves on the field for the Steelers during that second scoring drive, but they accomplished it against Minnesota’s starters.
As for the defense, the starters held up well under the pressure of quarterback Daunte Culpepper’s heaves to Moss, even though the superstar managed three catches in a four-play sequence that netted 43 yards. Still, Pittsburgh forced a punt and Moss wasn’t heard from again until Pittsburgh’s starters were safely on the bench.
By the time they were done, the Steelers’ starting defense had held the Vikings to 97 yards of offense and no points. Joey Porter got Pittsburgh’s only sack, but it was a beauty, as he yanked down Culpepper with enough force to pop off his own helmet.
Luckily for Cowher and the Steelers, that was the only pop involving a Steelers starter. It appears they’ll enter the regular season relatively healthy. The only questions concern linebacker Kendrell Bell and wide receiver Hines Ward, but both are short-term injuries.
All in all, it turned out to be a perfect evening for Bill Cowher and the Steelers.
Now, it’s on to the regular season where everything counts. The Steelers have set the table quite nicely, which should make 2002 an interesting season.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com