Steelers sign another bulldog
PITTSBURGH – They liked Hines Ward and Kendrell Bell so much the Pittsburgh Steelers went back to the University of Georgia last year to draft Verron Haynes and this year to draft J.T. Wall. The Steelers announced they’d signed yet another ‘Dawg Sunday when wide receiver Terrence Edwards of Georgia became the plum of their 19-player rookie free-agent crop.
Edwards, the younger brother of NFL running back Robert Edwards, was a former basketball player at Georgia before joining the football team in 1999 and catching 53 passes for 772 yards. He started every game in 2000 and again caught 53 passes. In 2001, Edwards’ production slipped to 39 receptions, and last year he separated his shoulder but finished with 59 catches for 1,004 yards and 11 touchdowns.
He weighs only 177 pounds but Edwards has a chance to not only make the Steelers’ roster, he can become the team’s second slot receiver behind Antwaan Randle El.
The Steelers also signed a world-class sprinter to compete for that open wide receiver job. Leonard Scott of Tennessee is a former NCAA indoor 60-meter champ who caught a career-high 10 passes for 87 yards last season and returned four punts for 49 yards and two kickoffs for 31 yards. His best season as a return man was 1999 when he returned 20 kickoffs for 540 yards (27 avg.) and a touchdown.
Obviously a track man attempting to play football, Scott reportedly showed soft hands at his pro day workout, where he was timed in the 40 at 4.31 and 4.26 seconds. He also had a 35-inch vertical jump and bench-pressed 225 pounds 13 times.
The Steelers also like Kent State defensive end Roy Attieh, a 305-pounder who can play nose tackle. While they were scouting Attieh at Kent, the Steelers noticed cornerback Nashville Dyer, who ran a 4.43 40 and 6.64 3-cone drill. He also had a vertical jump of 37 1/2.
West Virginia University’s David Upchurch is another potential end-nose tackle for the Steelers. A three-year starter, Upchurch culminated his college career by being named second-team All-Big East. Considered a technician with a superior work ethic, Upchurch must add to his 285-pound frame to earn a job with the Steelers.
Upchurch’s mirror image could be fellow free-agent signee Dan Rumishek, a 277-pound defensive lineman from the University of Michigan.
Among the other free-agent signings is running back Dante Brown of Memphis, who gained 902 yards to lead his team in rushing in 2001. He was hobbled with an ankle injury last season and slipped to 562 yards on 133 carries (4.2 average).
Jack Fadule, a 6-5, 316-pound offensive tackle from Harvard, will certainly understand his assignments. The other offensive linemen signed by the Steelers after the draft were center Jimond Pugh of Memphis State and guard Deon White of Jacksonville State.
To bolster their secondary, the Steelers added Dyer, McKeesport native Russell Stuviants of Youngstown State and fellow safety Rashad Faison of South Carolina.
Another local prospect, Jeremy Conley of Allderdice High School and Duquesne University, will compete for the open roster spot at wide receiver.
Specialists who’ll be brought to camp are placekicker Jonathan Ruffin of Cincinnati and punter Mike Hayes of Akron. Ruffin is an accomplished kicker and could provide stiff competition for incumbent Jeff Reed.
Ruffin won the Lou Groza Award in 2000 after setting a Conference USA record by making 26 of 29 field goals. He led the nation in field goals per game (2.36) that season and made 12 in a row during one stretch. He finished his college career by making 12 of 16 field goals in 2001 and 17 of 20 last season. He’s considered accurate from 42 yards in, but does not have what scouts consider a strong leg.