Steelers’ Hoke has filled in admirably
PITTSBURGH (AP) – Chris Hoke supposedly is the weak link in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense, so it’s understandable he has been asked the same questions almost daily since replacing the injured Casey Hampton a month ago. Is this the week the Steelers’ opponent tests the weakened middle of their run defense, the area where the 320-pound Hampton routinely stuffed most running plays?
“Every week they always say, ‘It’s a true test for Hoke,’ you know, ‘A true test for Hoke,”‘ Hoke said. “So I’m just going out there and trying to do my job. I can’t worry about what other people are saying. I just have to worry about getting the job done.”
When Hampton went down with a season-ending knee injury Oct. 17, the Steelers were justifiably worried about their run defense. Hampton’s size and run-stopping ability were a perfect fit for one of the NFL’s few full-time 3-4 defenses, and he made the Pro Bowl last season.
That Hoke was around to replace Hampton is a testament to his perseverance and the Steelers’ reluctance to let him go. He didn’t play in a single game for three seasons after unexpectedly making their 2001 roster as a non-drafted rookie free agent from Brigham Young, and twice returned after being taken off the 53-man roster or demoted to the practice squad.
“He’s earned his opportunity to play,” coach Bill Cowher said.
What the Steelers couldn’t have expected was that Hoke would play like this, even though he led them with three sacks during the preseason.
In Hoke’s only three NFL games, the Patriots, Eagles and Browns have rushed for a combined 96 yards, an average of 32 yards per game – or slightly less than the Steelers’ Jerome Bettis averaged every quarter of those games. Of course, it helped that the Steelers opened up 21-point leads in all three games, forcing their opponents to all but give up on the run.
Hoke knows this week, ahem, could be his first true test. The Bengals’ Rudi Johnson ran for 123 yards and a touchdown in a 28-17 loss in Pittsburgh on Oct. 3, making him the only back all season to gain more than 76 yards against the Steelers’ No. 2-ranked run defense.
“He is a test,” Hoke said. “He breaks a lot of tackles because he has a low center of gravity. It’s another great opportunity for me to go out there again and try to prove to the critics I can play the run.”
The Steelers can’t fault the 6-foot-2, 290-pound Hoke’s play so far, even though he has seen very few runs up the middle. He had only two tackles in his first two games, but had four – and his first sack – in Sunday’s 24-10 victory in Cleveland.
“Every week I feel more and more like I’m getting a feel for it,” Hoke said. “But when you feel comfortable with one thing, something else pops up. There’s always a give and take there. It’s an opportunity for me every week to go out there and, like I said, show people I can play.”
Defensive line coach John Mitchell has long been convinced Hoke would be a more than adequate replacement.
“Every year he’s felt he’s been on the bubble and had to make this team,” Mitchell said. “Every year he’s gotten better. He wasn’t drafted and came in here and didn’t know very much. He’s worked hard and gotten better. … Our guys know Chris and they’ve got a lot of faith in that man. I do too.”
Of course, Hoke understands there will always be a “show me” attitude until Hampton returns next year. At 28, Hoke is older than most players with such limited NFL experience because his BYU career was interrupted by a two-year Mormon mission to Belgium.
“Casey’s a Pro Bowler. He set the bar,” Hoke said. “Every week they’ll ask if Hokey can do it, so I’ve just got to keep doing my job.”