Players must now wait and see if ‘Turk’ visits
PITTSBURGH – So, what did President Bush say last night, anyway? Assuming I didn’t miss the biggest upset of modern time and that the man who goes by his middle initial did, in fact, accept his party’s nomination, I guess it’s safe to go on with the trivialities associated with the Steelers’ 16-13 exhibition loss to Carolina Thursday at Heinz Field.
There is a correlation between the Republican National Convention and last night’s Steelers game beyond the Panthers’ “W.” The game started early so it could be over in time for Bush’s address to the convention.
And it just made it, thanks to one Willie Parker, the media darling of this year’s Steelers training camp. The game appeared headed toward overtime when Parker coughed up his first fumble on his 46th and last carry of the preseason. It came on a second-and-goal from the 6-yard line with 24 seconds remaining.
Cruel as it might sound, that play may be Parker’s last in black and gold. The Turk is on the way to see 18 soon-to-be-former Steelers and he’ll have a simple message: “Coach wants to see ya … and bring your playbook.”
Parker may survive, but that would mean that Dante Brown would be sent packing. Brown seemed to lock up a roster spot with another solid performance against the Panthers. He led the team with 34 yards on seven carries. Just for good measure, Brown delivered a crushing block on a Ricardo Colclough punt return.
Then again, the Steelers still might be able to trade Brown or Parker. Although trades are rare this time of year in the NFL, with all 32 teams struggling to get down to a 53-man roster, at least two teams – Philadelphia and Miami – may be interested.
Steelers coach Bill Cowher was in no mood to talk politics or trades in the wake of the loss and even that had little to do specifically with Parker or the running backs. Instead of those specifics, Cowher was grumpy because of the general sloppiness his team displayed against the defending NFC champions.
“It just wasn’t very efficient football,” he said, adding that the only positive was the lack of injury to add to the insult.
One guy who already was close to a lock to make the team solidified his standing. Defensive tackle Chris Hoke played superbly and finished with 1.5 sacks and three tackles. With three sacks, he was far and away the team’s sack leader through games that don’t count.
The first of the games that count is a week from Sunday, when the Oakland Raiders come to town.
“I think we’re ready,” quarterback Tommy Maddox said. “We didn’t play well tonight, but the mistakes we made are correctable. Next week, even though the regular season is here, we’ve got to work to get better.”
Between now and this Sunday, however, Cowher and his staff will have to pare the roster.
They got answers to a few questions in this last dress rehearsal, but while some decisions became clearer, others were muddied.
Willie Williams proved that when a cornerback falls, he falls flat. Williams was beaten badly on an 87-yard touchdown pass from Chris Weinke to rookie receiver Keary Colbert. In his 12 years in the NFL, Williams has lost the only thing he brought to the game: speed.
The Steelers had hoped Williams would provide a stabilizing influence on their young secondary. If they want him, they should hire him as a coach because Williams cut himself Thursday night.
Elsewhere on defense, Alonzo Jackson may have earned a stay of execution. He was headed in the general direction of the Turk while filling in for starting outside linebacker Clark Haggans. Haggans returned Thursday night and got a good workout on Carolina’s first possession, which lasted 18 plays. Jackson, meanwhile, settled into a backup role and may make the team after all.
Some of the cuts are simple. Quarterback Kurt Kittner didn’t play. Neither did defensive back Nashville Dyer, center Jimond Pugh or long snapper and draft choice Drew Caylor.
But two guys who didn’t play are locks: running back Duce Staley and kicker Jeff Reed. Staley didn’t play, Cowher said, because of the logjam at running back that had to be sorted out. Reed, too, was held out so the Steelers could give free agent Rob Bironas a stage. He responded with two field goals, including a 48-yarder, and some booming kickoffs.
That may be good for some other NFL team, but it won’t mean much here. Just like Thursday’s game. A week or two from now, no one will remember who the Steelers played, let alone which running back fumbled away a chance to go 3-1 in games that don’t count.
The Turk is on the loose, then the real games begin.
Sports editor Mike Ciarochi may be reached at mciarochi@heraldstandard.com