Steelers notebook
Roethlisberger misses chance to turn the tables on Faneca PITTSBURGH – After Tommy Maddox was injured early in the 2004 season, Alan Faneca was asked if he was “excited” to be playing with a rookie quarterback.
“Excited?” Faneca said in disbelief. “No, it’s not exciting. Do you want to go work with some little young kid who’s just out of college?”
With a chance to turn the tables nearly three years later, that “little young kid”, Ben Roethlisberger, missed the opportunity.
After Faneca skipped Saturday morning’s practice, Roethlisberger was asked by a reporter if he was “excited at the prospect of playing with a rookie left guard this season.” Roethlisberger didn’t recognize the irony.
“Well, you know what, Chris, if it’s his time to get called, then I know he’ll step up and play well,” Roethlisberger said of Faneca’s replacement Saterday, third-year guard Chris Kemoeatu.
Roethlisberger was asked for his reaction to Faneca’s comments of the previous day.
“That’s the good thing about this country: freedom of speech,” Roethlisberger said. “Alan’s the best guard and I feel confident when I’m behind him.”
Coach Chin Part II
Last minicamp, Roethlisberger was asked to compare coach Mike Tomlin with former coach Bill Cowher and said his relationship with Cowher “wasn’t great.”
Yesterday, a national reporter asked Roethlisberger to compare the two and Roethlisberger started with Tomlin:
“He’s still a really good guy,” Roethlisberger said. “I haven’t seen him scream or yell. He likes to have fun with the guys and I think the guys are more receptive to that. They feel more comfortable being able to communicate with that type of coaching. I think he knows how to get across to the guys the best way and he’s doing a good job.”
On Cowher
“Well, coach Cowher, like I said, I was only here a couple years with him and he was The Chin. He wasn’t that for no reason. He was a Hall of Fame coach and it was a great honor to be able to play for him.”
Day II highlights
– Rookie punter Dan Sepulveda launched several impressive punts, and Tomlin, when asked about it, said, “He better.”
– Play of the Day: Roethlisberger floated an out pass to Hines Ward and cornerback Deshea Townsend leaped in front of Ward to intercept the high pass and return it for a touchdown.
– Undrafted rookie running back Paul Mosley incurred the wrath of new running backs coach Kirby Wilson, who threw his hat to the ground and cursed at Mosley. Said one long-time team observer: “That’s the first hat thrown by the Steelers’ running backs coach in over a quarter of a century.”
– The relentless Chris Hoke bull-rushed tackle Brandon Torrey back into quarterback Brian St. Pierre’s lap to force an interception by Mike Lorello. “Hoke may be the real reason Faneca’s not here,” quipped a reporter.
– A flea-flicker from Najeh Davenport back to Roethlisberger resulted in a long touchdown pass to Santonio Holmes, who beat rookie William Gay.