Reed the only kick in offense

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1 Reed the only kick in offense Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Reed the only kick in offense Kicker converts four field goals, the final one from 47 yards with :04 left, as Roethlisberger and company sputter in win vs. Minnesota Sunday, August 24, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana Despite the efforts of Lawrence Timmons, Minnesota's Adrian Peterson soars over the pile to score from 1 yard out in the second quarter last night in the Metrodome. MINNEAPOLIS -- The Steelers played indoors under a fabric roof made of Teflon, yet their first-team offense looked as if it were playing beneath a wet blanket. It took prized rookie Rashard Mendenhall to breathe some kind of life into an otherwise lifeless Steelers offense last night, but even that was spoiled when he lost two fumbles. Yet the Steelers defense played its best game, and backup quarterback Byron Leftwich led a late drive that ended with Jeff Reed's fourth field goal, from 47 yards with four seconds left, to lift the Steelers to a victory at the Metrodome. Mendenhall had runs of 21, 18 and 16 yards in the second half and had 79 yards on 15 carries. But one of his fumbles led to the only touchdown of the game, and the other came on a first-down run after he reached the Vikings' 25 late in the fourth quarter. He also lost a previous fumble this preseason. "It's something we were concerned about, something we made him aware of,'' Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said. "It's part of being a ball-totter in the National Football League. It's a little different and he sensed that. He has the skill set to be successful but the prerequisite is ball security and he has to shore up that element of his game." The Steelers' first teams played their most extensive stretch in their third preseason game against the Vikings, and their No. 1 offense got bogged down against the NFL's No. 1 defense against the rush last season. With both teams using first stringers throughout the first half, the Steelers' defense put on a better show, but they were undershadowed by an offense that produced just 76 yards on seven series. Reed kicked field goals of 35, 43 and 37 yards before his winner. Adrian Peterson ran for a 1-yard touchdown and Ryan Longwell added a 37-yard field goal for the Vikings. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, near perfect in two brief appearances before last night, completed 10 of 17 passes in the first half for 65 yards and was sacked twice. The running game did little as well with Willie Parker running 10 times for 18 of the Steelers' 26 yards on the ground for the first unit. Next Game: Steelers vs. Carolina Panthers in preseason finale. When: 7 p.m. Thursday. Where: Heinz Field. TV: KDKA & FSN Pittsburgh.

2 Reed the only kick in offense Page 2 of 2 Mendenhall covered nearly that much on one sweet 21-yard run in the third quarter, and followed later in that quarter with an 18-yarder against Minnesota's backups. Of note: Rosters must be down to 75 by Tuesday. It was a bittersweet night for the rookie back. "This league isn't easy,'' Mendenhall said. "It definitely feels good to contribute, that's what they brought me in for and I want to do that." As to what happened on the two fumbles, Mendenhall said, "I'm not real sure, it just came out and hit the ground. It never should have happened." Roethlisberger never threw a deep pass in his full half of work. The first deep pass was not delivered until Leftwich dropped back from the 44 and pitched one incomplete to Willie Reid at the goal line. Leftwich played all of the second half as the Steelers seemed to want to get him ready for the regular season. He completed 16 of 23 for 129 yards, including his final one of 11 yards to Dallas Baker that set up Reed for the winning kick. Tomlin said he stuck with Leftwich the entire second half because, "We thought at the time the situations were invaluable... part of his growth and development as a Steeler." The Steelers' first offense was sluggish in its first half of play with Roethlisberger often having to throw under heavy pressure and throwing short passes when he did have the chance. Roethlisberger threw away a third-down pass under pressure from Jared Allen to end the first series and had to go to some short, quick passes on the second series. The Vikings broke a scoreless tie early in the second quarter when Peterson dived high and in from 1 yard away. After the play, cornerback Ike Taylor took a swing at a Vikings player and was flagged 15 yards for it. Minnesota quarterback Gus Frerotte, a native of Ford City, completed four passes on his team's first scoring drive that came at the Steelers' 47 when Mendenhall lost his first fumble. The big play on the scoring drive came from the 29. Linebacker Larry Foote left the game with what appears to be a minor knee injury, and on the first play in which Lawrence Timmons replaced him, Frerotte went right after the young linebacker. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe beat Timmons down the middle and Frerotte hit him for a 26-yard completion to the 3 on the final play of the first quarter. Reed kicked a 35-yard field goal at 6:40 of the second quarter but the Steelers' scoring "drive" left a lot to be desired. Taylor redeemed himself for his earlier penalty when he intercepted a Frerotte pass in the second quarter to give his offense the ball at Minnesota's 34. A 9-yard Willie Parker run and a 12-yard facemask penalty committed against Parker by Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson were the only big plays of the drive. The penalty gave the Steelers a first down at the 12, but a quick pass to a slanting Santonio Holmes was slightly behind him for an incompletion, Parker was crushed by 375-pound tackle Pat Williams for a 4-yard loss on a screen pass, and Roethlisberger threw inside as Nate Washington leaned to the outside for another incompletion. The half ended with Minnesota ahead, 7-3. HOW DID THEY DO? A look at key Steelers defensive numbers in their first three preseason games. Did they show the hoped-for improvement last night when the first team played about a half? Stat G1 G2 G3 Points First-half points First downs Net yards Yards play Sacks Time of poss.30:29 31:23 23:37 The Vikings stretched their lead to 10-3 when Longwell kicked a 37-yard field goal with 10:06 to go in the third quarter. Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on August 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

3 Steelers Notebook: Offensive playbook altered? Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Offensive playbook altered? Sunday, August 24, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette MINNEAPOLIS -- Did Mike Mularkey sneak back into the offensive coordinator's seat for a few plays last night? It certainly looked like one of those wicky-whacky calls from the 2002, 2003 seasons. Instead, this was coordinator Bruce Arians who had quarterback Ben Roethlisberger split wide ala Hines Ward twice in the first quarter and had halfback Willie Parker take a direct snap from center and run with the ball. One came on first down at the Steelers 45 on their second offensive series. Roethlisberger split wide right and Parker took the snap and ran for 5 yards. The second occurred on the first play of their third series, from their 19. This time, Roethlisberger lined up on the left and ran in motion to the right. Parker took the snap and gained nothing. Foote injury Linebacker Larry Foote left in the first quarter with a knee injury. Coach Mike Tomlin said afterward he does not think it is a major injury, but Foote will have tests in Pittsburgh to make sure. Tomlin return Tomlin returned to his previous coaching office, the Metrodome, for the first time last night. He served one year as the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator before the Steelers hired him as their coach in He arrived last night a bit more experienced head coach. He explained the difference a year made. "The reality is that I have a better understanding of the men that I work with, strengths and weaknesses. I'm probably more focused on specific areas of our football team's development as opposed to last year when I was looking at everything. "You probably don't miss as much when you have a focused attention to what it is you're looking at as opposed to watching the whole thing." Polamalu in uniform Troy Polamalu dressed for a game for the first time this preseason, but did not play. Tyrone Carter started his third consecutive game at strong safety. Polamalu put in a virtual full week of practice, starting Tuesday. He came off the physically unable to perform list that day after recovering from a hamstring injury that kept him out of the entire Saint Vincent training camp. Polamalu did not work with the first team all last week. Offensive line depth The Steelers have developed some good depth in their offensive line. It appears Justin Hartwig will start at center. If so, his two backups, veteran Sean Mahan and second-year player Darnell Stapleton, can each play guard and center. While Stapleton, an undrafted rookie last year from Rutgers, has little experience, he has shown coaches he can play. "He is quietly a very effective football player,'' Tomlin said. "Sometimes you say he's a good little football player, but he's 310 pounds. He plays with great leverage. He's football smart. He has position flexibility. He's a guy who always is in the hunt and probably will be up until the 11th hour." They also have two veteran tackles. Max Starks, who started two seasons at right tackle before Willie Colon beat him out last year, can play either side. Trai Essex can play either side, plus guard. Quick hits

4 Steelers Notebook: Offensive playbook altered? Page 2 of 2 The Steelers did not dress four injured players last night: punter Daniel Sepulveda, quarterback Charlie Batch, tight end Cody Boyd and rookie linebacker Mike Humpal.... Rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall was the lone deep man on the opening kickoff and returned it 25 yards.... Tight end Heath Miller finally had a pass thrown to him in a game, and it came on the first play. He caught it for 5 yards.... Santonio Holmes returned his first punt, and ran it back 10 yards. Mewelde Moore was back there for the second punt, but Holmes was back for the third. First published on August 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

5 NFL Notebook: Texans WR has fracture Page 1 of 1 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL NFL Notebook: Texans WR has fracture Williams will have vertebra surgery Sunday, August 24, 2008 From wire dispatches Injured Houston Texans receiver Harry Williams will have surgery today to repair a neck vertebra he fractured in a preseason game Friday night. Williams, 26, was hurt early in the Texans' loss to the host Dallas Cowboys when he collided with teammate Nick Ferguson while covering a kick return. Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher and an ambulance took him to Presbyterian Hospital. Team doctor Walter Lowe said early yesterday that Williams had regained feeling in his extremities and most of his normal neurological function. Later in the day, Houston coach Gary Kubiak said Williams' condition hadn't changed and that family members had joined him in Dallas and that the Texans would update Williams' condition today. "He's in good spirits," Kubiak said. Redskins Offensive line coach Joe Bugel worked a preseason game last night at Carolina, two days after his daughter died from a rare form of bone cancer. A team spokesperson said a private funeral was held for Holly Bugel Friday in Arizona. Joe Bugel flew on Redskins owner Daniel Snyder's private plane. Coach Jim Zorn said football has served as a welcome outlet for Bugel. His daughter, who was 36, was diagnosed with cancer three years ago. Browns Quarterback Brady Quinn was lackluster in his first NFL start and depleted Cleveland was roughed up for the second time in a week. Quinn was 14 of 24 for 106 yards as the host Detroit Lions won, Quinn did not have a score, turnover or a pass longer than 16 yards, playing in place of Derek Anderson. Packers Quarterback Aaron Rodgers went from pathetic one week to just about perfect the next. Brett Favre's replacement bounced back from a bad game to complete 18 of 22 passes for 193 yards and a touchdown in the Packers' win at Denver Friday night. First published on August 24, 2008 at 12:00 am

6 Steelers defense 'kicks' Vikings - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers raise intensity against Vikings By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, August 24, 2008 MINNEAPOLIS Apparently no one wanted to answer to outside linebacker James Harrison. Seeing its most (and probably last) extensive action of the preseason Saturday, the Steelers defense played with the kind of urgency and intensity that Harrison said - well, huffed is more like it -- had been noticeably absent during the team s first two exhibition games. The Vikings managed just one touchdown in the almost three quarters they played against the Steelers first-team defense. And the Steelers dominated the line of scrimmage, shutting down Minnesota s running back tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor while sacking quarterback Gus Frerotte three times in a win over the Vikings in front of a sellout crowd of 62,625. Jeff Reed kicked a 47-yard field goal at the end of the game to deliver the victory. Unfortunately for the Steelers (2-1 in preseason games), their offense hardly put on a clinic as it mostly sputtered amidst the ear-splitting noise inside the Metrodome. And its struggles probably left Mike Tomlin rubbing his temples more than anything in what amounted to something of a homecoming for the Steelers coach. The Steelers couldn t establish the run Saturday night and quarterback Ben Roethlisberger probably had to sidestep Minnesota s pass rush too many times for Tomlin s liking. We wanted to control the ball and move it a little bit and play grimy football and make sure we controlled time of possession, said Tomlin, who served as a defensive coordinator for the Vikings before becoming coach of the Steelers. We expected it to be a close, hard-fought game that was going to be decided in the fourth quarter. Willie Parker rushed for just 18 yards on 10 carries Saturday night but at least the Pro Bowler hung onto the ball. Rookie first-round pick Rashard Mendenhall fumbled on his second carry of the game - the first of two he had Saturday -- and the Vikings recovered the loose ball at the Steelers 47-yard line late in the first quarter.

7 Steelers defense 'kicks' Vikings - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 Frerotte, starting for the injured Tarvaris Jackson, completed three straight passes, moving the Vikings inside the Steelers 5-yard line. And Peterson broke a scoreless by diving into the end from the 1-yard line. The Steelers went three and out on their ensuing possession but Ike Taylor gave them excellent position when he intercepted a Frerotte pass at Minnesota s 34-yard line. The offense netted only 18 yards during a nine-play drive and the Steelers had to settle for a 35-yard field goal by Jeff Reed. The Steelers only have one more exhibition game before the start of the regular season. And the starters on both sides of the ball figure to play sparingly Thursday night when the Panthers visit Heinz Field. Roethlisberger completed 10 of 17 passes against the Vikings but he managed just 65 yards passing. The top three Steelers wide receivers combined for two catches for 17 yards. Santonio Holmes did not have a reception. Harrison and fellow outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley each sacked Frerotte while defensive end Aaron Smith also recorded a take down of the Ford City native. We came out with a totally different attitude, Harrison said. Not laid back and just going out there to get our plays. We did a lot better than we have in the previous two preseason games. We did what we had to do in this third preseason. I feel a lot better. The news was not all good on the defensive side of the ball as starting inside linebacker Larry Foote left the game in the first quarter with a knee injury and did not return. Tomlin said he didn t think the injury was serious. In the second half, Mendenhall rushed for 75 of his game-high 79 yards but he lost another fumble with the Steelers trailing by a point late in the fourth quarter and driving. Reed, however, bailed him out with the game-winning field goal that came with less than four seconds to play. He does have great running instincts and cutting ability," Tomlin said of Mendenhall. "But fundamentals of being a pro and understanding how guys are going to go after the ball in this league is big. What happened to him validates what we ve been talking about since he s been here. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

8 Harris: Steelers' defense looks ready to go - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Steelers' defense looks ready to go By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, August 24, 2008 MINNEAPOLIS What a difference a game plan makes. As advertised, the Steelers promised to pretend that Saturday night's preseason game against the Minnesota Vikings was actually a regular-season contest. No more plain-vanilla defense. More like tutti-frutti. Starting with a steady diet of Aaron Smith terrorizing Minnesota's backfield. Smith, the starting left end, looked as quick and strong as he did at any point last season before suffering a biceps injury that caused him to miss the final four games. He had three tackles and one sack in the first quarter. Led by Smith, the Steelers limited Minnesota to 13 yards on its first eight plays. On Minnesota's opening drive, the Steelers' different looks confused the Vikings, who were called for three false starts and were forced to punt after failing to convert on third and 23. During that series, second-year linebacker Lawrence Timmons, becoming more and more of a fixture in the rotation, flanked out wide to his left and shadowed receiver Aundrae Allison. The Steelers were most dangerous when they had only two defensive linemen on the field, Smith and right end Brett Keisel. The formation worked best in obvious passing situations, which was a tribute to the Steelers and their ability to stifle dangerous running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson never got untracked. He leaped over the top of the defense for a 1- yard touchdown in the second quarter following a Rashard Mendenhall fumble at the Steelers' 47. Faced with a short field, the Steelers couldn't shut down Minnesota's short passing game and failed to keep the Vikings out of the end zone. Still, the Steelers provided evidence that they learned a lesson from last week's

9 Harris: Steelers' defense looks ready to go - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 loss to Buffalo. Their defense aggressively attacked the ball but did so within the confines of the system. When Peterson attempted to run wide left on first and goal, the Steelers remained in their lanes and strung out the play. Safety Tyrone Carter and Timmons pushed Peterson out of bounds for a 3-yard loss. In the second quarter, cornerback Ike Taylor jumped a sideline route and intercepted Gus Frerotte's pass intended for Sidney Rice, giving the Steelers a first down deep in Minnesota territory. The turnover gift-wrapped a Jeff Reed field goal that sliced Minnesota's lead to 7-3 while providing more than enough evidence that the regular season can't start soon enough for the Steelers' defense. John Harris can be reached at jharris@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

10 Steelers returning to Holmes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 Steelers returning to Holmes By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, August 24, 2008 Mike Tomlin has been reluctant to use Santonio Holmes as a punt returner because the Steelers coach said he wants the third-year pro to concentrate on playing wide receiver. Holmes, however, said returning punts would actually enhance his play at wide receiver and not compromise what he can do as one of the top deep threats in the NFL. "It's just a football player's thing that you can't really describe," Holmes said, "but it's one of those things that the more times you touch the ball, the earlier you get involved, the more focused you are throughout the whole game." Holmes, who got a turn returning punts Saturday night against the Vikings, can make a strong case can as to why he should be involved in an area of special teams where the Steelers struggled last season. Holmes averaged 10.2 yards per return his rookie season -- the 6.1 yards the Steelers averaged on punt returns in 2007 ranked near the bottom of the NFL -- and he is a threat to break a big play any time he touches the football. Perhaps the most compelling argument that can be made for Holmes returning punts is this: he is hardly struggling at wide receiver. The former first-round pick led the NFL in yards per catch (18.1) last season, and in the Steelers' first two preseason games Holmes made the most of the limited time he spent on the field. He caught a 40-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Ben Roethlisberger in the Steelers' loss to the Bills on Aug. 14. A week earlier, Holmes and Roethlisberger showed just how in sync they have been during the preseason. Both players read blitz on a play early in the Steelers' win over the visiting Eagles and Holmes cut short his route. Roethlisberger hit the 5-11, 192- pounder in the flat and Holmes made perennial Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins miss badly on the way to a 19-yard touchdown. "He understands what I'm looking for and we put a lot of work in this offseason, just him and I, on the field," Roethlisberger said of the connection he and Holmes have established. "Just the smallest things. I even asked him 'If you're wide open where do you want the ball? Do you want it up around your

11 Steelers returning to Holmes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 shoulder? Do you want it in your stomach?' " Holmes, who caught 52 passes for 945 yards and eight touchdowns last season, rarely has a problem getting open. A big reason for that is his route-running ability, which is something that left rookie wide receiver Limas Sweed in awe when he first started practicing with the Steelers. "I didn't understand coming from college how you can make four (different) routes look the same for about 10 to 12 yards or 10 to 15 yards," Sweed said. "That's what he's able to do and stay smooth and fluid. It's something I'm working on right now." Sweed calls Holmes a "master of disguise," and the latter has made it clear he would like to be a a master of punt returns, as well. He starred in that aspect of the game at Ohio State, and his rookie season included a 65-yard punt return for a touchdown against Carolina. Tomlin will ultimately make the call as to whether Holmes gets the opportunity to return punts. One argument he presumably can't make against is that Holmes has not developed enough as a wide receiver to taken on additional responsibilities. "When he told me he needs me back there to make a play for the team I told him I'd jump back there any time," Holmes said. "It's just a different phase of the game that allows me to be more of a football player, getting the opportunity to make plays and doing as much as I can for the team." Best of the rest Santonio Holmes is one of a number of options the Steelers have as far as punt returners. Here are the others: Mewelde Moore, RB. Former Vikings player has a career punt return average of 10.2 yards, and Steelers signed Moore during the offseason to bolster their kick return game. Eddie Drummond, WR. Pittsburgh native made the Pro Bowl as a return man in 2004 and has four career punt returns for touchdowns. Penn State product said he is healthy after an injury-plagued season in 2007 with the Chiefs. Willie Reid, WR third-round pick has been a disappointment as a return man and is battling to make the 53-man roster. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or

12 Steelers returning to Holmes - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 3 of 3 Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

13 Polamalu held out as precaution - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 2 Polamalu held out as precaution By Scott Brown TRIBUNE-REVIEW Sunday, August 24, 2008 MINNEAPOLIS -- Troy Polamalu took part in pre-game warm-ups, but the Steelers strong safety did not play Saturday night against the Vikings. Polamalu, who missed all of training camp with a hamstring problem, started practicing last week. The Steelers, however, held the four-time Pro Bowler out of action Saturday as a precaution. Polamalu only has one more chance to play in an exhibition game before the start of the regular season. The Steelers host the Carolina Panthers on Thursday. Tyrone Carter started in place of Polamalu at strong safety against the Vikings. Deshea Townsend, who missed the Steelers' Aug. 14 exhibition game in Toronto because of a minor groin problem, started at left cornerback for the Steelers. Tight end Cody Boyd (shoulder) and linebacker Mike Humpal (stinger) did not play. Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson did not play against the Steelers because of a sprained knee. Ford City native Gus Frerotte started in Jackson's place. Freakish ability Steelers outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley played for the first time last night against Vikings running back Adrian Peterson. He had seen why Peterson finished second in the NFL in rushing last season (1,341 yards) and won offensive rookie of the year honors even before the two entered the professional ranks. Woodley and Peterson were among the players that worked out at the API training center in Tempe, Ariz., prior to the 2007 NFL draft. "He was a real cool guy," Woodley said. "During workouts, he took it seriously. Every day he came in he committed himself to be the best and as you saw last year, he came out and had an excellent year."

14 Polamalu held out as precaution - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 2 That excellent year included the 6-foot-1, 217-pound Peterson setting an NFL record by rushing for 296 yards in a game against the San Diego Chargers. "Physical freak, workout freak, he has that attitude," Woodley said of Peterson. "He loves to win and loves to compete." No worries Heath Miller established career-highs in catches (47), receiving yards (566) and touchdowns (seven) last season. The fourth-year tight end hadn't caught a pass entering the Steelers' third preseason game last night. Not that Miller had any concern about his lack of involvement in the passing game. "Coverage always dictates where the ball goes and I've only been on the field for 20 to 25 snaps," Miller said, "so that's not even half of a game in the regular season." Extra points Cuts are looming as NFL rosters have to be trimmed to 75 players Tuesday. The Steelers have 81 players on their roster, though they only have to make five moves since wide receiver Marvin Allen, an England native, is part of the NFL's international program and is only eligible for the practice squad.... Dan Mozes, a former Washington High and West Virginia standout, is trying to make the Vikings as a reserve offensive lineman. Mozes, who missed all of last season because of a serious knee injury, is No. 3 in Minnesota's depth chart at center.... A moment of silence was held before the game for Gene Upshaw, a Pro Football Hall of Famer, who died unexpectedly last week. Upshaw was the head of the players' union at the time of his death.... Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, James Harrison and James Farrior served as captains for the Steelers at the pre-game coin toss. Scott Brown can be reached at sbrown@tribweb.com or Images and text copyright 2008 by The Tribune-Review Publishing Co. Reproduction or reuse prohibited without written consent from PghTrib.com

15 .: Print Version :. Page 1 of 2 Print Page Sunday AUGUST 24, 2008 :: Last modified: Sunday, August 24, :23 AM EDT Reed's late kick leads Steelers By The Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS Mike Tomlin has moved on, but Minnesota s defense hasn t lost its edge. The Vikings kept the pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, surrounded Willie Parker and held Pittsburgh s starting offense to three points Saturday before the Steelers rallied after halftime for a victory. Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, the last a 37-yarder with 4 seconds left. Minnesota held out quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (knee) and receivers Bernard Berrian (toe) and Sidney Rice (illness), giving Gus Frerotte more than 2½ quarters to run the show in the third preseason game viewed by coaches as the most important. One impressive season as the Vikings defensive coordinator, plus some slick interviewing skills, was enough to get Tomlin hired last year as Pittsburgh s third head coach since From the visiting team s sideline, Tomlin watched his old players put some punishing hits on Roethlisberger and limit Parker to 18 yards on 10 carries. Missing mainstay guard Alan Faneca after 10 standout seasons, the Steelers offensive line didn t protect very well. Justin Hartwig, fighting Sean Mahan for the job at center, started in the middle. Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams had consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the series before Williams ran down rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and forced a fumble that Tyrell Johnson recovered near midfield. Williams and Jared Allen charged at Roethlisberger so hard on one pass late in the first half that they smashed into each other and rolled around in pain for a few seconds before walking off equally relieved and amused. Roethlisberger, who signed an eight-year contract extension in March worth up to $102 million, completed 10 of 17 passes for 65 yards, mostly to tight end Heath Miller. Byron Leftwich played the entire second half and drove Pittsburgh into position for Reed s winning kick. The Steelers slyly threw a trick formation into the video library of future opponents, when Roethlisberger lined up as a wide receiver and twice Parker took a direct snap. On a drive late in the fourth quarter, with Pittsburgh trailing by one point, Mendenhall who totaled 79 yards on 15 carries fumbled again. Erin Henderson recovered at the Minnesota 25. Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu wanted to play, but he didn t. A hamstring injury kept him out of practice until this week. Another starter, linebacker Larry Foote, hurt his left knee in the first quarter and didn t return.

16 .: Print Version :. Page 2 of 2 Adrian Peterson leaped for a 1-yard touchdown run in the second quarter for the Vikings. With Berrian and Rice in shorts and T-shirts on the sideline, Aundrae Allison caught five passes for 56 yards for Minnesota. Wide receiver Robert Ferguson injured his right leg playing special teams, though, and hobbled off the field. Pittsburgh s defense was pretty good, too, limiting Peterson to 21 yards on 12 carries. The Vikings rushed 12 times for a mere 17 yards in the first half; the offensive line was called for three false start penalties on the first series. Frerotte finished 13-for-19 for 133 yards and one interception.

17 Reed's 4th field goal nets victory Page 1 of 2 Reed's 4th field goal nets victory Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS - Mike Tomlin has moved on, but Minnesota's defense hasn't lost its edge. The Vikings kept the pressure on Ben Roethlisberger, surrounded Willie Parker and held Pittsburgh's starting offense to three points Saturday before the Steelers rallied after halftime for a victory. Jeff Reed kicked four field goals, the last a 37-yarder with 4 seconds left. Minnesota held out quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (knee) and receivers Bernard Berrian (toe) and Sidney Rice (illness), giving Gus Frerotte more than 21/2 quarters to run the show in the third preseason game - viewed by coaches as the most important. One impressive season as the Vikings' defensive coordinator, plus some slick interviewing skills, was enough to get Tomlin hired last year as Pittsburgh's third head coach since From the visiting team's sideline, Tomlin watched his old players put some punishing hits on Roethlisberger and limit Parker to 18 yards on 10 carries. Missing mainstay guard Alan Faneca after 10 standout seasons, the Steelers' offensive line didn't protect very well. Justin Hartwig, fighting Sean Mahan for the job at center, started in the middle. Ray Edwards and Kevin Williams had consecutive sacks in the second quarter, the series before Williams ran down rookie running back Rashard Mendenhall and forced a fumble that Tyrell Johnson recovered near midfield. Williams and Jared Allen charged at Roethlisberger so hard on one pass late in the first half that they smashed into each other and rolled around in pain for a few seconds before walking off relieved and amused. Roethlisberger, who signed an eight-year contract extension in March worth up to $102 million, completed 10 of 17 passes for 65 yards, mostly to tight end Heath Miller. Byron Leftwich played the entire second half and drove Pittsburgh into position for Reed's winning kick. The Steelers slyly threw a trick formation into the video library of future opponents, when Roethlisberger lined up as a wide receiver and twice Parker took a direct snap. On a drive late in the fourth quarter, with Pittsburgh trailing by one point, Mendenhall - who totaled 79 yards on 15 carries - fumbled again. Erin Henderson recovered at the Minnesota 25. Steelers Pro Bowl safety Troy Polamalu wanted to play, but he didn't. A hamstring injury kept him out of practice until early this week. Another starter, linebacker Larry Foote, hurt his knee in early and didn't return. Adrian Peterson leaped for a 1-yard TD run in the second quarter for the Vikings. With Berrian and Rice in shorts and T-shirts on the sideline, Aundrae Allison caught five passes for 56

18 Reed's 4th field goal nets victory Page 2 of 2 yards for Minnesota. Wide receiver Robert Ferguson injured his right leg playing special teams, though, and hobbled off the field. Pittsburgh's defense was pretty good, too, limiting Peterson to 21 yards on 12 carries. The Vikings rushed 12 times for a mere 17 yards in the first half; the offensive line was called for three false start penalties on the first series. Frerotte finished 13-for-19 for 133 yards and one interception. Copyright Observer Publishing Co.

19 Steelers' Ward says players must do too much Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers' Ward says players must do too much Saturday, August 23, 2008 By Ed Bouchette, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Peter Diana/Post-Gazette Hines Ward jokes with Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin during the final afternoon summer camp workout at St. Vincent College. Ward would like to see the NFL lighten the players' workout load. The Steelers' first teams will get their most extensive look tonight when they play the Minnesota Vikings in Minneapolis. That's fine with Hines Ward, but he thinks somewhere along the line the NFL should reduce the amount of football its players must endure, either in the preseason or the offseason. "It's long, monotonous, especially with OTAs," said Ward, entering his 11th NFL season. "You do all those OTAs, why not cut back on the preseason games?" Organized team activities, or OTAs for short, are those voluntary practices and meetings each NFL team now conducts throughout the spring, usually from late April through early June. Each team is permitted 14 OTAs, plus a five-practice required minicamp spread over three days. With all the spring workouts, Ward believes the players no longer need four preseason games to get ready for the regular season. He says three would be perfect. "Either cut back on the preseason games or cut back on OTAs," Ward suggested. Ward is aware that in order to reduce the number of preseason games, the owners would need to make up the revenue some other way. Since he does not advocate lengthening the season from its current 16 games, he says the alternative is to scale back what the players do in the spring. "They say the OTAs are voluntary," Ward said. "But, really, they're mandatory. You can say it's voluntary if you want, but it doesn't look good when you're not here. So many big people make a big deal if a guy's not here. If you make such a big deal about it, it's... voluntary! It should be every guy's choice if he wants to come back." It was pointed out to Ward that both Troy Polamalu and Casey Hampton skipped the spring drills except for the required minicamp. Tonight Game: Steelers at Minnesota Vikings. When: 8 p.m. Blog: Blog 'n' Gold TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5) and Steelers Radio Network. "Yeah, but if Troy, Casey, myself, Ben, Willie all stay away, now it becomes a problem," Ward said. "To me, it's mandatory. The preseason starts in April or May and goes all the way to now. Now it gets kind of monotonous; you see the same old plays, you run the same offense. I get tired going against Deshea. I've been going against Deshea for 11 years from May on out." When Ward and cornerback Deshea Townsend joined the Steelers as draft picks in 1998, there wasn't so much football. "You didn't have as many OTAs,'' Ward said. "When I was a rookie, we had a rookie minicamp and a smaller minicamp. You didn't see the veteran guys until the first week of June for a four-five-day camp. That's the way it used to be."

20 Steelers' Ward says players must do too much Page 2 of 2 Having said that, Ward believes coach Mike Tomlin takes care of his older veterans better than do some other coaches, including Cleveland's Romeo Crennel. Defensive end Orpheus Roye, signed by the Steelers last week after he was released early this year by the Browns, told Ward that Tomlin goes easier on his veterans. "He said their coach beat them up in training camp and, by time they got to the season, in the fourth quarters they were beat up, physically and mentally drained," Ward said. "Coach Tomlin has been good about it. "Camp was good. He didn't really cut back, but some of the veteran guys he let off some days. He's been looking out for, I guess, those 30 and above. It's the same football. Myself, Potsie [James Farrior], James [Harrison], Deshea -- we've been running the same plays since day one, there's no need to grind through it. We've been in this league so long, I think we know what it takes to be mentally tough. It's the young guys, those are the guys he really pushes." Ward said he is looking forward to the extended play he and his fellow first-teams will see tonight in Minnesota. "It's probably the best preparation we're going to get before the regular season. You want to get the guys going on a 10- or 12 play drive. If I have my clothes on, I'm ready to play. I don't want to come out of the game. But you have to be smart about it." By that he meant not pushing the first-teamers to the extent they are exposed to injury more than necessary. The Steelers saw what can occur in the preseason when backup quarterback Charlie Batch's right collarbone was broken in the first preseason game. "Charlie's a quality backup who has been around. That could easily have been me or Ben or anybody who plays a vital role on this team. "If two starting guys get hurt on your team, that can cause a different outcome for your season. Imagine if we lose Ben or Troy in the preseason, the state of the Steelers probably would go a little crazy. So you have to be smart in situations. You do have to take precautions. You don't want to overwork your guys in games that don't really count." Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com. First published on August 23, 2008 at 12:00 am

21 Steelers Notebook: Holmes forges bond with Roethlisberger Page 1 of 2 SPORTS / STEELERS & NFL Steelers Notebook: Holmes forges bond with Roethlisberger Saturday, August 23, 2008 By Ed Bouchette and Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Santonio Holmes has played four series, or less than half a game in the preseason, yet has done more damage than anyone else. He has three catches, two touchdowns and an average of 24 yards a reception. The bond between him and his quarterback grows stronger. The communication between Holmes and Ben Roethlisberger never has been better. In the first game against Philadelphia, Roethlisberger sensed a blitz, and Holmes knew what his quarterback wanted to do, even though it wasn't in the playbook. Instead of running a slant, Holmes stayed put near the sideline on the left. Roethlisberger wheeled quickly that way, threw him a strike, and Holmes left a safety flat-footed on way to a 19-yard touchdown. Against Buffalo, Roethlisberger hit Hines Ward on a 24-yard slant over the middle in which Holmes also flashed open. "I told him the first time we ran that play that I had an opportunity to run past the guy," Holmes said. "He came back into the huddle and told me, 'go deep.'" Roethlisberger hit him in the end zone with a 40-yard strike. "He trusts me," Holmes said. "I trust him to put the ball where it's supposed to be." Roethlisberger said it's a natural progression. "It's just working together. I understand where he's going to be; he understands what I'm looking for. We put a lot of work in this offseason, just him and me on the field. The smallest questions you can ask him: If you're wide open, where do you want the ball? Up around your shoulders? In your stomach? Just little things like that, and I think it's paid off so far." Holmes led all NFL receivers with an average of 18.2 yards per catch on 52 receptions, and he caught eight touchdown passes. He missed three games with injuries. "I want to play 16 games this year,'' Holmes said. "That's my biggest goal this year, and the numbers and the yards will speak for themselves." Townsend switches sides One of the subtle defensive changes being implemented this season has cornerback Deshea Townsend moving permanently from the right side to the left side to take more advantage of his ability to read combination routes. The switch, which was used in the playoff loss to Jacksonville last season, means Ike Taylor will line up mostly against the split end and will cover more single-receiver routes. "It's a little bit more responsibility," Townsend said. "I get a little bit more run responsibility because most people run to the tight end." Even when Townsend moves into the slot in the nickel defense, Taylor will stay on the right side and Bryant McFadden will play at left corner as the fifth defensive back. Rookie makes an impression Cornerback Roy Lewis, an undrafted rookie from Washington, never had played safety until coach Mike Tomlin began to use him there a couple weeks ago. The reason: Lewis has impressed Tomlin and the coaching staff with his physical style, and they want to see if he has what Tomlin calls "position flexibility."

22 Steelers Notebook: Holmes forges bond with Roethlisberger Page 2 of 2 "I think it's great," Lewis said of the opportunity. "The more you can do, the more you can contribute in any shape or form, the more you have a chance to make this ballclub." Lewis (5-10, 190) was a linebacker in high school and a cornerback with the Huskies. "It's a different read, a different mentality," Lewis said of the safety position. "You're more like the commander back there, the quarterback of the defense. It gives you an opportunity to lay a hat on people." First published on August 23, 2008 at 12:00 am

23 Tomlin, Vikings safety share past - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 1 of 3 Steelers coach, Vikings safety share history By John Harris TRIBUNE-REVIEW Saturday, August 23, 2008 They will meet and greet each other before and after tonight's preseason game at the Metrodome. Steelers coach Mike Tomlin and Minnesota Vikings safety Darren Sharper are fierce rivals as well as loyal friends. They've known each other since their youth in Virginia -- Tomlin growing up in the Tidewater area and Sharper, raised in Richmond, about 100 miles away. It is probably safe to say that no NFL player knows what makes Tomlin tick better than Sharper, a four-time Pro Bowler who will face Tomlin's Steelers for the first time since Tomlin left the Vikings to accept his first head-coaching job. Former college teammates separated by four years (Tomlin, 36, is older), they are eager for another opportunity to rekindle their friendship while renewing their rivalry. "I'm proud of him, just the same way he's proud of me and my career," said Sharper, who leads all active NFL players with 53 career interceptions. "Darren is a pro," said Tomlin, who was Sharper's teammate for two seasons at William & Mary. "He's one of the best in the world at what he does." Those two seasons in college helped shaped their relationship as well as established a bond that has flourished through the years. It all started with Tomlin, a veteran wide receiver, calling out Sharper, a young, defensive back, during practice. "When we were at school, you could always see how (Tomlin) knew how to push a certain button on a player,'' said Sharper, a 12-year veteran who will start at strong safety tonight. "Whether it was challenging me in practice -- he would be running off at the mouth, saying I couldn't cover him. That was his way of motivating me to continue to work." Tomlin chuckled at the recollection. "My motivational tactics were a little different when we were younger," Tomlin said. "I used to get after him a little bit, but it was all in the spirit of competition." Sharper said Tomlin was born to be a head coach. In 1995, William & Mary

24 Tomlin, Vikings safety share past - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review Page 2 of 3 faced rival VMI, which featured a new receivers coach fresh out of college: Tomlin. It was just like old times, Sharper said. "He was coaching the receivers," Sharper said. "He came trotting on the field, and he was just like the same old Mike like he was running out to do one-onone drills against me, saying, 'We're gonna own you guys today!' "VMI probably played one of the better games they played all year. That's probably because of the way Mike had those guys thinking that they could beat us." Said Tomlin of VMI's 27-7 loss to William & Mary: "It was the sickest feeling I have ever had as a football coach. I was a young guy. I gave all I had to give to William & Mary. I was the captain of that team the year before. It was a sick feeling to see that team come out of the locker room and me not be a part of it." Tomlin and Sharper were reunited in 2006 with the Vikings when Tomlin became defensive coordinator. Minnesota finished No. 1 against the run and eighth in total defense while not allowing a 100-yard rusher the entire season. Sharper tied for the team lead with four interceptions and ranked fourth with 93 tackles, his highest total since "It was an adjustment early on, because I was so used to thinking about him as a college teammate," Sharper said. "He made the transition easy -- his knowledge of the game, how he talked to the players and how he was able to motivate them. He commanded respect, just how he carried himself." Tomlin said coaching his former college teammate was business as usual. "I've always viewed myself as a mentor to Darren, even when we were playing together," Tomlin said. "It was a pleasure to coach that guy. I've learned to separate business from personal life. It probably was a little awkward for him because, you know, that's my friend. But, for me, when we're at the job, I viewed him as Sharper, the safety of the Vikings." Even in tonight's preseason game, Sharper anticipates the Steelers will display some of the traits that resulted in a playoff berth in Tomlin's first season. "I definitely expect for his team to have a better year than last year," Sharper said. "They went to the playoffs and played well. He did a great job in his first year as head coach, but he expects for them to do more. That's how Mike is. I expect, even though it's a preseason game, he'll have his guys ready to come out and play well. Mike's going to be himself no matter if it's his first year, 10th year or 30th year."