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Friday, August 25, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Former Pro Bowl nose tackle Joel Steed retired because of bad knees. Defensive end Orpheus Roye left because the Browns offered him $30 million.
The Steelers replaced them with two free agents who combined for five starts between them. Now, one of them is hurt and might not play for a month.
Is it any wonder, then, that the Steelers' defensive line is considered their Achilles' heel?
Defensive end Kevin Henry, the only familiar face, offers a contrary opinion. He believes the Steelers might be better than last season with Kimo von Oelhoffen at nose tackle and Chris Sullivan at left end when he returns to play.
"I think it can be," said Henry, who makes his first appearance tonight after missing all of training camp after knee surgery. "Joel is definitely going to be missed. But I think with Kimo in there, I don't think we'll miss much at all. Kimo's strong, he's fast, he's quick off the ball. He has all the tools to be a dominant nose tackle in this league."
The Bengals bounced von Oelhoffen between end and nose tackle after awarding the starting nose tackle job to Oliver Gibson, a backup to Steed with the Steelers.
Sullivan has not started a game since 1998, although he played in all 16 for the Patriots last year. He had back surgery last week and will miss 2 to 4 weeks, according to Coach Bill Cowher.
"Chris Sullivan is like a perfectionist," Henry said. "He works hard. I have to admit coming in, I didn't know anything about this guy. I'm like, he's going to be our starting left end? I was kind of skeptical about him. But seeing how hard he's practiced, and he's technique-sound, I don't see why he wasn't signed before we got him."
While Sullivan is out, Aaron Smith will replace him at left end. If he can't handle it, the Steelers have a few options. They can put Henry and von Oelhoffen at the ends and start rookie Kendrick Clancy at nose tackle, or they can try Jeremy Staat at left end.
Henry enters his eighth season with the Steelers, his fifth as a starter. He began practicing this week and will play a few series tonight in Washington. Rookie Chris Combs started the past two games at right end and von Oelhoffen started the first two there.
"These guys are eager to learn," Henry said of his linemates, "and they don't mind asking questions of a guy like me who's been around for a while."
Wright's night
Anthony Wright should get the most time of any quarterback tonight, and he might be showcasing himself for another team. Coach Bill Cowher has said he likely won't keep four quarterbacks. The Steelers believe they can trade one of them, and it appears the one they want to keep is rookie Tee Martin.
Kordell Stewart will start the game and play a few series, followed by Kent Graham and then Wright.
Cowher backs top 2 QBs
Heading into the final exhibition game, Cowher believes both Stewart and Graham have not done as poorly as it has been painted.
"I felt offensively that we took a step forward throwing the football," Cowher said. "I like the decisions that were made for the most part. The fact that we really have not turned the football over -- we had an interception the other day -- I like some of the decision-making that they both have made.
"They both have done some good things. I like where they're at, and I would have liked to have seen more production. Some of it, maybe they could control; some of it, it's not just them. I like where they're both at. They've had good preseasons, relatively speaking."
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