The Steelers parked their cranky offensive thingamajig in their South Side garage over the past week. They had a chance to tinker with whatever that was they ran onto the field at Three Rivers Stadium Sept. 3.
Instead, Coach Bill Cowher chose not to.
Cowher's response to his offense's dreadful performance in a 16-0 opening loss to Baltimore was not an overhaul, but a tightening of the bolts. He emphasized fundamentals and the basics during their off week of practices, and a search for continuity.
He will stay with Kent Graham as his starting quarterback, stay with his idea of using Kordell Stewart in short-yardage situations and make no lineup changes not forced by health issues.
Even so, they all hope that what they saw against Baltimore is not what they'll get again in Cleveland on Sunday.
"We just have to keep plugging away," Cowher said. "There are some positive things we're doing. We're just not able to do things consistently or make big plays that can be a turning point. It's a game of momentum, a fine line."
The Steelers' momentum has been shooting backwards. They have lost 17 of their past 22 games. But they have not abandoned hope that an offense that produced its lowest rushing totals in 18 years will soon energize.
They note that they have a deep, talented backfield, a good, young group of receivers, an offensive line that should solidify into a good one, a solid tight end, and a veteran quarterback who has won with two previous teams.
That offense looks OK on paper, but it was another story on the artificial turf at Three Rivers Stadium.
"It's one game," halfback Richard Huntley noted. "And that is a good defense we played. I'm not worried about the running game. That's the last thing I'm worried about.
"The only thing I'm worried about is us playing together, getting our continuity together. Once we do that, we're going to be on a whole other level with this offense."
Sea level would be an improvement over where they were in the opener. They managed 223 yards on offense, converted just 4 of 16 third and fourth downs, reached scoring territory just twice and could not put it in, and set up Baltimore's first score on a sack and fumble at their 14. Graham, while sacked only once, was under constant pressure in the first half and was hit as he threw or shortly thereafter.
Huntley and some of his teammates are quick to point out that they have five new starters on offense -- rookie wide receiver Plaxico Burress, right guard Rich Tylski, rookie right tackle Marvel Smith and quarterback Kent Graham. Three who were here last season have not played much lately -- Huntley, Jerome Bettis and Dermontti Dawson.
"It's a new everything," said Huntley. "It's something we have to work on. None of us played together in the preseason, and it's showing. We swapped and moved some people around. We just have to get it together."
But, will they? And how long might that take?
"I think there should be optimism," said tight end Mark Bruener, the closest thing the team has to Mr. Rogers. "We have a lot of talent on our offense, with our wide receivers and offensive line. At every position we have people who can be productive and can make plays."
His reasons for that optimism include Burress and Troy Edwards at wide receiver, the fact it was Graham's first game here and how much harmony they will exude once they begin playing 'N Sync.
"We're getting used to what players are in there," Bruener said, "and the young receivers are understanding more of the offense. We have the players to provide the protection. Marvel started in his first game. I thought Marvel played well.
"Rich Tylski and Marvel need to play more with each other so they can understand what each other is doing and help read each other, in picking up assignments and combination blocks and things like that."
Bruener caught two passes for 27 yards and had a chance at a third but dropped it as safety Rod Woodson hit his arm.
Graham seems to be picking up where Mike Tomczak left off last season, throwing to the tight ends. With Kordell Stewart at quarterback, Bruener caught 10 passes in the first 10 games of 1999.With Tomczak at quarterback, starting in the second half against Cincinnati Nov. 28, Bruener caught eight passes in 3 1/2 games.
Said Bruener: "I think the tight ends are doing a good job of developing confidence in the coordinator as well as the quarterbacks that we can be a threat in the passing game, and we can get open for them. We have some players showing we can catch the football. It's positive and I like it."
Cowher making no lineup changes, despite offensive struggles 
