The Steelers are starting the second quarter of the season and there's been no Antwaan Randle El at quarterback, no direct snap to Hines Ward, no guards hiking the ball, no halfback passes, nor any handoff-pitchback to the quarterback.

Matt Freed, Post-Gazette Antwaan Randle El: No throwing, just catching. Click photo for larger image. More Steelers News: Ed Bouchette's NFL Notebook: Cruel and unusual If you go: Steelers vs. Browns INJURY REPORT SUNDAY'S GAMES: 10/10/04

Before you know it, Halloween will arrive before the Steelers pull off their first trick play.

What in the name of Wicky Wacky is going on here?

"It just doesn't seem like the situation has arisen to call that play yet," said Ken Whisenhunt.

He's the new offensive coordinator, who replaced Mike Mularkey when Wicky Wacky Junior took his game to Buffalo as the Bills' head coach and, not surprisingly, hired Sam (the original Wicky Wacky) Wyche as his quarterbacks coach. Mularkey, as Steelers coordinator the past three years, did not need a situation to call a trick play. His offense was Tricks R Us.

Things have cooled off in that department, even though Whisenhunt and Mularkey were close pals and both former tight ends coaches who shared a lot of their philosophies. The most involved play under Whisenhunt came last week, when quarterback Ben Roethlisberger handed off to halfback Duce Staley, who handed off to wide receiver Hines Ward.

Today, the Steelers (3-1) play the Cleveland Browns (2-2) at 1 p.m. at Heinz Field and the trick plays are overdue.

"We have those things in," Whisenhunt said. "We practice them. It's still in our package, we just haven't run them yet. So much of those kinds of plays and those kinds of situations are a feel for how the game's going. Maybe it's because this is my first time doing it, I don't know."

	Matt Freed, Post-Gazette You know it's a new season and a different offensive era: versatile Hines Ward has only been catching passes, not throwing them. Click photo for larger image.

It's Whisenhunt's first time as coordinator, quarterbacks coach Mark Whipple's first job in the NFL, and Roethlisberger's first season in the league. They're all teaching and learning from each other; maybe you can't teach young dogs old tricks.

"Mike liked it," Whisenhunt said. "I think that may have been influenced by where he came up in football, with Sam Wyche. He was looking to call it.

"I got an appreciation of it, from being around Mike. There's some value to it, we hit some big plays here. Some of it has to do with me being comfortable with my situation and this offense. As I get more experience, some of those things we'll do a little more often."

Ward, for one, doesn't care if he's ever involved in a trick play again.

"I don't miss it. I don't want to be known as the gadget guy, whatever, or playing quarterback. I really just want to focus on being a wideout and getting better. We're 3-1 without it, why do it? If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

.....Ward had 33 carries the past three seasons under Mularkey. He picked up 10 yards on his reverse against the Bengals last Sunday, his only carry of the season.

Randle El completed 10 of 12 passes the past two seasons, but is growing antsy that he hasn't thrown one this year.

"We have a whole lot of stuff -- we just haven't opened up the whole can," Randle El said. "It's a matter of time. "

	TELLTALE SIGNS Sure signs that the trickery of previous seasons has been toned down can be seen in the peripheral stats of the team's primary trick-play stars Hines Ward and Antwaan Randle El. Hines Ward Career Stat 2004 42 Carries 1 350 Yards 10 8.3 Yards/carry 10.0 Antwaan Randle El Career Stat 2004 12 Pass attempts 0 10 Completions 0 51 Yards 0 0 Touchdowns 0 At the moment, new coordinator Whisenhunt and new quarterbacks coach Whipple want to get rookie quarterback Roethlisberger up to speed. They're all in it for the first time and so far, so good since the Steelers are 2-0 with Roethlisberger as their starter. The rookie threw his past 46 passes, two for touchdowns, without an interception. "We really worked a lot harder on doing things he's good at, simplifying the packages," Whisenhunt said. "We're probably not doing as many things, trying to streamline. "He's made some good plays himself, and that's worked out. That's been a lot easier because he's made some plays. He's gotten out of the pocket a couple times and made some throws. He's done a good job." It's not exactly improvisation on Roethlisberger's part; it's more following the course in an unplanned manner. Both of his touchdown passes came with him rolling to his right,flushed out of the pocket. The most recent occurred last Sunday when the Bengals blitzed seven. Roethlisberger has thrown on the run since his high school days and values it as a weapon. "I actually like it better, being out of the pocket. I think it brings more to my game. I think it's tougher on defenses because they don't know if you're going to run or pass. It gives you more options, it's harder for people to cover. "If you're smart and you get out of the pocket, I think you can be a lot more dangerous. Look at Mike Vick, for instance. People like that who get out of the pocket can create more. It's deadly, it's dangerous." Who needs more trick plays when your quarterback is already performing them? First published on October 10, 2004 at 12:00 am Ed Bouchette can be reached at ebouchette@post-gazette.com or 412-263-3878.