Jack Dempsey, Associated Press Because of his innovation and Ben Roethlisberger's maturation, Steelers offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt has been propelled into national prominence among NFL owners looking for head coaches. Click photo for larger image.

DETROIT -- When he sat down for his first interview to become offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt immediately was asked a very simple question by Bill Cowher.

"He said, 'You get this job, we're going to run the ball, right?' " Whisenhunt said. "And I said, 'Yes, sir, we're going to run the ball.' "

From that point on, Whisenhunt has taken control of the Steelers' offense and run with it, all the way to the Super Bowl.

He started by changing the mind-set of a team -- and even a head coach -- who had become enamored with the passing game. Under former offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, the Steelers tried to win riding the arm of Tommy Maddox, a philosophy that was OK for one season but soon reached mind-numbing heights the day they attempted 38 passes in a snowstorm and lost to the New York Jets, 6-0.

Whisenhunt quickly let everyone know those days were over, and he did it the first time the Steelers ran a goal-line drill in training camp in 2004. He called four consecutive running plays.

"Normally, we don't do that, run four straight times," guard Alan Faneca said. "That was part of letting the guys know this is what we're doing and you'd better make it happen."

It would be simplistic to suggest the Steelers' fortunes changed at that moment, that their 15-1 record last season and their amazing ride to Super Bowl XL can be traced to that August night in Latrobe.

But the metamorphosis began that night, set the wheels in motion for the Steelers to recapture an identity that had slowly dissipated over two seasons, almost with each incompletion. And Whisenhunt was behind the transformation.

"I think it's tough on wide receivers to hear that we're going to go into a game and we're going to run the ball and that's going to be our emphasis," center Jeff Hartings said. "I've even said to those guys, it has to be mentally difficult to play every single play when we're running seven out of 10 plays and you might not be getting the ball thrown to you the other three. That's 10 plays in a row where you have no action except blocking or running a route."

		Ken Whisenhunt at a glance In his second season as the Steelers' offensive coordinator. Served as the Steelers' tight ends coach from 2001-04. Improved the Steelers' rushing attack from 31st in the NFL in 2003 to second in 2004. First NFL coaching job was with the Ravens ('97-98) as a tight ends coach. After Baltimore, spent the '99 season coaching the Browns' special teams. Prior to joining the Steelers, was the tight ends coach for the Jets in 2000. Played nine seasons as a tight end/half back for the Falcons ('85-88), Redskins ('89-90) and Jets ('91-93). Caught 62 passes for 601 yards and six TDs. A graduate of Georgia Tech, finished college career ranked second on the Yellow Jackets' all-time receiving yardage list (1,264) and fourth in career receptions (82).

"That's how you control the game," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "It's kind of hard to be a physical ballclub if you're passing the ball all the time. We knew we had to go out and run the ball. When you go out and pass the ball, that creates more opportunities to throw interceptions, and we didn't want to play that role anymore."

The results were as immediate as they were impressive.

The Steelers jumped from No. 31 to No. 2 in rushing in the NFL and became the first AFC team to win 15 games in a regular season. This year, the running totals weren't as high, but the Steelers still finished as the league's fifth-best rushing team and averaged 185 yards during the four-game winning streak that lifted them into the playoffs.

But, as they prepare to meet the Seattle Seahawks, the Steelers' offense hasn't stopped evolving. As teams have ganged up to stop their run, Whisenhunt did something he wouldn't have done last season: He entrusted quarterback Ben Roethlisberger to back teams off the line of scrimmage and beat them with the pass.

And, oh, how he has.

"Last year we re-established the running game," Ward said. "Now we're bringing our passing game up to catch up with our running game, and that's where we are today. We're a balanced offense. We've got the defense on their heels because they don't know what we're doing."

The credit goes to Whisenhunt.

In two years, he has developed the Steelers into one of the most diverse, explosive and productive offenses in the NFL, a unit that is maddening to defend because of the big-play ability of Roethlisberger and the always-present threat of hammering the opposition with the run.

The Steelers have averaged nearly 29 points a game during their seven-game winning streak and have scored on 13 of 28 possessions in the playoffs.

"I think the biggest thing was getting them to believe that was absolutely what we were going to do, getting them to buy into it," Whisenhunt said. "That all starts with coach Cowher sticking to our guns about our plan and what you want to do and being consistent with these guys."

Whisenhunt has been a mastermind, especially in the playoffs.

After falling behind, 10-0 and 17-7, in Cincinnati, he pulled out a gadget play that resulted in a 43-yard touchdown from Roethlisberger to Cedrick Wilson to highlight a 24-point run.

In Indianapolis, he put in a special play to tight end Heath Miller that resulted in a 36-yard completion on the second play of the game, immediately setting the tone for what would be a 21-18 victory.

And, in the AFC championship game in Denver, Whisenhunt put in two plays he thought could work against the Broncos' defensive scheme, one that resulted in Roethlisberger's pump-fake 12-yard touchdown to Wilson, the other a 12-yard touchdown run by Jerome Bettis that was negated by a penalty.

"The game plan he put together for Denver was phenomenal," Wilson said. "I don't know how far he went back to understand their defensive philosophy and how they wanted to attack us. But, by him knowing what they wanted to do, he was able to pick out two or three plays that, when they got in certain defenses, they were going to be touchdowns. It was just a great game plan."

All part of a 34-17 victory that has landed the Steelers in Detroit. And landed the offensive coordinator overtures from other NFL teams about becoming a head coach.

"We're not one-dimensional," Ward said. "Good teams can go out and run and pass, and we have that."

Thanks to Whisenhunt.How the Steelers' offense matches up

In 2005 the Steelers' offense ranked 15th in the NFL in yards per game, however, it ranked fifth in rushing yards per contest.