Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Santonio Holmes picks up yardage after one of his four receptions yesterday vs. the Cardinals in his pro debut. Click photo for larger image.

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- As they hoped back in April when they drafted them, two rookies led the Steelers' receivers in a 21-13 loss to Arizona yesterday.

Santonio Holmes and Willie Reid, the team's first-round and third-round draft picks, each caught four passes among the 19 receptions by the Steelers.

None went for big yardage, totaling 62 between them, but coach Bill Cowher gave them a good grade in their first test.

"I thought they did some good things. I think both those kids will get better and better. I was pleased from the sideline watching it. I think Santonio made some nice catches in the first half. I'm very pleased with it."

One third-down pass, a slant from Shane Boyd deep into Cardinals territory, slipped off the outstretched hands of Holmes and was intercepted by linebacker Gerald Hayes.

Cowher said it was a bad pass. Holmes said it was high, though he should have caught it.

"It was very exciting, getting an opportunity to step on this playing level, the NFL," Holmes said. "I have a couple things I need to adjust, but overall I feel I had a pretty good day."

Cowher unhappy

Cowher was not happy with the blocking, particularly by his second team.

"There was a lot of [mental errors] we had, particularly in the running game. That second group, we had a lot of guys coming free. You have to sit down and look at it. We did not game plan, but that's no excuse. Just going out there and running basic plays, we should be able to execute."

The Steelers rushed for only 72 yards on 23 carries (3.1 per carry). Boyd led them with four scrambles for 16 yards.

Rookie halfback Cedric Humes, though, turned a screen pass from Omar Jacobs into a 33-yard gain to the 2 that set up Jacobs' 1-yard loping pass to tight end Isaac Smolko on third down with 1:25 left. On the previous play, Humes ran up the middle from the 1 and fumbled into the end zone. Teammate Willie Colon recovered, putting the ball back on the 1.

Rookie safety stands out

Rookie Anthony Smith, who supposedly is not in the mix with veterans Tyrone Carter and Ryan Clark to start at free safety, tried to put himself there yesterday.

Smith had the team's only interceptions.

"Anthony Smith is a good football player," Cowher said. "He's a very natural free safety. I thought he was one kid who showed up today. Ty and Ryan were fine. We were just really bad on third down today. Our third down was atrocious today on defense."

The Cardinals converted 8 of 13 third-down chances.

Batch steps in

Quarterback Charlie Batch, like Roethlisberger, was 3 of 4 passing, and his 27 yards were two fewer than Roethlisberger. On his first snap, Batch faked a handoff to Duce Staley, dropped back and completed an 18-yard pass to Cedrick Wilson. He then guided the Steelers to a Jeff Reed 48-yard field goal in the first of his two series.

New digs

The Steelers helped christen yet another new NFL stadium when they became the first opponent to play in the Cardinals' new $465-million stadium with the retractable roof and floor.

They played the first game in Detroit's new field and the first regular-season game in new stadiums in Cleveland and Baltimore.

Dan Rooney, the Steelers' chairman who has seen a few NFL stadiums in his time, rated the latest as "a good one, I like it." But ... "It's not as good as Heinz Field.''

The game yesterday was sold out, the Cardinals' first sellout (63,400) since Green Bay helped them fill Sun Devil Stadium on Sept. 24, 2000.

Injury report

Cowher said the Steelers came through the first game without any injuries. Among the Steelers who did not dress were three starters: wide receiver Hines Ward (hamstring), linebacker Joey Porter (knee) and tight end Jerame Tuman (hamstring). The others were wide receiver Isaac West (knee), fullback Branden Joe (hamstring), center Chukky Okobi (neck) and offensive tackle Trai Essex (knee).