Question:

There has been alot of talk about not being as predictable on offense and running out of three and four receiver sets. Do you think this will diminish Dan Kreider's role and are we losing our identity as a power running team?

Russell Bird, Wytheville, Va.

BOUCHETTE: Yes, I do see Kreider's role reduced. If you're running with four wide receivers or three wide and a tight end, there's only room for one back. Now, if you open with three wide receivers, you can still use the fullback without the tight end. However, coordinator Bruce Arians says he wants to use more tight ends and that usually means less of the fullback. He also can put a tight end in the backfield as an h-back, something they've practiced a lot since the spring. Kreider is a great blocker, but the problem is the Steelers do not give him the ball much, in fact hardly at all. That means they are predictable in that sense. With a tight end, say Heath Miller, there's a chance they might throw to him and he also can block. I don't think they're losing their identity, they're just trying to broaden their offense.