Peter Diana, Post-Gazette Kevan Barlow watches as the first team runs the offense yesterday at Steelers training camp in Latrobe. Click photo for larger image. Today The 2:55 p.m. practice at Saint Vincent is open to the public. The weather forecast calls for a high of 82 with possible shower in the afternoon. Related articles Steelers Notebook: Defense bests offense in 'fun' goal-line drill Slideshow: Camp Tomlin Day Seven Send us your Steelers training camp photos

Willie Parker said he would like to carry the ball even more this season for the Steelers, never mind that he carried 337 times in 2006 -- more times than all but three AFC running backs.

That is not good news for Kevan Barlow, who is still trying to adjust to not being the Willie Parker of his team.

Since entering the NFL in 2001 as a third-round draft choice of the San Francisco 49ers, Barlow has come to training camp as a starter or a player competing to be a starter. But, after signing as a free agent with the team he grew up watching, Barlow is competing, at best, to be Parker's top backup, or, at worst, the third-down back behind Parker and Najeh Davenport.

It is a different role for Barlow, who grew up in Garfield and played at Peabody High School and Pitt. And one to which he is still trying to get acclimated.

"It's definitely difficult when I'm used to being the guy who gets the load, who gets to carry the load," Barlow said. "Now it's funny taking a step back and seeing Willie be that. It's definitely hard for me to deal with that, not being that guy, because I'm a competitor."

The Steelers didn't sign Barlow, 28, in May to challenge Parker, a Pro Bowl selection in 2006 who has rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each of the past two seasons. Nor did they do it because they were seeking someone other than Davenport, who was signed to a two-year contract in the offseason, to be the No. 2 back behind Parker.

Rather, they signed Barlow to provide depth in their backfield, especially when they were unsure if veteran Verron Haynes, their third-down back, would return from season-ending knee surgery -- his third in five seasons. And especially after not drafting a running back in April.

It was a good move by the Steelers. Barlow (6 feet 1, 234 pounds) has started 33 games in the NFL -- 30 with the 49ers -- and has gained 3,984 yards on 1,022 carries in six seasons, an average of nearly 4 yards per carry. In addition to scoring 30 touchdowns, he has caught 144 passes for 1,164 yards -- proof of his value as a third-down receiving back.

"I think the added depth is a plus," Davenport said. "The more guys you have to compete, the better off you become. When you have a lot of different guys who do different things, you pick up different stuff."

Still, after one week of training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, it hasn't made it any easier on Barlow.

"I'm going out there playing, man," said Barlow, who rushed for 2,324 yards and 20 touchdowns in just 15 starts at Pitt. "It's hard for me to play second hand to anyone because I've been a starter my whole career. In my mind, I'm preparing myself mentally like I'm a starting running back. Even though [Parker] is the starter, even though it might not happen, I want to be able to get in there in case something does happen."

Parker said, "If he didn't say that, he don't need to be in this league. That's what I tell guys all the time. If you're not trying to be a starter of the Pittsburgh Steelers, you're in the wrong field. If you're trying to be a third-down back, if you're trying to be a short-yardage back, you're in the wrong game."

Barlow's best season with the 49ers was 2003 when he rushed for 1,024 on 201 carries (5.1-yard average) and scored six touchdowns. Included was a 78-yard touchdown run against the Steelers in a 30-14 victory in San Francisco Nov. 17.

The following year, Barlow started 14 games and rushed for 822 yards and caught a career-high 35 passes, despite missing one game and not starting another because of a concussion. But everything began to spiral downward in 2005.

Barlow missed four of the final five games of the season with a knee injury and was traded in the summer to the New York Jets to make room for rookie Frank Gore. He started just three games with the Jets and did not play in four of the final five games.

The biggest noise he made was when he compared his former 49ers coach, Mike Nolan, to Adolph Hitler, saying he "walks around with a chip on his shoulder, like he's a dictator, like he's Hitler." Barlow quickly apologized for his comments.

Now he is back where it all started, competing with Haynes for the No. 3 back and hoping to recapture some past glory. Despite the presence of Parker and Davenport, Barlow maintains it was a good fit signing with the Steelers.

"It was because of everything in general," Barlow said. "I felt like I could come here and contribute and make some plays. It's fun, it's exciting, to have this competition. Najeh, I played against him in Miami [in college], now I see him in person and get to compete with him.

"I'm just going to try to make most out of it. I know anything can happen. I have to prepare myself mentally and physically to be able to play. If anything happens to Willie or Najeh, I can step in there and make something happen if my number is called on."