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Friday, August 04, 2000 By Gerry Dulac, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
The Steelers' defensive line, which did little to conjure memorable performances in 1999, could have five new faces when the regular season begins next month.
Aside from nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen and defensive end Chris Sullivan, who were acquired in free agency, the Steelers could have three rookie linemen make the 53-man roster -- nose tackles Kendrick Clancy and Al Lucas and defensive end Chris Combs.
Coach Bill Cowher said yesterday that he has been so impressed with the rookie trio that he wants to get a better and more extensive look at them tomorrow night against the Miami Dolphins at Three Rivers Stadium.
"I want to see these guys play against the big boys early in the game," Cowher said. "Sometimes you can get misled a little bit when they're playing against the second line. From a five-game [preseason] standpoint, it's going to be good to get a chance to see some of these guys play and see how they respond."
In particular, Cowher wants to get a longer look at Combs, the team's sixth-round draft pick from Duke who has been a training-camp sensation.
Combs probably won't start at right end against the Dolphins, but he will be inserted there early in the first quarter so Cowher can evaluate him with the first-team defense.
Last week, Cowher said Combs might be the best-taught player coming out of college he has ever seen. Yesterday, he expounded on the point, saying Combs combines good technique with great hands.
"When you talk about defensive lineman and all the great ones I've been around, they all have an ability to play with leverage and play with their hands," Cowher said. "They don't stay blocked. You see that and you can develop that. In this league, if you don't use your hands, you're going to get held as a defensive lineman and you're going to complain about it. But that's the nature of it.
"Hand play is so essential in line play -- the ability to get away with using it and to create separation. That's the thing you have to do -- create separation. So many people in college can overpower people sometimes, and up here it's more of a game of leverage and technique. [Combs] is a guy, when you see him play, he looks like one of those guys who's a good leverage player."
Cowher wants to use Combs so he can give von Oelhoffen more time at nose tackle against the Dolphins. Von Oelhoffen played mostly at right defensive end in the 38-10 preseason victory against Dallas.
"We have to start getting Kimo some work on the nose," Cowher said.
Seven won't play
Cowher said center Dermontti Dawson (hamstring), running back Jerome Bettis (knee), defensive end Kevin Henry (knee), linebacker Gabe Northern (groin), center/guard Roger Duffy (ankle), guard Tom Myslinski (groin) and wide receiver Will Blackwell (knee) will not play against the Dolphins.
Running back Richard Huntley, who did not play against the Cowboys because of a strained hamstring, might play.
"We told him we'll bring him back slowly," Cowher said.
Cowher said Amos Zereoue, who had 40 yards on eight carries and turned a screen pass into a 31-yard touchdown against the Cowboys, will get the bulk of the carries with Bettis out and Huntley questionable.
Winning some Battles
Cowher said a player who has attracted his attention -- rather loudly, too -- is rookie safety Ainsley Battles, a free agent from Vanderbilt.
Battles is only 5 feet 10, 190 pounds, but he administered several big hits during training camp. During the practice Wednesday night at Greensburg, Troy Edwards dropped a pass over the middle and braced himself because he saw Battles coming at him.
"Every time you hear pads are popping in practice, somehow you're seeing No. 28 in the middle of it," Cowher said. "I like that. He's kind of making a presence for himself."
Tylski back at RG
Even with Dawson, Duffy and Myslinski out, Cowher said Rich Tylski will start at right guard and stay there against the Dolphins.
Tylski, a free-agent acquisition from Jacksonville, played one series at guard against Dallas then switched to center.
"We don't want Rich to get too far removed from the guard position," Cowher said.
Rookie Hank Fraley, a free agent from Robert Morris who has been a training-camp surprise, will start at center.
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