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Sunday, August 13, 2000 By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer
Two new players joined practice with the Steelers at St. Vincent College yesterday afternoon.
One was a new running back. The other was linebacker Gabe Northern, who has been sleeping in the Rooney Hall dormitory, eating team meals, attending all the meetings and then watching all their practices.
Northern signed as a free agent in June after starting at linebacker the past two seasons in Buffalo. He was supposed to serve as their top backup outside or possibly give Joey Porter a run for his money at right outside linebacker.
Instead, Northern is fighting for a roster spot because injuries to his hamstrings have caused him to miss every practice except two short-lived ones.
"I don't know if I have to fight for a spot," Northern said, "but I'll treat it like I do. I'm not taking anything light, not taking anything for granted.
"I hope with the signing bonus they gave me, they don't plan on cutting me. I got four good years under my belt, and I plan on making five and six be here and I plan on having them be good years."
The Steelers would have to keep five outside linebackers for Northern to stay, and they normally keep four. Porter and Jason Gildon are the starters and Mike Vrabel and rookie Clark Haggans seem to have the team made as the backups. Chad Kelsay can play inside and outside.
Defensive coordinator Tim Lewis said if Northern is to make the team, "he has to play well."
"Right now," Lewis said, "[Vrabel] and [Haggans] have done nothing to disappoint. They've done everything to show they can play in the NFL. So, there's a tremendous battle, tremendous competition and hopefully the cream will rise to the top."
Lewis said it's up to Coach Bill Cowher to determine how many linebackers make the club.
"I know Gabe Northern can play in the NFL. I've seen him.
"I've seen video tape of him, I've seen him as a starter in the NFL."
Finally, he began seeing him on the practice field at Latrobe.
Homegrown talent
The new running back is Lloyd Clemons, who grew up 35 minutes from Latrobe in Indiana. He is Indiana Area High School's all-time leading rusher, which is saying something since former AFL great Jim Nance played there.
The Steelers need help at halfback because Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala has two cracked ribs from Thursday night's game and joined Jerome Bettis and Richard Huntley on the sideline.
Clemons, an undrafted rookie, spent less than a week in Baltimore's training camp before he was cut. He led Michigan State with 959 yards rushing last year. He is 5-11, 210 and will wear No. 37.
Walking wounded
Bettis is scheduled to resume practice tomorrow and could play against the Colts Saturday night in Mexico City after missing the past two exhibition games. He has been out with a bone bruise in his knee.
Center Dermontti Dawson, who has missed most of camp with a hamstring injury, was running on the hill at St. Vincent and snapping for the quarterbacks in 7-on-7 drills.
"I haven't put a timetable on it right now but he's doing really well, I'll say that," said Cowher.
Another center, Roger Duffy, returned to practice after missing most of camp with a high ankle sprain.
Guard Chris Conrad will travel to Philadelphia to get a second opinion on his sprained neck and for doctors to determine what kind of treatment to follow.
"We're going to take every precaution to do what's in his best interests," Cowher said.
Other injury updates: Richard Huntley, Lee Flowers, Danny Farmer, Tom Myslinski and Hank Poteat remained out but might play in Mexico. Tight end Jerame Tuman will not play because of a hamstring injury. Guard Todd Burger will return to practice today after missing yesterday with an ankle injury. Troy Edwards has a slight groin injury and Plaxico Burress a slight ankle injury, but both practiced.
Quarterback update
Cowher would not say if Kent Graham has closed the gap in competition with Kordell Stewart for the No. 1 job at quarterback.
"We're going to look at it," Cowher said. "I think it's the case right now we just have to get, not just the quarterback, but everything going on the offensive side. We continue to grind away."
Stewart has completed 6 of 22 passes for 109 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Graham has completed 16 of 30 passes for 157 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.
"We had a chance to look at it this morning," Cowher said. "The passing game is a case of everybody clicking as one. All of a sudden you have a breakdown in protection like we've had a couple times, and you start to feel like you have to throw the ball quicker, the receiver feels like they have to shorten their routes, and it screws up the timing. It's a case of just being persistent; you have to play with a lot of trust. That's what we have to get back to, that's what we have to establish, the kind of confidence throwing the football that we do running it.
"It seems like there's always one thing. You talk about trust: Well, I won't run my route as deep because he won't have as long to throw. Then the quarterback has to hold the ball longer because he's not sure what to do. Then it becomes a breakdown in protection because he's holding the ball longer."
I'm innocent
Levon Kirkland said he did nothing wrong when he was penalized for hitting quarterback Jeff Lewis in the head in the first quarter of Thursday night's game against Carolina.
"What it was, was more of a push and it was to his face. If you saw the video, you'd agree it wasn't a late hit."
Tim Lewis, the Steelers' defensive coordinator, disagreed with the flag.
"I wouldn't have called it."
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