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Wednesday, September 27, 2000

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

The Steelers could have two new starting offensive linemen Sunday in Jacksonville. Center Dermontti Dawson will be listed as questionable this week because of a continuing problem with his left hamstring. Dawson, who missed most of the preseason because of the injury, has played in all three games, but the leg became sore last week and again in the game Sunday. If he cannot start, Roger Duffy will replace him.

Shar Pourdanesh will replace rookie Marvel Smith as the starting right tackle Sunday, but Smith might miss just one game with a sprained knee. "Shar did a very good job stepping in the other day," Coach Bill Cowher said. "He's not a great athlete; he would be the first one to tell you that. At the same time, he is a competitor, he's a tough guy. He finds ways to get it done, not always pretty, but he's effective." Cowher said Smith, who became the first rookie starter to open a season in the line for the Steelers in more than 30 years, will be "day to day" after Sunday. "There's a good chance he'll be back after missing only one game. No surgery is required. The prognosis looks good."

Halfback Richard Huntley (hamstring) and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy (sprained ankle) also will be listed as questionable this week. Halfbacks Jerome Bettis (ribs) and Amos Zereoue (knee) and quarterback Kent Graham (hip) will be listed as probable.

After Hank Poteat returned two punts for 43 yards against Cleveland, he was rewarded by not dressing against Tennessee, even though Cowher had praised his efforts. The Steelers needed Poteat's spot on the active list for an extra lineman, Tom Myslinski, because of the problem with Dawson's hamstring. Unless something changes, Poteat might be out of uniform again in Jacksonville because Dawson is listed as questionable. "It could change," Cowher said. "I can't answer you right now how that's going to unfold. That was the reason, as I told Hank. Hank came off a real good performance in Cleveland. I think he has a chance to be an excellent returner. But he was a luxury I just could not afford to go into the game with last week."

Cowher praised the coaching abilities of Dick LeBeau, his former defensive coordinator who was named Cincinnati's head coach Monday after Bruce Coslet quit. "Dick's a good football coach. He's a laid-back guy and everyone talks about that, but I'll say this about Dick -- Dick's got a little fire in him too. We've had our moments together, and I've seen him work with the defense as well, so he'll do a good job.

"Players will enjoy playing for Dick LeBeau. They're in good hands. The situation is not how he wanted this opportunity to unfold because he's a man of integrity, and I'm sure that he was probably the first one to try and talk Bruce out of walking away, and that's because that's the way Dick is. At the same time, if he's handed this responsibility, he's going to put his heart and soul into it because that's how Dick LeBeau coaches. I've got tremendous respect for him."

The Steelers waived defensive lineman Ernie Brown from their practice squad, leaving them with one spot open on the five-man unit.