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Thursday, September 06, 2001

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

LOOKING AHEAD

Steelers vs. Jaguars, 1p.m. Sunday, Alltel Stadium, Jacksonville, Fla. TV: KDKA. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970) and the Steelers Radio Network

NOTEBOOK

Steelers safety Mike Logan, who played the past four seasons in Jacksonville, has no doubts what Jaguars Coach Tom Coughlin is doing with former Steeler Ainsley Battles this week. "I'm sure they'll ... try to get him for some information on what we do here on offense," Logan said.

Logan, a McKeesport native, has a pretty good idea because he saw what Coughlin did with former Steelers quarterback Jim Miller in 1997. The Jaguars signed Miller, freshly cut by the Steelers, two weeks before they played the Steelers. "They really picked his brain about everything that was going on there," said Logan, a rookie then. "After the game, they cut him the next day. That goes to tell you they used him just for his information."

Coughlin did not let just anybody handle the Miller interrogation, either. Who did?

"Well, the man who is in control of everything down there is Coach Coughlin," Logan said. "And at the time he was running the offense, so he was the guy who picked his brain."

Battles spent his rookie season with the Steelers last year. They waived him on the final cut and Jacksonville claimed him. Logan said it might cause the Steelers to change some of the defensive signals they shout out before a play, but nothing major.

Battles also could provide the Jaguars with some insight on the Steelers' new offense under coordinator Mike Mularkey. They've kept some of that under wraps in their four exhibition games, but Battles could tell the Jaguars some of the things they've done in training camp practices. "I think they'll be able to get some little things, maybe what guys did in practice," Logan said. "Nothing too much."

Asked if the Jaguars were pumping Battles for information, quarterback Mark Brunell said, "We're not stupid around here." Coughlin added, "Maybe on occasion we might ask."

The Jaguars list DE Tony Brackens as out with a knee injury and have three starters as questionable: OT Tony Boselli (knee), CB Fernando Bryant (shoulder) and WR Keenan McCardell (hernia). Steelers CB Chad Scott (knee) and FB Dan Kreider (calf) remain questionable and have not practiced.

otCoughlin said the Steelers aren't the only ones who have been keeping their offense under wraps in the preseason. "I don't think anybody does anything to any degree in the preseason," he said. He has given up the play-calling duties to his new coordinator, Bob Petrino, who was promoted from quarterbacks coach. The past two offensive coordinators under Coughlin left to become head coaches -- Kevin Gilbride to San Diego and Chris Palmer to Cleveland. Both were fired during or after their second years as head coaches. Petrino joined the Jaguars in 1999 after 16 years coaching on the college level.

"We have a number of things we haven't shown, but they'll come out here as we get going," Coughlin said.

Vic Ketchman, a Natrona native and former sports editor of the Irwin Standard Observer, has been Senior Editor of Jaguars Inside Report since the team made its NFL debut in 1995. Even though he runs the team publication, Ketchman has always been a tell-it-like-it-is writer. Apparently, some Jaguars fans have had trouble digesting the news that their team is no longer an AFC front-runner. That moved Ketchman to write the following in his paper's current edition:

"Fans tell me they're beginning to tire of all the bad news. They look at me as though it's my fault. Do they want me to lie to them? OK, everybody's healthy, the salary cap is in great shape, and it looks like this will be the year the Jaguars make it to the Super Bowl."

Logan admitted it will be a different feeling for him playing for the visiting team in Jacksonville for the first time since he broke into pro football with the Jaguars in 1997. "It'll be a little weird for me being on the other sideline, but that's part of this game. You have to get over it and I'm going to be ready to play football." What Logan wants to avoid is getting too geared up to play his former teammates. "You can't do it that way, you can't approach it like that. I can't let exciting feelings overwhelm me and get me off my game."

The Steelers released veteran defensive end Chris Sullivan after they reached an injury settlement with him, but they might not have given up on him. A news release stated that he will be eligible to return to the Steelers after 10 weeks. Sullivan had surgery on a broken right wrist Aug. 2. He signed a three-year, $4.7 million contract last year as a free agent from New England. It included a $1.3 million signing bonus. He had back surgery last summer and started just two games.