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Tuesday, October 23, 2001

Compiled by Ed Bouchette

Steelers (4-1) vs. Titans (2-3), 9 p.m. Monday, Heinz Field. TV: WTAE. Radio: WDVE-FM (102.5), WBGG-AM (970).

Opinions may be like noses in that everyone has one. Except the Steelers. They have two. Kendrick Clancy and rookie Casey Hampton are the Steelers' noses, or nose tackles or nose guards, as they are usually called. Of all the players on defense, they have gone virtually unnoticed by everyone but their coaches and teammates, who have more than one good opinion about their play. The two alternate on every series, with Clancy starting, and they are part of a rejuvenated defensive line that has been effective enough that the Steelers' defense ranks No. 2 in the NFL.

"They're doing a damn good job," said DE Kimo von Oelhoffen, who should know since he played the position last season. "Nose guard is a grind. It's a hard position to play because you're always pushing against one or two people, and that takes a lot of energy. Nose guard in this defense is the key. You have to have a good nose guard. If the nose guard is not good, the linebackers won't make plays. They're going to get blocked."

Clancy and Hampton have different styles and bodies. Both stand 6 feet 1, but Clancy weighs 289 and Hampton 315. Because Hampton was the team's first-round draft pick, it seemed only a matter of time before he would be playing the position full time, but the coaches prefer their alternating system.

"It keeps them fresh," said defensive coordinator Tim Lewis. "Most teams have one center and a backup. If you can keep putting a fast guy, a strong guy, a fast guy, a strong guy back-to-back, you can see what it's doing to centers. It's wearing them down a little bit. We have the ability to switch. We do every other series. We're coming off full speed and they don't quite get their breath. That's what's neat."

When FS Lee Flowers talks, coaches cringe. Flowers has been outspoken for years, but he might have been at his best when he ripped the Buccaneers Sunday for, of all things, talking too much.

"I'm tired of all those guys who talk all the time," Flowers said after the game. "They ain't nothing but paper champions."

The Buccaneers aren't in the same division as the Steelers or even the same conference, but in a scheduling quirk, the Steelers have to return to Tampa Bay to play them next season. Lewis laughed at Flowers' comments, which were played often on ESPN's "SportsCenter" yesterday.

"If you listen to Lethon long enough, he'll tell you pretty much anything. He's an interesting bird."

As Flowers so graphically showed, the bulletin board has reappeared as part of the psychological approach for NFL teams. The Cleveland Browns used a comment last week by Baltimore Coach Brian Billick to fire themselves up. Billick also mentioned a Steelers player in his comments:

"Tim Couch is an excellent quarterback, and he's going to have every opportunity to show if he can make those same kind of plays that a Brett Favre did. You're talking about a unique breed of cat. Taking nothing away from Tim Couch, Mark Brunell or Kordell Stewart -- all of those guys we're going to play over the next little bit -- but they have a little ways to go before they push themselves into Brett Favre's level."

Couch went out and leveled the Ravens, throwing two touchdown passes, as the Browns pulled a 24-14 upset. Over the next two weeks, Baltimore plays Brunell's Jaguars and Stewart's Steelers.

In light of the incidents of anthrax being sent through the mail, Coach Bill Cowher has spoken to his players about being vigilant when opening their mail. Players, especially stars such as Jerome Bettis, receive mounds of fan letters that often do not have return addresses.

Bettis, who has never averaged 5.0 yards per carry in any season in his previous eight years in the NFL, has a 5.9-yard per carry average. That's the highest among the 22 rushers in the NFL with at least 300 yards. His 550 yards are third in the NFL behind Curtis Martin at 579 and Edgerrin James at 560. Martin has played six games, James and Bettis five.

Stewart and Tennessee's Steve McNair, who play Monday night in Heinz Field, have the lowest passer ratings of any starters in the AFC. Stewart's is 65.3 and McNair's is 60.9.

LB Joey Porter ranks fourth in the AFC with five sacks and DL Aaron Smith is tied for sixth with four. ... Hines Ward's 31 receptions rank seventh in the AFC. ... Hank Poteat ranks 10th in the AFC with a 9.8-yard average on 18 punt returns. ... The Steelers lead the NFL in rushing, averaging 197.6 yard per game.

The Steelers will have a Football 202 Class for Women at 5:30 p.m. tomorrow at Heinz Field. Those interested should call 412-697-7713 to reserve a spot. The cost of $40 includes food and a gift. Steelers Kris Brown and Tommy Maddox and former Steeler Louis Lipps will conduct skills sessions.