Troy Edwards seemed to be having a directional problem.
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Steelers wide receiver Troy Edwards takes three Vikings - defensive end Willie Howard, safety Tyrone Carter and defensive end Talance Sawyer - into the end zone in the third quarter. (Lake Fong, Post-Gazette) |
It was one thing that he couldn't find his way into the starting lineup. But he couldn't even find his way to the end zone.
Three Rivers Stadium was still standing the previous time Edwards, a former No. 1 pick, scored a touchdown. Guys like Jason Gildon, Joey Porter, Dewayne Washington and Chad Scott made it to the end zone in the 27 games that have elapsed since the last time Edwards managed to get there. Of course, they're paid to prevent touchdowns, not score them.
"A long time," Edwards said of the drought.
Edwards was the 13th player taken in the 1999 draft, a wide receiver from a small college who once caught 21 passes in a game against Nebraska. He spent so much time in the end zone as a senior he considered having his mail delivered there. In the history of college football, only Jerry Rice caught as many touchdown passes as Edwards (27) at Louisiana Tech in 1998.
But, since Dec. 18, 1999, when he caught a touchdown pass from Mike Tomczak in Kansas City, Edwards has needed a trip-tik to find the end zone.
Yesterday, though, Edwards found his way back to the end zone, and the Steelers couldn't be more thankful. For the second week in a row, it was Edwards who provided the big play in a 21-16 victory against the Minnesota Vikings that allowed the Steelers to improve the AFC's best record to 9-2.
Not only did he end his scoring drought with a 12-yard run on an inside reverse that brought a 14-3 lead. But he also stripped the ball from kick returner Nate Jacquet on the ensuing kickoff that led to the Steelers' final touchdown -- a 4-yard run by Amos Zereoue -- that brought what appeared to be an insurmountable 21-3 lead heading into the final quarter.
"Give him credit," Coach Bill Cowher said. "He made a nice run, a great tackle in the kicking game on the kickoff, he was covering punts, covering kickoffs. I'm very proud of him and I'm very happy for him because he's worked his tail off."
This, though, was different.
Last week, Edwards made the big play in a victory at Tennessee, returning a kickoff 81 yards after the Titans tied the score at 17-17 and leading to the Steelers' winning touchdown.
And two weeks ago in a victory against Jacksonville, he made a big contribution on the winning touchdown pass to Hines Ward when he flattened Jaguars safety Marlon McCree with a devastating block.
Against the Vikings, Edwards did what he was does best, which is making a play merely by getting the ball in his hands. And he did it by doing what few players on the team or even in the NFL can do by stopping at high speed and changing directions.
"I've been saying since day one, Troy is probably the most exciting guy on our team when he gets the ball in his hands," wide receiver Plaxico Burress said. "When he gets the ball, he makes something happen."
Sure, the Steelers needed a few big plays by the defense once the Vikings scored two late touchdowns in the fourth quarter. But Edwards made two big ones in the third quarter that gave the Steelers the cushion they needed, especially when the Vikings scored twice in the final 6:44.
"It just feels good to have the ball in my hand," Edwards said. "Right now, I just feel a part of this team. The first eight games, my name wasn't even mentioned. They weren't even calling plays for me. These last two weeks, it seemed like the team needed me and I responded."
To be sure, offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey had not called the play that produced Edwards' touchdown since the Steelers' victory at Tampa Bay Oct. 21. But, facing third-and-2 at the Vikings' 12 in the third quarter, Mularkey figured it was enough time to dust off the play.
The play is known as a fake crack, in which Edwards, who lines up on the left side of the line of scrimmage, comes in motion toward quarterback Kordell Stewart. The idea is to make the defense think Edwards is coming in motion to block the defensive end or linebacker on a running play to the left.
"Instead, he gets it on the other side," Mularkey said.
When he comes in motion, Edwards starts into the backfield and takes a handoff from Stewart. Then, he gets a block on the other side from tight end Jerame Tuman. Wide receiver Hines Ward and right tackle Marvel Smith lead Edwards around the right side.
"We used the play once before, a long time ago," Edwards said. "We knew [Minnesota] probably had stopped looking at film that far back so we came back with it as a surprise play."
But it wasn't that simple. As Edwards ran to the right, Vikings cornerback Robert Tate came flashing into the play from the left and looked like he might tackle Edwards at the 10. But Edwards has an uncanny ability to stop and cut while running at top speed. When he did, Tate ran by him, and Edwards cut inside for the touchdown.
"There are not too many people who can do what he does with quickness and change of direction," Mularkey said.
"I knew when someone comes against the grain that hard, they can't really stop like I can stop," Edwards said.
Edwards' penchant for making big plays the past three weeks is not going to get him into the starting lineup. But if it helps him get more trips to the end zone, Edwards will accept the tradeoff.
For now.
"You have to look at the receivers we've got," Edwards said. "Who are you going to take out, Plaxico? Plaxico's playing great. Who are you going to take out, Hines? You can't take either one of them out. You have to understand certain things. I want to be the starter but, right now, I'm not. It's just when my number is called, I have to be ready. That's what I been doing the past two or three weeks."
Play of the Game: Edwards' 12-yard touchdown run 
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