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Wednesday, October 30, 2002

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

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

The Steelers' greatest depth is at running back and that will be tested Sunday in Cleveland. Coach Bill Cowher has ruled Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala out for the next two weeks with a torn pectoral muscle that occurred on his last run against Baltimore, and Jerome Bettis is doubtful for the Browns game with a knee sprain.

Amos Zereoue, who ran for the second and third touchdowns of his career Sunday against the Ravens, will get the second regular-season start of his career this week. Rookie Verron Haynes, who was drafted as a fullback, will back up Zereoue and play on some passing downs. Tight end Matt Cushing will also serve as the backup fullback to starter Dan Kreider.

Cowher said there is "an outside chance" for Bettis to play Sunday. He missed the game in Baltimore with a mild sprain to the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. Fuamatu-Ma'afala returned to play Oct. 21 after missing two games with torn rib cartilage. Cowher said he will not make a roster move because of the injuries in his backfield.

The good news is that QB Tommy Maddox is not on the injury list and C Jeff Hartings has been upgraded to questionable. Maddox left the game in the third quarter in Baltimore with a sprained ankle but returned early in the fourth quarter and played the rest of the way. Hartings missed last week's game with knee cartilage damage.

Cushing, re-signed last week after being cut Sept. 24, likely will serve as the No. 2 tight end again. The rest of the injury report: TE Jerame Tuman (thigh) is questionable; DE Rodney Bailey (groin), WR Plaxico Burress (wrist), CB Chidi Iwuoma (knee) and TE John Allred (calf) are probable.

Cowher said it was not a lack of faith in PK Todd Peterson that caused him not to order a field goal try on fourth-and-4 at Baltimore's 20 with just a little more than two minutes left in the game. The Steelers held a 31-18 lead. Tommy Maddox completed a pass to Haynes for no gain and the Ravens took over. "It was a two-touchdown game no matter what. In that situation, the field goal would not create a better situation for you and if you get the first down it is over. That is what the thinking was," Cowher said. He acknowledged that part of the reason was his fear of a blocked field goal and a return.

Cowher noted a recent improvement in the special teams play under Coach Kevin Spencer, particularly the kickoff coverage team. "Our kickoff coverage has been outstanding. I can't give them enough credit. The last two weeks they have set the tempo. If you look at the last three weeks, that kickoff coverage team has set the tempo. You talk about your offense and defense having confidence, now you can sense that with our coverage teams. There is a confidence that exists where they look forward to kicking off. Todd Peterson did a good job. He did a good job the last couple weeks even in practice. I sense him kicking the ball a little bit better. He has kicked the ball well last week. In that kickoff coverage we have taken Chris Hope and Chidi Iwuoma and kind of made them disrupters and everyone else is feeding off of it. Mike Logan and John Fiala had great days the other day. They are playing with a lot of energy. The big kickoff return against Cincinnati, the blocked punt by Joey Porter. The other day Antwaan Randle El gave us another big kickoff return. We are still waiting for that big punt return."

Linebacker Joey Porter is tied for the AFC with four interceptions and tied for second in the conference with six sacks. ... Antwaan Randle El is second in the AFC with an average of 27.7 yards on kickoff returns. ... Hines Ward's six touchdown receptions are still tied for the NFL lead. ... Quarterback Tommy Maddox ranks first in the AFC, throwing a touchdown pass on 7.3 percent of his attempts. He has nine touchdowns on 123 passes.