Home >  Sports >  Steelers

Wednesday, January 08, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Steelers (11-5-1) vs. Titans (11-5), 4:30 p.m. Saturday, The Coliseum, Nashville, Tenn. TV: KDKA. Radio: WBGG-AM (970), WDVE-FM (102.5) and the Steelers Radio Network.

Tennessee LB Keith Bulluck called Baptist Hospital the night of Nov. 17, after his hit temporarily paralyzed QB Tommy Maddox, but never did talk to the injured Steelers quarterback. He hasn't exactly stayed up nights thinking about it since then. "No, I don't think much about it at all," Bulluck said. "It was just a play. It was a freak play. He got hurt and he is fine now. He is doing well. He is leading the team, and that play does not even come across my mind."

The Titans earned the No. 2 seed in the AFC as 11-5 champions of the South Division, tying Oakland for the best record in the conference, but they did not put one player in the Pro Bowl. How did that happen? "It must have been the case where the No. 3 seed didn't vote for any of our guys," Titans Coach Jeff Fisher said. The Steelers, who placed three in the Pro Bowl, are the AFC's No. 3 seed.

The Steelers added a big rookie cornerback to their practice squad, but he wouldn't be able to help them in a game until after this weekend, if they make it that far. He might, however, be able to pass along some information on their opponent. Willie Ford, who spent the summer in training with Oakland as an undrafted rookie from Syracuse, spent part of this season on the Titans' practice squad. "He can tell them what he wants," Bulluck said. "They are giving him a paycheck now. They can know all the secrets they want, and we can know all the secrets we want. But, the game is played on the field. You can know it, you just have to stop it."

The Steelers signed Ford for more desperate reasons -- they are thin in their secondary. S Mike Logan is out after having knee surgery, and CB Chad Scott is questionable with a broken hand. The Steelers elevated 5-9 Erik Totten from their practice squad to their 53-man roster this week. Any other roster move would have to wait until after their game against Tennessee because teams in the playoffs are permitted just one move a week.

Logan had ligament and cartilage repaired Monday, which amazed Fisher because Logan was injured after intercepting a pass Sunday against Cleveland but did not stop running, weaving across the field through traffic. "I have never seen a play like that in a ballgame. where a player injured his knee to the extent that he did and then got up and ran another 40 to 50 yards," Fisher said. "It shows how important winning is and how important the game is, and what the game meant to Mike and that club. It was very impressive."

Cowher said Logan, who was placed on injured reserve, should be fine for next season. "He has been an integral part of us being where we are today," he said. "We will miss him."

If Scott cannot play, the Steelers will tap further into their depth for players to man their dime passing defense than they have all season. Scott and Logan regularly play in the dime, which uses six men in the secondary. Hank Poteat already has been forced into action, and Chidi Iwuoma or Chris Hope would be next in line. They also could use a nickel defense, keeping LB Kendrell Bell on the field and going with five backs. But then, Bell is questionable as well.

Cowher wouldn't rule out using one of his receivers if he had to. "I don't know if I would have Plaxico Burress bump-and-running," Cowher said. "Maybe Antwaan Randle El could do that."

Burress was on the field playing a deep safety on the final play Sunday when the Steelers thought the Browns might throw a Hail Mary pass.

Asked what he thought about so many fans leaving Heinz Field early Sunday, Cowher said: "I don't think we win that game on the road. There was an energy that we pulled from that stadium the other day, and that is what makes this place a very special place to play."

WR Kevin Dyson, who caught eight passes for 87 yards and two touchdowns against the Steelers in the Titans' 31-23 victory Nov. 17, is on injured reserve with a torn hamstring. Drew Bennett and Justin McCareins replace him. Bennett is a more polished receiver, and McCareins has more speed. "I think that's something that we're going to miss," said Tennessee QB Steve McNair. "But other guys have to step up."

Bill Cowher and Jeff Fisher, once the league's two youngest coaches, look longer in the tooth this season. Both decided to let their beards grow. Cowher's began in the summer, and Fisher's when his team opened the season 1-4. "I thought Bill Cowher had one when he was winning games, so I thought I would give it a shot," Fisher said.

Who has the best beard? "You guys are going to have to make that decision after the ballgame," Fisher answered.

Mindful of his team's injuries on defense, its short work week, its game on the road and its underdog status to the Titans, Cowher closed his news conference yesterday by saying, "We will go down there with our drum, flute and flag and see what happens."