2001 STEELERS
	Kordell Stewart's mobility will be on display.
	Head coach: Bill Cowher (10th year). 2000 record: 9-7. AFC Central finish: 3rd. 2001 preseason: 2-1. Season opener: Sept. 9 at Jaguars. Schedule | Depth chart

The Pittsburgh Steelers proved once again this off-season that public relations don't really matter when it comes to professional football in Pittsburgh.

The Steelers cut fan favorites Levon Kirkland and Dermontti Dawson in salary-cap-related moves but kept quarterback Kordell Stewart and made very few changes to the team's passing game, which ranked 29th in the league last year.

A quarterback coach (Tom Clements) was added for the first time in nearly 30 years, and tight end coach Mike Mularkey was promoted to offensive coordinator, but the primary components of one of the league's worst passing games remain intact.

Offense
Quarterbacks: Stewart hasn't looked crisp in camp, but the embattled seventh-year veteran is playing better than he did last preseason, when he lost his job to Kent Graham. In Stewart's defense, the new offense, designed with his mobility in mind, has been kept under wraps as head coach Bill Cowher and Mularkey set their sights on the season opener in Jacksonville. As for the backups, Tee Martin has improved significantly since his rookie season and appears to be a lock for the No. 2 spot. Tommy Maddox was battling Graham for the third spot and has the edge, considering Graham's bloated salary.
Grade: C.

Running backs: Jerome Bettis returns for his ninth NFL season in great shape. His annual preseason knee problems have been minimal this year. He'll be backed up by Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala and Amos Zereoue. Built like Bettis, Fuamatu-Ma'afala will be the team's back on passing downs, while the shifty Zereoue provides a change of pace from Bettis. Fullback has been a problem throughout camp. Jon Witman is not only recovering from a broken leg suffered last season, but his back woes have resurfaced. Dan Kreider, last year's Steelers Rookie of the Year, injured his calf prior to the start of camp and spent time on the physically-unable-to-perform list. Bettis will need one of the two fullbacks to remain healthy in order to perform effectively between the tackles.
Grade: B-plus.

Receivers: Cowher declared Hines Ward the starting flanker, thereby moving Troy Edwards back to split end, where he'll compete with Plaxico Burress. Edwards has played so poorly he wasn't a certainty to make the final roster. Bobby Shaw, the team's slot receiver, also had a poor camp, dropping several passes and showing a lack of toughness over the middle. Ward, who's supposed to be too small and too slow, has been the only bright spot. The play of the tight ends has been encouraging. Mark Bruener remains one of the best blocking tight ends in the league and has the hands to help the passing game, but he's been an infrequent target. His old position coach, Mularkey, will certainly attempt to change his quarterback's thinking in that regard. The backups, led by Jerame Tuman, are satisfactory.
Grade: C-minus.

Offensive linemen: After an early problem with fumbled snaps, free-agent acquisition Jeff Hartings appears to be making a successful conversion from guard to center. The play of the former Lion in the middle of the line has been above average, and he's also showed enough quickness to get outside, similar to his predecessor, Dawson. Left tackle Wayne Gandy has become one of the team's leaders, while left guard Alan Faneca continues to carve out a solid reputation as a run blocker. Right guard Rich Tylski is a steady veteran, but second-year right tackle Marvel Smith played poorly early in camp. Larry Tharpe provides the line with its only depth at tackle, while rookie center Chukky Okobi has been impressive backing up Hartings, sparking talk that Hartings could be moved back to guard next year.
Grade: B.

		Imagine the Steelers without Jerome Bettis. Take him out of the equation. The ability of Kordell Stewart to play better and more consistently is vital, but for them to win and be competitive, they need a big season from "The Bus." The AFC Central is one of the best divisions in football because the teams have the ability to run and stop the run in the division. Stewart has to play more consistently, but he can?t play consistently if Bettis isn't in the backfield with him. The one, Bettis, precedes the other.

Defense
Defensive linemen: Rookie Casey Hampton appears as though he'll indeed follow in the footsteps of former Steelers nose tackle Joel Steed. Hampton, the team's top pick in the 2001 draft, will eventually move into the starting lineup and provide the Steelers with the run-stuffing cog they've missed since Steed retired in 1999. Until Hampton is ready to crack the starting lineup, Cowher will use second-year veteran Kendrick Clancy, a 283-pounder with quickness and balance. In drafting Hampton, the Steelers were able to push Kimo von Oelhoffen to his more natural position -- defensive end -- where he should generate the pass rush that's been missing from the Steelers' defensive line since Ray Seals played that role in 1995, the season the Steelers last made it to the Super Bowl. Left end Aaron Smith continues to develop rapidly entering his third season. Now weighing around 300 pounds, Smith showed off his strength in the second preseason game by sacking the massive Daunte Culpepper with one arm. Smith also showed his quickness by running down a Vikings' option play from behind. The quality of the Steelers' depth along the line depends on the development of Clancy and another second-year player, Chris Combs.
Grade: C-plus.

Linebackers: The departure of Kirkland forced the Steelers to add veteran free agent Mike Jones and draft Kendrell Bell in the second round. Jones was supposed to bridge the gap between Kirkland and Bell, but Bell's outstanding preseason play may hasten the move and force Jones into becoming a specialist on passing downs. Veteran Earl Holmes moves from the more free-wheeling right inside linebacker spot to Kirkland's old "buck" backer spot, where Holmes will be assigned to cover tight ends. On the outside, Jason Gildon and Joey Porter are playing well enough to improve upon last season's combined sack total of 24. The top backups are dependable -- John Fiala on the inside and second-year man Clark Haggans on the outside.
Grade: B-plus.

Defensive backs: Cornerbacks Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington were given contract extensions prior to camp, and both have provided solid coverage. In fact, at times during camp, Scott's play has bordered on the spectacular. However, he sprained his right medial collateral ligament on Aug. 25, and his status for the regular-season opener was unknown at presstime. At free safety, veteran Brent Alexander appears to have fought off the challenge of free-agent addition Mike Logan, who's more athletic but may be of better use as a play maker in the dime alignment. Strong safety Lee Flowers provides solid coverage skills and toughness as a run defender. The top backup at cornerback the last few years has been Deshea Townsend, but Hank Poteat is quickly gaining ground in his second year.
Grade: B.

Special teams
The kickers are exceptional. Kris Brown has made 84.7 percent of his field-goal attempts (50-of-59) in two years, while punter Josh Miller believes he can reach his target goal of a 40-yard net average. Poteat gives the team its best return threat in years, and Bell, who blocked 10 kicks during his sophomore and junior years in college, will play a key role on all special teams.
Grade: A.

Jim Wexell covers the Steelers for Pittsburgh.com.

Material from Pro Football Weekly.
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