CINCINNATI — To make certain his players won’t overlook an 0-6 team that’s starting its Harvard-trained backup quarterback, coach Mike Tomlin reminded his Steelers early in the week about what happened last year.
Last year, the 4-1 Steelers, off a shutout win over Seattle, and a bye week, lost to a struggling Denver team that was coming off its worst home loss in team history.
“He reminded us right off the bat,” said linebacker James Farrior. “He reminded us that we’re doing well now, but we were doing well last year coming off the bye.”
The Steelers are 4-1 and working with a two-game lead in the AFC North Division, but they still have some critical injuries. Marvel Smith will likely sit this game out. He’ll be replaced at left tackle by the best-paid backup in the league, Max Starks. And Willie Parker will sit a third game, and Mewelde Moore will start in his place. Nose tackle Casey Hampton is also looking at missing his third game. He’d be replaced by Chris Hoke, he of the 13-1 record as a starter in regular-season games.
The depth is there for the Steelers. Apparently, so is the focus.
“Oh, definitely,” Farrior said. “We feel we’ve got a good group of core guys who make sure everyone understands that this team can’t be overlooked. We know that they’re going to give us their best shot.”
For the Bengals, it may be their last and only big game of the season. But without Palmer, the Bengals turn to Ryan Fitzpatrick, the fourth-year pro out of Harvard.
Last week against the New York Jets, Fitzpatrick completed 20 of 33 passes for 152 yards without an interception. For the season, he’s thrown one touchdown pass and three interceptions and ranks second on the team with 64 yards rushing on 10 carries.
“He’s definitely a good scrambler in the pocket. That stood out to me,” Farrior said. “And he can throw the ball. I don’t think he understands the offense as well as Carson does; you can tell that. So they’ll probably stress the things he can do, like rollouts, get him on the move, scramble. I don’t expect him to stay in the pocket.”
Fitzpatrick will have at his disposal the three Bengals receivers who led the team to the 2005 AFC North Division title: T.J. Houshmandzadeh leads the team with 38 catches for 400 yards and three touchdowns; Chad Ocho Cinco (formerly Chad Johnson) has 19 catches for 216 yards and a touchdown; and Chris Henry, who only came off the suspended list last week, has one catch for 13 yards.
But this year’s edition of the Bengals’ offense is a shell of that great 2005 unit. The Bengals are dead last in yardage this season. The elbow injury to Palmer is one reason. So, too, perhaps, is the loss of bulldozing tailback Rudi Johnson, who was released Aug. 30 in favor of Chris Perry, a former second-round draft pick who’s stayed healthy long enough this season to rush for 253 yards on 96 carries (2.6 avg.).
“I’m glad he’s gone,” Farrior said of Johnson. “I think he was the toughest runner to tackle on that team. I’m not saying the other backs aren’t good, but he was definitely the hardest one to tackle. Perry has fumbled a couple times, but he’ll run the ball well. (Kenny) Watson’s a pretty good back too. They’ve got two backs who can do the job.”
Defensively, the Bengals allow their typically poor 4.3 yards per carry. Tackle John Thornton is expected back after missing last week’s game. Strong safety Dexter Jackson is also expected to return. Changes from last season include linebackers Dhani Jones (leading tackler) and Keith Rivers (No. 2 tackler), and defensive end Antwan Odom (team-high 2 sacks). But the additions haven’t helped the Bengals win a game yet.
“I really don’t view them as an 0-6 team,” Farrior said. “A lot of things happened in those game at points where the game could’ve gone either way. They just haven’t come up with the right plays at the right time. We have to make sure they don’t make those plays this week, because we know we’ll get their best effort.”
Pro
Steelers won’t overlook Bengals
- Pro
-
-
Pirates pick up fourth straight victory
There were times earlier in his career when James McDonald would run into trouble and innings would slow to a crawl. Even worse, runners would disappear, and not in a good way.
Too much thinking. Not enough attacking. -
Sympathetic Pirates add to Cubs’ slide
Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates can relate to what the Chicago Cubs are going through.
Perhaps more than anyone, they know what it feels like to be on an extended losing streak
– 12 in a row, in the Cubs’ case. -
Hit batsman lifts Pirates over Cubs
Matt Hague was hit by a pitch from Rafael Dolis with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 11th straight loss with a 3-2 victory Saturday night.
Hague took a 96 mph fastball from Dolis (2-4) in the back near the shoulder blade, scoring Jose Tabata and eliciting an incredulous look to the sky by the Cubs reliever. -
Generals return to defeat Sting
It’s been a dramatic month for the Johnstown Generals.
There were two postponed games that left the immediate and long-term future of the franchise in serious doubt just two weeks ago. -
Greater Johnstown Speedway failed to win the support of fans
Back in the late 1950’s, the area stock car racing landscape was populated by a very strong and popular three-track weekend circuit, consisting of the Windber Stadium Speedway, Jennerstown Speedway and the Ebensburg Fairgrounds Speedway.
Thus, it came as a major surprise when the announcement was made that a new track, the Greater Johnstown Speedway, would be built and begin operation in 1958. -
Pirates blank struggling Cubs
A.J. Burnett and four relievers worked out of trouble all game and the Pittsburgh Pirates sent the Chicago Cubs to their 10th straight loss with a 1-0 victory on Friday night.
Burnett (3-2) gave up six hits, struck out six and walked two over
5 1⁄3 innings and the National League’s best bullpen made it stand up as the Pirates extended Chicago starter Ryan Dempster’s misery. Joel Hanrahan worked out of a two-on, one out jam in the ninth for his 11th save. -
Game is chance to honor fallen hero
When Joe Lindway saw the UIFL schedule for the Western Pennsylvania Sting earlier this season, his eyes immediately zeroed in on today’s date.
On Memorial Day weekend, the 38-year-old kicker would get a chance to play at Cambria County War Memorial Arena. -
Generals, Sting set to square off
The show will go on.
Jeff Bollinger, owner of the Johnstown Generals and Western Pennsylvania Sting, has been a busy man over the span of 12 days. Those efforts have gone toward getting the squads on the indoor gridiron tonight. -
Steelers rookie has big shoes to fill
Sean Spence walked toward his locker during his first day as a Pittsburgh Steeler last month, saw the number hanging from the hook and couldn’t quite believe it.
Did the Steelers really give him No. 51, the same number worn by longtime defensive captain James Farrior? -
Pirates’ Harrison showing his versatility
Josh Harrison stood in a hallway deep inside PNC Park on Tuesday afternoon, trying to make his way to the field for batting practice.
One problem. His gloves made the going slow. - More Pro Headlines
-
Man Falls Off Crane, Dies After Police Standoff
Raw Video: Cop Shoots Man Eating Another's Face
Russia Condemns Ally Syria Over Massacre of 108
Raw Video: Earthquake Shakes Evacuees in Italy
Dairy Farm Uses Chiropractor to Help Cows
Unexpected Smog in Pristine National Parks
Air Canada Plane Makes Emergency Landing
New Ticks Spread Across Southeast, Diseases Rise
Bring Your Own Tech Programs Charge Up Students
Pope's Butler Vows to Help Vatican Investigation
Mother of Allegedly Abused Girl Denies Claims
Raw Video: 19 Dead in Qatar Shopping Mall Fire
Service Dogs Help Wash. Soldiers Battling PTSD
Raw Video: Heckler Bursts in on Blair Testimony
Japan Farmers Plant, Seek Radiation-free Rice
Vatican in Chaos After Butler Arrested for Leaks
