Steelers Reveal Some Of Their Redesigned Offense, But Not Much

Tuesday, August 7th 2007, 5:37 pm

By: News On 6

LATROBE, Pa. (AP) _ The Pittsburgh Steelers are using four wide receiver formations in situations they normally run the ball, three tight ends on downs when they usually throw it. New offensive coordinator Bruce Arians promised to diversify and expand Pittsburgh's offense and, so far, he's doing it.

So far, of course, is only one preseason game _ hardly enough time to pass judgment on the wrinkles Arians is installing. Arians didn't reveal a lot, but what he did show off as the Steelers gained 305 yards by halftime illustrated how different this offense could be from that run last season under former coordinator Ken Whisenhunt.

And not only because Arians allowed Ben Roethlisberger to throw downfield to Cedrick Wilson for 55 yards on the second play of the game.

``I'm happy about it,'' wide receiver Hines Ward said. ``We're going to do whatever it takes to win ballgames. If we have to outscore people that's what we're going to do. But don't expect for us to be a run-and-gun offense, because we still have Willie Parker back there.''

Last season, the Steelers finished ninth in the NFL in passing and 10th in rushing, the kind of balance most teams want. It wasn't the balance they sought, because it meant Roethlisberger threw much more than planned as the Steelers constantly fell behind early in games during the first half of the season.

This season, they want that balance to prevent teams from overloading against the run to halt Parker, their 1,400-yard rusher, and give Roethlisberger more options _ and, they hope, more open receivers.

Ward believes he saw a lot of what the Steelers will do in 2002, when Arians was running the Cleveland Browns' offense. Then, Browns quarterback Kelly Holcomb threw for 429 yards and three touchdowns to help Cleveland open a 24-7 lead in a first-round play game at Heinz Field, only to have the Steelers rally and win 36-33 in the final minute.

The Steelers may have won, but Ward was impressed with how Arians got the maximum out of his offense.

``I was watching that game (during the offseason) and, offensively, they did everything possible they should have to win that game,'' Ward said. ``I'm excited about this opportunity and playing under him.''

The balance Arians must strike is working on enough new concepts during game conditions in the preseason without throwing his entire playbook out there for the NFL to see.

``We've got a great group of receivers that can make plays, and he (Arians) is going to put the ball in the air,'' wide receiver Santonio Holmes said.

The Steelers' lone practice Tuesday, their first since last week, was trimmed a half-hour short due to high winds and lightning from an approaching storm. Rain began falling shortly after Tomlin ordered everyone off the field.

``This makes me mad,'' Tomlin said of having to trim practice. ``It'd better rain hard.''

He probably wasn't happy _ a half-hour later, the sun was out again briefly.

Notes: Penguins general manager Ray Shero, assistant GM Chuck Fletcher and other staff members attended camp, sharing lunch with Steelers director of football operations Kevin Colbert, a hockey fan who attends many Penguins games. ... Two-a-day practices resume Wednesday, with a special teams workout set in the morning. Thursday morning's practice is scheduled to be a full practice, with another in the afternoon only two days before Saturday night's home exhibition game against Green Bay. ... Willie Colon, last year's fourth-round pick from Hofstra, worked ahead of Max Starks at RT. Starks played much of the first half Sunday at LT. Tomlin explained it was planned in advance for Colon to get some work with the starters. ... An unusually large number of players were held out of practice: rookie TE Matt Speath (shoulder), LB James Harrison (ribs), LB Larry Foote (ankle), G Alan Faneca (shoulder) and QB Brian St. Pierre (right thumb) among them. Remaining out was first-round draft pick Lawrence Timmons (groin), who hasn't practiced in nearly two weeks. ... OL Sean Mahan, excused from Sunday's game because of a family matter, also didn't practice.