Game #
2
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at
Cleveland Browns (0-1) Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008 • 8:15 p.m. (ET) Cleveland Browns Stadium • Cleveland, Ohio
Game #2
Pittsburgh Steelers 2008 Schedule/Results
Pittsburgh Steelers (1-0) at Cleveland Browns (0-1)
Preseason (3-1)
Date: Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008
Friday, Aug. 8
PHILADELPHIA
W, 16-10 (KDKA/FSN Pitt.)
Thursday, Aug. 14
at Buffalo ••
L, 21-24 (KDKA/FSN Pitt.)
Kickoff: 8:15 p.m., ET
Saturday, Aug. 23
at Minnesota
W, 12-10 (CBS)
Site: Cleveland Browns Stadium (73,300) • Cleveland, Ohio
Thursday, Aug. 28
CAROLINA
W, 19-16 (KDKA/FSN Pitt.)
Playing Surface: Grass
Regular Season (1-0)
TV Coverage: NBC-TV (locally WPXI-TV, channel 11) Announcers: Al Michaels (play-by-play) John Madden (color analyst) Andrea Kremer (sideline) Local Radio: Steelers Radio Network WDVE-FM (102.5)/WBGG-AM (970) Announcers: Bill Hillgrove (play-by-play) Tunch Ilkin (color analyst) Craig Wolfley (sideline)
A Look at the Coaches: Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin Overall Regular-season Record: 11-6 (.647)/second season Regular-season Record at Pittsburgh: 11-6 (.647)/second season Playoff Record/Years: 0-1/one year Cleveland Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel Overall Regular-season Record: 20-29 (.408)/fourth season Regular-season Record at Cleveland: 20-29 (.408)/fourth season Playoff Record/Years: n/a
www.steelers.com For all of the most up-to-date information on the Pittsburgh Steelers, visit the team’s official web site at www.steelers.com. Updated daily, the web site has the most extensive information on upcoming games and the most comprehensive news on the Steelers.
Sunday, Sept. 7
HOUSTON
W, 38-17 (CBS)
Sunday, Sept. 14
at Cleveland
8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Sept. 21
at Philadelphia
4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Monday, Sept. 29
BALTIMORE
8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Oct. 5
at Jacksonville
8:15 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Oct. 12
BYE WEEK
Sunday, Oct. 19
at Cincinnati
Sunday, Oct. 26
NEW YORK GIANTS 4:15 p.m. (FOX)
1 p.m. (CBS)
Monday, Nov. 3
at Washington
8:30 p.m. (ESPN)
Sunday, Nov. 9
INDIANAPOLIS
4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Nov. 16
SAN DIEGO •
4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Thursday, Nov. 20
CINCINNATI
8:15 p.m. (NFL Net./KDKA)
Sunday, Nov. 30
at New England • 4:15 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 7
DALLAS •
4:15 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Dec. 14
at Baltimore •
1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 21
at Tennessee •
1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Dec. 28
CLEVELAND •
1 p.m. (CBS)
• Times and TV Network may change due to NFL flexible scheduling •• Game played in Toronto, Canada (Rogers Centre)
Postseason Sat.-Sun., Jan. 3-4
Wild Card Weekend (NBC)
Sat.-Sun., Jan. 10-11
Divisional Playoff Games (CBS & FOX)
Sunday, Jan. 18
Conference Championships (CBS & FOX)
Sunday, Feb. 1
Super Bowl XLIII (Tampa, Fla.) (NBC)
Sunday, Feb. 8
AFC-NFC Pro Bowl (Honolulu, Hawaii) (NBC)
NOTE: All times are Eastern
www.steelers.com
THE COACHES MIKE TOMLIN was named the 16th head coach in Pittsburgh Steelers history on Jan. 22, 2007. Tomlin was the Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator in 2006 after spending the previous five seasons (2001-05) as defensive backs coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Tomlin was 10-6 in his first season as the Steelers head coach. He is just the second coach in team history to have a winning record in his first season at the helm (Bill Cowher). Tomlin guided the Steelers to the NFL’s top-ranked defense in 2007, yielding only 266.4 yards per game. The Steelers’ defense ranked third in the NFL against both the run (89.9 avg.) and pass (176.5 avg.), and also finished third in the league in total yards allowed per play (4.6). The Vikings defense ranked eighth in the NFL and first against the run in Tomlin’s only season as defensive coordinator. The Vikings did not allow a 100-yard rusher and held Detroit to minusthree yards rushing on Dec. 10. Before becoming Minnesota’s defensive coordinator, Tomlin was a part of one of the top defenses in the league during the previous five seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as their defensive backs coach. Tomlin’s defensive backs earned numerous honors for their play during his coaching tenure. In 2005 Tampa Bay led the NFL in total defense, allowing 277.8 yards per game, and finished 6th in the NFL in passing defense at 183.1 yards per game. Prior to joining Tampa Bay’s staff, Tomlin served two seasons as the defensive backs coach at the University of Cincinnati (199900). He took over a secondary unit there that ranked 111th in the nation in pass defense in 1998 and helped them improve to 61st overall in his first season in ’99. Under Tomlin’s direction in 2000, the Bearcats ranked eighth in the nation in INTs as well as fourth nationally in total turnovers. Prior to joining the Cincinnati staff, Tomlin had a short stint on the coaching staff at Tennessee-Martin and then spent two seasons at Arkansas State. He coached the wide receivers there in 1997 before switching to defensive backs in 1998. Tomlin spent the 1996 season as a graduate assistant at the University of Memphis, where he worked with the Tiger defensive backs and special teams units. He began his coaching career in 1995 as wide receivers coach at Virginia Military Institute. Tomlin was a three-year starter at wide receiver at William and Mary (1990-94) and finished his career with 101 receptions for 2,046 yards and a school-record 20 TD catches. A first-team AllYankee Conference selection in 1994, he established a school record with a 20.2 yards per catch average. Tomlin is 2-0 all-time versus the Cleveland Browns.
ROMEO CRENNEL is in his fourth season as head coach of the Cleveland Browns and was rewarded with a two-year contract extension (thru 2011) on Jan. 29, 2008. Crennel led the Browns to 10-6 record in 2007, including a franchise-best seven consecutive home wins, and witnessed six Browns selected to the Pro Bowl. Crennel’s offense developed into a highly productive unit and ranked eighth in the NFL in offense (5,621 net yards) and scoring (402 points). The output of net yards and scoring also ranked third best in franchise history. Crennel was named head coach of the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 8, 2005, the 11th full-time head coach in franchise history. Crennel returned to Cleveland in 2005, after serving as the Browns defensive coordinator in 2000. Crennel previously led the Browns to a respectable 6-10 record in his first year as a head coach and added a 4-12 mark in 2006. His resume includes 38 years of coaching experience, including 27 years in the NFL. www.steelers.com
STEELERS COMMUNICATIONS STAFF Dave Lockett, Communications Coordinator ..... (412) Lockett email:
[email protected] Burt Lauten, Public Relations/Media Manager ... (412) Lauten email:
[email protected] Emily Scerba, Communications Admin. Asst. ..... (412) Scerba email:
[email protected] Jason Seidling, Media Relations Intern .............. (412) Seidling email:
[email protected] Office Fax .............................................................. (412)
432-7822 432-7821 432-7820 432-7800 x6019 432-7878
STEELERS RADIO COVERAGE For the ninth consecutive year, WDVE-FM (102.5) and WBGGAM (970) are carrying all Steelers games. Additionally, Steelers games can be heard on a 46-station network spanning Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Ohio, Tennessee and Maryland. For the 15th straight season, Bill Hillgrove serves as the “Voice of the Steelers” and handles play-by-play duties for the broadcast. Joining Hillgrove for his 11th season as an expert analyst is Tunch Ilkin. Ilkin, the former Steelers All-Pro offensive tackle, made his radio broadcasting debut in 1998. Joining the team for his seventh season is former Steeler offensive lineman Craig Wolfley, who provides sideline analysis. Stations on the Steelers Radio Network include: FLAGSHIP STATIONS (2) WDVE-FM (102.5) WBGG-AM (970) PENNSYLVANIA (30) Altoona-WVAM (1430) Altoona-WRKY (104.9) Beaver Falls-WBVP (1230) Beaver Falls-WMBA (1460) Bedford-WAYC (100.9) Bradford-WESB (1490) Butler-WISR (680) Chambersburg-WCHA (800) Clarendon-WKNB (104.3) Clarion-WCCR (92.7) Cooperstown-WUUZ (94.3) DuBois-WOWQ (102.1) Erie-WFNN (1330) Gettysburg-WGET (1320) Grove City-WWGY (95.1) Harrisburg-WTPA (93.5) Indiana-WQMU (92.5) Johnstown-WRKW (99.1) Johnstown-WNTJ (850) Latrobe-WCNS (1480) Punxsutawney-WPXZ (104.1) Saegertown-WUUZ (107.7) Scottdale-WLSW (103.9)
Somerset-WNTW (990) State College-WMAJ (1450) State College-WQWK (98.7) Uniontown-WMBS (590) Washington-WJPA (1450) Williamsport-WCXR (93.3) Williamsport-WZXR (103.7) OHIO (3) Findlay-WFIN (1330) Westerville-WTDA (103.9) Youngstown-WNIO (1390) MARYLAND (3) Cumberland-WTBO (1450) Frostburg-WFRB (560) Hagerstown-WHAG (1410) TENNESSEE (1) Kingsport-WPWT (870) WEST VIRGINIA (7) Clarksburg-WAJR (103.3) Elkins-WELK (94.7) Fairmont-WRLF (94.3) Fairmont-WMMN (920) Morgantown-WAJR (1440) St. Mary’s-WJAW (630) Wheeling-WWVA (1170)
2008 AFC North Standings Pittsburgh Baltimore Cincinnati Cleveland
W
L
T
1 1 0 0
0 0 1 1
0 1.000 0 1.000 0 .000 0 .000
Pct.
Pts. Opp.
38 17 10 10
This Week in the AFC North: Sunday, Sept. 14: Tennessee (1-0) at Cincinnati (0-1), 1 p.m. (CBS) Baltimore (1-0) at Houston (0-1), 4:15 p.m. (CBS) Pittsburgh (1-0) at Cleveland (0-1), 8:15 p.m. (NBC) All times are Eastern.
17 10 17 28
STEELERS’ LAST GAME
STEELERS’ PRONUNCIATIONS Trai Essex ...................................... (TRAY) Brett Keisel .................................... (KEE-sull) Chris Kemoeatu ............................ (kay-moy-AH-too) Travis Kirschke .............................. (KERSH-key) Troy Polamalu ............................... (Pole-uh-MAH-lu) Ben Roethlisberger ...................... (ROTH-lis-ber-ger) Matt Spaeth .................................... (SPAYTH) LaMarr Woodley ............................ (la-MARR) Mewelde Moore ............................. (Muh-well-DEE) Keyaron Fox ................................... (KEY-aaron) Willie Colon ................................... (Cologne) Limas Sweed ................................ (LIE-mas)
Pittsburgh 38, Houston 17 Sunday, Sept. 7 • Pittsburgh, Pa. (Heinz Field)
Pittsburgh Team Notes:
MEDIA NOTES Cleveland Browns Conference Call: Cleveland Browns Head Coach Romeo Crennel and QB Derek Anderson will be available for interviews via conference call on Wednesday, Sept. 10, in the Steelers’ media workroom. Crennel will be at 11:30 a.m. (ET) and Anderson will available at 3:15 p.m. (ET). Weekly Press Conference: Steelers’ head coach Mike Tomlin conducts a weekly press conference every Tuesday during the regular season beginning at noon (ET). The press conference will be broadcast live on both television and radio. FOX Sports Net (FSN) Pittsburgh will carry the conference live on television. WBGGAM (970) will carry the press conference live on radio. Official Steelers Website: Media and fans can read about the latest Steelers news on the official Steelers website. The site, www.steelers.com, features breaking news, statistics, player biographies and much more.
Media-Only Section of www.steelers.com The Steelers Media Relations Department offers a “Media-Only” section on steelers.com. To sign up for this service, go to http:// www.steelers.com/mediarelations/ and register as a new user below the left hand navigation bar. Then follow the instructions on the Media Relations page and once your registration is approved, you will receive an email and can access all information. If you have any questions or problems, please email
[email protected].
NFLmedia.com: Journalists worldwide have access to the dedicated media website featuring news from the NFL and its teams. Daily releases, statistics, domestic and international NFL updates and other information about the NFL are available. The site also provides links to other NFL and individual team sites.
• Pittsburgh won its sixth straight season opener, which is the longest streak in the league. The Steelers are 23-16 on Kickoff Weekend since 1970. • Pittsburgh is 15-8 when opening at home since 1970, having won five straight. They are 38-32-4 in season openers since 1933, and the 38 wins are the most wins in the AFC. • Pittsburgh is 2-1 all-time against the Houston Texans, including a 1-1 record at Heinz Field. The Steelers have won two straight in the series. • The Steelers are 26-7 at home over the past five seasons. • The 38 points are the most in a home opener at Heinz Field for the Steelers and the most in a season opener since they beat Cleveland 43-0 in Cleveland to open the 1999 season. • Pittsburgh’s defense came up with a huge defensive stop on the Texans’ first drive of the game as they held them on a fourth-and-one play near midfield. • The Steelers responded on the ensuing drive and took a 7-0 lead as RB Willie Parker scored from seven yards out with 5:44 left in the first quarter. On the drive, QB Ben Roethlisberger was a perfect 3-for-3 for 21 yards passing and added a 17-yard run on a third-down play. • Parker scored his second touchdown of the game on the Steelers’ next drive as he darted in from 13 yards out with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. It gave Parker his fifth career multi-touchdown and his first since he scored twice at Cincinnati on Dec. 31, 2006. • LB LaMarr Woodley gave Pittsburgh the ball back with his first career interception on the next drive. Two plays later, Roethlisberger his WR Hines Ward for a 13-yard strike to give the Steelers a 21-0 advantage. It was Ward’s 66th career receiving touchdown. • Houston got on the board in the second quarter as K Kris Brown booted a 34-yard field goal. The drive was set up by a sack and forced fumble on Roethlisberger by DE Mario Williams. • In the first half, Pittsburgh had two sacks and two interceptions and limited the Texans to just 82 yards of total offense (25 rushing, 57 passing). Houston was just 1-for-6 (17 percent) on third downs in the first half. • Parker scored his career-best third touchdown of the game as he ran in from four yards out on the Steelers’ first drive of the second half. It surpassed his total from 2007 when he scored just two rushing touchdowns all year. • Roethlisberger tossed his second touchdown pass of the game late in the third quarter as he again hit Ward, this time for a 16-yard touchdown. The touchdown gave Pittsburgh a commanding 35-3 lead. • Houston trimmed the lead to 35-10 with nine minutes left in the game as QB Matt Schaub hit WR Kevin Walter for a 14-yard touchdown. • K Jeff Reed finished off the Steelers’ scoring with a 44-yard field goal with 5:24 remaining in the game and Schaub added a four-yard touchdown run with under two minutes to make it a 38-17 final. • The Steelers finished with 305 yards of total offense (183 rushing, 122 passing) to the Texans’ 234 yards (75 rushing, 159 passing). • Pittsburgh finished with 21 first downs to Houston’s 20. • Pittsburgh was very efficient on third downs, converting 6-of-10 (60%) while limiting the Texans to 30 percent (3 of 10). • Houston was penalized five times for 43 yards and Pittsburgh was flagged four times for 41 yards. • The Steelers forced three turnovers, including two interceptions (Woodley and S Troy Polamalu) and one fumble (LB James Harrison).
THIS WEEK’S SCHEDULE Tuesday, Sept. 9 Noon - Coach Tomlin Press Conference
Wednesday, Sept. 10 Thursday, Sept. 11 1-3 p.m. - Practice
1-3 p.m. - Practice
• Players available for media interviews at 12:15 p.m. and following practice in locker room
• Players available for media interviews at 12:15 p.m. and following practice in locker room
(SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
Friday, Sept. 12
Saturday, Sept. 13
Sunday, Sept. 14
Monday, Sept. 15
10:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Practice
TBA - Walk-thru
8:15 p.m. (ET) Away Game at Cleveland Browns (Cleveland Browns Stadium) NBC-TV (WPXI-channel 11)
• TBA
• Players available for media interviews following practice in locker room
• No coaches or players available for media interviews • Team travels to Cleveland, Ohio
www.steelers.com
• Pittsburgh finished with five sacks, including three by Harrison, one by Woodley, and half-sack each by DE Nick Eason and LB James Farrior. It is the most sacks by the Steelers since they posted six in a 38-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 5, 2007. • WR Limas Sweed, S Anthony Smith, RB Gary Russell, TE Sean McHugh, LB Bruce Davis, OT Tony Hills, DE Orpheus Roye and QB Dennis Dixon (3rd QB) were inactive for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh Individual Notes: QB Ben Roethlisberger • Finished 13-for-14 for 137 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions (147.0 passer rating). It marked his 28th career (including postseason) 100-plus passer rating game. • Added two runs for 17 yards (8.5 avg.). • Hit WR Hines Ward for a 13-yard touchdown in the second quarter to give Pittsburgh a 21-0 lead. • Connected with Ward again late in the third quarter for a 16-yard touchdown touchdown. It was the 26th time the duo has connected for a touchdown in their careers. • Had a 17-yard run on the Steelers’ first drive of the game on a third-andfour situation. • In three career home openers as a starter, has completed 43-for-59 (72.9 percent) for 597 yards with five touchdowns and one interception (126.2 passer rating). QB Byron Leftwich • Came in to replace Roethlisberger in the fourth quarter. • Finished 0-for-4 passing. RB Willie Parker • Finished with 138 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.5 avg.) with a careerhigh three touchdowns. The three rushing touchdowns tied a team record, most recently accomplished by RB Jerome Bettis on Jan. 1, 2006, versus the Detroit Lions. • The 138 rushing yards mark the 22nd time in his career he has rushed for over 100 yards, including the 13th at Heinz Field. • The 138 yards rushing are the fourth-highest by Parker and the most since he had a team-record 223 yards versus Cleveland on Dec. 7, 2006. • Scored his first touchdown of the season as he scored from seven yards out on the Steelers’ first drive of the game. • Scored again on the next drive on a 13-yard run. • Had a four-yard touchdown run on the Steelers’ first drive of the second half. • Moved into ninth place (tied) on the team’s all-time rushing touchdowns list with 22 career touchdowns. He is now tied with Walter Abercrombie. • Parker now has 970 career rushing attempts, moving him into fifth place on the team’s all-time rushing attempts list ahead of Frank Pollard (953 career rushing attempts). • In four career home openers as a starter, Parker has four 100-yard rushing games. In those four home openers as the starter, he has 99 rushes for 540 yards (5.5 avg.) with five touchdowns. • The Steelers are 19-3 when Parker rushes for over 100 yards. RB Rashard Mendenhall • Finished with 28 yards on 10 rushes (2.8 avg.) in his NFL debut. • Had two kickoff returns for 46 yards (23.0 avg.), including a 27-yarder. WR Hines Ward • Finished with six catches for 76 yards (12.7 avg.) with two touchdowns. It marked his 15th career multi-touchdown game. • Caught a 13-yard touchdown pass from Roethlisberger in the second quarter to give Pittsburgh a 21-0 lead. It was Ward’s 66th career receiving touchdown. • Added a 16-yard touchdown catch from Roethlisberger late in the third quarter, giving him 67 career receiving touchdowns. • Hauled in a 29-yard pass from Roethlisberger on the last play of the first quarter. • Has now caught a pass in a team-record 147 straight games. • Has 35 touchdowns in the red zone since 2002, which is second in the NFL during that span. TE Heath Miller • Finished with three catches for 26 yards (8.7 avg.). • Marked the first time in his four years he did not have a touchdown in the season opener. LB LaMarr Woodley • Made his first career start. • Finished with three tackles (all solo), one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. www.steelers.com
• Posted his first sack of the season and the fifth of his career. • Had his first career interception as he picked off QB Matt Schaub with 9:31 left in the second quarter. • Added a fumble recovery in the fourth quarter. LB James Farrior • Tallied a half-sack (with DE Nick Eason) on the Texans’ second drive of the game for a 14-yard loss. The half sack gives him 21 for his career and 15.5 with the Steelers. LB James Harrison • Finished with a team-high eight tackles (six solo), three sacks and one forced fumble. It marked the second time in his career he posted at least three sacks in a game. He had 3.5 versus Baltimore on Nov. 5, 2007. • Added a forced fumble on QB Matt Schaub on a sack. DE Nick Eason • Had a half-sack (with LB James Farrior) late in the first quarter for a 14yard loss. The half sack gives him 2.5 for his career and it was his first sack recorded as a Steelers. • Finished with four tackles, a personal-best as a Steeler, and the most since he four at Cincinnati on Nov. 11, 2006 while playing for the Cleveland Browns. S Troy Polamalu • Picked off his first pass of the season in the second quarter. It was his 11th career interception. • Finished with three tackles (all solo). S Ryan Clark • Posted seven tackles (five solo). K Jeff Reed • Had a perfect day kicking, finishing 5-for-5 in PATs and 1-for-1 in FGs for eight points. • Hit a 44-yard field goal with 5:24 left in the game. • Has 716 career points. P Mitch Berger • Punted three times for 129 yards (43.0 avg.) with a net average of 41.3.
STEELERS-BROWNS SERIES NOTES Series History: Series began in 1950 Overall: Pittsburgh leads 57-55 At Pittsburgh: Pittsburgh leads 36-21 At Cleveland: Cleveland leads 34-21 Neutral Sites: n/a Last Regular-Season Meeting: Nov. 11, 2007 (in Pittsburgh) Pittsburgh 31, Cleveland 28 Postseason Series: Pittsburgh leads 2-0 (postseason record included in overall series record) Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 57-55 (including postseason) after sweeping the Browns for the fourth consecutive year in 2007...the Steelers are 48-24 against the Browns since 1970, including a 31-6 record (including two playoff victories) in Pittsburgh and a 16-18 mark on the road...the Steelers are 7-1 (including postseason) against the Browns at Heinz Field...the Steelers are looking for their 10th straight victory over the Browns...the Steelers are 8-1 against the Browns at Cleveland Browns Stadium, which opened in 1999...the Steelers defeated the Browns, 43-0, in the first game at Cleveland’s new stadium on Sept. 12, 1999...Pittsburgh is 2-0 versus Cleveland in the postseason, defeating the Browns, 36-33, in the 2002 AFC Wild Card playoffs, and 29-9 in the AFC Divisional Playoffs at Three Rivers Stadium (Jan. 7, 1995)...Pittsburgh has played more games against Cleveland than against any other team in the NFL...the 112 games played between the Steelers and the Browns are the most between any two AFC teams...the Steelers have won 15 of their last 16 games against the Browns, and 22 of the last 25 contests...Pittsburgh’s last loss to the Browns came on Oct. 5, 2003, ending a six-game Steelers’ winning streak...that game is also the last time these two teams met on Sunday Night...the Steelers have not been swept by the Browns since 1988 but have swept Cleveland five of the past six years.
TEAM NOTES Cleveland Rocked: The Steelers have won nine straight games against their division-rival Cleveland Browns. The nine-game winning streak is the longest for Pittsburgh in the series history that dates back to 1950 and tied for the longest current streak in the NFL (Buffalo over Cincinnati, New England over Buffalo, San Diego over Oakland). Additionally, Pittsburgh has won 15 of the past 16 games in the series overall. The lone loss was a 33-13 setback in Pittsburgh in 2003. In the past nine games, the Steelers have dominated the Browns in nearly every facet of the game. The following is a comparison of the teams’ statistics during the nine-game Pittsburgh winning streak: Statistic Pittsburgh Cleveland Team record ......................................................... 9-0 ............................. 0-9 Home record ........................................................ 4-0 ............................. 0-5 100-Yard Rushing Performances (total) ................. 6 ................................ 0 Total Touchdowns Scored in Cleveland ................ 16 ................................ 4 Total Yards/Game avg. .................................... 371.0 ......................... 256.0 Rushing Yards/Game avg. .............................. 174.7 ........................... 64.8 Time of Possession avg. ................................ 34:05 ......................... 25:55
Additional notes on the Steelers’ nine-game winning streak over Cleveland: • Pittsburgh has four games in which it has totaled over 400 yards of total offense, including a high of 528 yards in a 27-7 win on Dec. 7, 2006. • Pittsburgh has limited Cleveland to under 200 yards of total offense twice in the nine-game winning streak, including a low of 163 yards in a Steelers’ 31-28 victory at Heinz Field on Nov. 11, 2007. • RB Willie Parker has rushed for over 100 yards in four of the nine games during the streak, including a single-game franchise record by gaining 223 yards on 32 carries on Dec. 7, 2006. • QB Ben Roethlisberger has posted four 100-plus passer ratings during the streak, including a 120.0 mark on Christmas Eve in Cleveland on Dec. 24, 2005. Divisional Dominance: Pittsburgh finished the 2007 season 51 against AFC North foes. The Steelers’ lone loss against the division last year was in the regular-season finale at Baltimore when Pittsburgh rested a number of starters after already clinching the AFC North crown. The Steelers have won seven of their last nine games against divisional opponents. Road Warriors: Pittsburgh continues to have great success playing away from Heinz Field. Since the beginning of the 1998 season, the Steelers are tied with the Tennessee Titans for the thirdbest road winning percentage in the AFC. The following is a list of the top 5 road winning percentages since 1998: Team New England Indianapolis Philadelphia Pittsburgh Tennessee
W 49 48 44 43 43
L 31 32 36 37 37
T 0 0 0 0 0
Pct. .613 .600 .550 .538 .538
Steelers-Browns Connections: Several Steelers have ties to the Browns and the Cleveland area. Steelers with direct ties to the Browns and Cleveland/Ohio include assistant head coach/defensive line coach John Mitchell, who began his NFL coaching career as the Browns’ defensive line coach from 1991-93. Linebackers coach Keith Butler coached the Browns linebackers from 1999-02. Offensive coordinator Bruce Arians was the Browns’ offensive coordinator from 2001-03.
Steelers DE Nick Eason played with the Browns from 2004-06. DE Orpheus Roye also played for the Browns from 2000-07. Steelers players from Ohio include QB Ben Roethlisberger (Findlay, played at Miami, Ohio), RB Gary Russell (Columbus), LB James Harrison (Akron, played at Kent State), WR Nate Washington (Toledo, played at Tiffin) and S Anthony Smith (Hubbard). WR Santonio Holmes played at Ohio State. Browns with Steelers/Western Pennsylvania connections include TE Darnell Dinkins, who played at Pitt. OL Hank Fraley played collegiately at Robert Morris and originally signed with the Steelers as an undrafted rookie free agent while LB Kris Griffin played at IUP. Quarterbacks coach Rip Scherer began his coaching career at Penn State (1974-75). Strength and conditioning coach Tom Myslinksi played for the Steelers for three seasons (1996-97, 2000) and was an assistant strength coach at Pitt. Assistant defensive backs coach Richard McNutt coached at W&J (2004-05. Defense! Defense! Defense!: The Steelers defense provided a dominating performance in the season-opening victory over the Houston Texans. The Steelers allowed Houston to gain just 234 yards of total offense (75 rushing, 159 passing), including a mere 82 yards in the first half. Pittsburgh limited the Texans to 30 percent (3 of 10) on third-downs for the game and forced three turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble). Pittsburgh posted five sacks in the Week 1 win, including three from LB James Harrison. The performance over the Texans piggybacked the Steelers’ defensive efforts from 2007 as they led the league in total defense (266.4 avg.). Pittsburgh allowed 269 points (16.8 avg.) last year, which was second in the AFC and in the NFL. The Steelers did not allow a first-half touchdown in their first five games of the year before Week 7 at Denver . The Steelers allowed just 47 total points through their first five games, the fourth-lowest total in team history during that span and the least since they gave up a team-best 38 points through five games in 1937. The Steelers posted two shutouts last year, including Week 5 versus Seattle and Week 12 versus Miami. The Steelers limited the Seahawks to just 144 yards of total offense, including 38 on the ground. Pittsburgh had three sacks and one interception in the win.
Several Steelers and Browns are products of the same colleges, including the following: STEELERS-BROWNS COLLEGE CONNECTIONS STEELERS COLLEGE BROWNS Chris Hoke (DT) ........................... BYU .......................... Scott Young (OL) Brett Keisel (DE) Andre Frazier (LB) ..................... Cincinnati .................... Antwan Peek (LB) Mitch Berger (P) ........................ Colorado .............. Lawrence Vickers (FB) Dallas Baker (WR) ...................... Florida ........................ Andra Davis (LB) Max Starks (OT) Bryant McFadden (CB) .......... Florida State ......... Kamerion Wimbley (LB) Orpheus Roye (DE) Lawrence Timmons (LB) Hines Ward (WR) ...................... Georgia ........................ Sean Jones (DB) James Harrison (LB) ................ Kent State .......... Joshua Cribbs (WR/KR) Ryan Clark (S) ............................. LSU ...................... Travis Daniels (DB) Larry Foote (LB) ....................... Michigan ............. Braylon Edwards (WR) LaMarr Woodley (LB) Trai Essex (OT) ...................... Northwestern ................. Jason Wright (RB) Casey Hampton (DT) .................. Texas ........................... Phil Dawson (K) Tony Hills (OT) Shaun Rogers (DL) Limas Sweed (WR) Troy Polamalu (S) ......................... USC ...................... Willie McGinest (LB)
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What To Look For: PITTSBURGH TEAM NOTES • The Steelers look to improve to 58-55 all-time (including the postseason) against the Browns. • Pittsburgh looks for its 10th straight win over the Browns and its 16th win in the last 17 games (including playoffs) against Cleveland. • The Steelers are looking for their eighth straight win in Cleveland in the season series. The Steelers are 8-1 all-time at Cleveland Browns Statdium. • The Steelers look to improve to 49-24 (including playoffs) against the Browns since the NFL merger in 1970. • The Steelers need eight victories to become the first AFC team to reach 550 total victories. Pittsburgh’s all-time record is 542-517-21. PITTSBURGH INDIVIDUAL NOTES QB Ben Roethlisberger • Needs 1,058 yards passing to move past Neil O’Donnell (12,867 yards) into third place on the team’s all-time passing yards list. Roethlisberger currently has 11,810 passing yards. • Needs 14 touchdown passes to become just the second quarterback in team history to throw 100 career touchdown passes (Terry Bradshaw - 212). Roethlisberger currently has 86 career touchdown passes. • Needs 28 passing attempts to move into fourth place on the team’s all-time list ahead of Bubby Brister (1,477). Roethlisberger currently has 1,450 career passing attempts. • Needs one 300-yard passing game to move into a tie for second place on the team’s all-time list with Neil O’Donnell. Roethlisberger currently has four and is tied with Terry Bradshaw. WR Hines Ward • Needs one 100-yard receiving game to move into sole possession of second place on the team’s all-time receiving list. He currently has 16, which is tied with Louis Lipps (1984-91). • Needs 761 yards from scrimmage to reach 10,000 total yards for his career. He currently has 9,239 total yards from scrimmage (8,813 receiving, 426 rushing). • Needs 187 receiving yards to surpass 9,000 for his career. He currently has 8,813. RB Willie Parker • Needs 204 total yards from scrimmage to move into 10th place on the team’s all-time list. Parker currently has 4,956 total yards from scrimmage. • Needs 48 rushing yards to move past John Henry Johnson (4,383) into third place on the team’s all-time rushing list. Parker currently has 4,336 rushing yards. • Needs one rushing touchdowns to move into a tie for eighth place for rushing touchdowns on the team’s all-time list with Rocky Bleier. Parker currently has 22 rushing touchdowns. • Needs 56 rushing attempts to move into fourth place on the team’s career list ahead of John Henry Johnson (1,025). Parker currently has 970 career rushing attempts. TE Heath Miller • Needs three touchdown receptions to surpass Bennie Cunningham (20) for third on team’s all-time touchdowns list for a tight end. Miller currently has 18 receiving touchdowns. K Jeff Reed • Needs 11 field goals to move past Roy Gerela (146) into second place on the team’s all-time field goals made list. Reed currently has 136 career field goals. WR Santonio Holmes • TD catch at Cleveland would give him at least one TD at Cleveland each year of his career. It would also mark his first touchdown in each of his three pro seasons. www.steelers.com
LOOKING AHEAD... The Steelers travel across Pennsylvania to battle intra-state Philadelphia on Sunday, Sept. 21. Kickoff at Lincoln Financial Field is set for 4:15 p.m. and will be televised on CBS (locally KDKA-TV, channel 2). The Steelers are 26-46-3 all-time against the Eagles, but won the last regular-season matchup (27-3 in 2004 at Heinz Field).
Sustaining Success: Pittsburgh has made the playoffs four times and won the AFC North three times since the divisional realignment in 2002. Last year, the Steelers won the AFC North Division for the first time since 2004 and automatically qualified for the playoffs. The Steelers have won 18 division titles since the NFL merger in 1970, the most in the AFC during that time. Last year also marked the third time they have captured the AFC North Crown since 2002. The following is a list of teams that have won the most division titles and qualified for the playoffs since 2002: Team Indianapolis New England Seattle Philadelphia Green Bay Pittsburgh
Playoffs 6 5 5 4 4 4
Division Titles 5 5 4 4 4 3
Heinz Field Advantage: The Steelers own the best home record in the NFL with a 211-81-1 record (.722) since 1970. Pittsburgh is 26-7 at home over the past five seasons, including a 1-0 record this season. Pittsburgh finished the 2004 regular season with an undefeated (8-0) home record for only the third time in team history and for the first time in 25 years, ultimately advancing to the AFC Championship Game. The Steelers finished the 1979 regular season with an undefeated home record (8-0) and eventually won Super Bowl XIV. The Steelers were also undefeated at home (7-0) in 1972. The following is a list of the top five home winning percentages in the NFL since 1970: Team Pittsburgh Denver Miami Jacksonville Baltimore
W 211 207 204 67 62
L 81 82 87 37 34
T 1 4 1 0 1
Pct. .722 .713 .702 .644 .644
Regular-Season Success: Pittsburgh owns the fifth-best record in the regular season in the entire NFL over the past 11 years. The Steelers have averaged 9.5 wins per year and have earned five playoff berths in that time period. The following are the top five teams in regular-season winning percentage from 1998-2008: Team New England Indianapolis Denver Green Bay Pittsburgh
W 109 105 98 98 96
L 52 56 63 63 64
T 0 0 0 0 1
Pct. .677 .652 .609 .609 .599
Playoff Berths 7 8 5 6 5
Facing The Best: The Steelers will play half of the their season against 2007 playoff teams, including both teams who played in Super Bowl XLII. No team in the league has a higher combined opponents’ winning percentage from last season than the .598 of the Steelers’ opponents.
2008 REGULAR SEASON STATISTICAL COMPARISON Steelers Category Opponents 38.0 ......................... Points Scored Per Game ...................... 17.0 17.0 ........................ Points Allowed Per Game ..................... 38.0 21.0 ........................... First Downs Per Game ........................... 20 305.0 ......................... Total Yards Per Game ...................... 234.0 183.0 ....................... Rushing Yards Per Game ...................... 75.0 122.0 ....................... Passing Yards Per Game .................... 159.0 5 ............................................. Sacks By ......................................... 2 2 ...................................... Interceptions By .................................. 0 31:31 ....................... Avg. Time of Possession .................... 28:29 5 ......................................... Touchdowns ..................................... 2 3 .................................. Rushing Touchdowns .............................. 1 2 .................................. Passing Touchdowns .............................. 1 0 ................................ Touchdowns on Returns ............................ 0 1-1 ...................................... Field Goals ................................... 1-1 43.0 ................................... Punting Avg. ................................ 43.3 -3.0 ................................. Punt Return Avg. ............................... 2.5 19.8 .............................. Kickoff Return Avg. ........................... 18.7
Pittsburgh will host the New York Giants, defending Super Bowl champions, at Heinz Field in Week 8 while traveling to AFC champion, New England, in Week 13. The Steelers also play six other teams that made it to the 2007 postseason, including at Jacksonville (Week 5), at Washington (Week 9), home versus Indianapolis (Week 10), San Diego (Week 11) and Dallas (Week 14), and at Tennessee (Week 16). The following is a list of the NFL’s strength of schedule in 2008: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Team Pittsburgh Indianapolis Jacksonville Baltimore Minnesota
Opp. Record 153-103 (.598) 152-104 (.594) 143-113 (.559) 141-115 (.551) 141-115 (.551)
vs. Playoff Teams (2007) 8 8 6 8 7
If You Build It, They Will Come: In Week 1 versus Houston, the Steelers drew an attendance figure of 64,001 to Heinz Field. The Steelers averaged 62,084 at Heinz Field last year. Pittsburgh broke the team home attendance record in 2005 by averaging 63,429 (507,434 total). Pittsburgh has sold out 276 straight games at home, dating back to Nov. 5, 1972 versus Cincinnati. Pittsburgh’s largest average attendance at Three Rivers Stadium was 58,077 in 1998. Following is a look at the team’s average attendance in its seven years at Heinz Field: Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total Attendance 499,191 490,274 477,584 507,385 507,434 • 499,461 496,675 64,001
Avg. 62,399 61,284 59,698 63,423 63,429 • 62,433 62,084 64,001
• Team record
Close To Home: The Steelers will not have to travel that far for their eight away games. In fact, Pittsburgh’s total miles traveled are the second-least in the league behind Cleveland. The following is a listing of the team’s with the most miles traveled during the 2008 season (preseason and regular season): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 31. 32.
Team Seattle Seahawks Oakland Raiders San Diego Chargers San Francisco 49ers New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers Cleveland Browns
Miles 34,766 34,218 33,403 31,530 29,024 7,288 6,416
Among The Best: The Steelers have 537 career wins (including postseason), which is the fifth-most in NFL history. The following is a listing of the top five teams in the NFL for career wins (including postseason): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Team Chicago Bears Green Bay Packers New York Giants Washington Redskins Pittsburgh Steelers
Wins 694 663 627 552 537
Merchandise Mayhem: The Steelers sell the second-most clothing in all of professional sports, according to a recent ESPN Sports Poll. Seven of the top 10 logos on clothing are affiliated with the NFL. The following is a listing of the top five most popular team clothing among fans: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Team Dallas Cowboys Pittsburgh Steelers Green Bay Packers New York Yankees Boston Red Sox
League NFL NFL NFL MLB MLB
Percent 10.1 8.1 7.0 6.4 5.1
Steelers In The Spotlight: The Steelers are slated to play the maximum of five (initially scheduled) night games in 2008, including two Sunday Night games, two Monday Night games and one Thursday Night game. The Steelers will host the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4 on Monday Night Football and will battle the Washington Redskins also on Monday Night in Week 9 at FedEx Field. Pittsburgh travels for a pair of Sunday Night matchups, including at Cleveland (Week 2) and at Jacksonville (Week 5). The Steelers will host AFC North-rival Cincinnati at Heinz Field on a Thursday night (Week 12). Picking Your Poison: Last year, Pittsburgh’s defense combined to pick off just 11 interceptions all season, led by CB Ike Taylor’s three. Steelers’ history shows that the lack of interceptions for their defense results in a poor record. However, last year’s team finished 10-6 and captured the AFC North Division. The following is a look at the Steelers’ teams with the fewest interceptions in team history: Year 1940 1955 2007 1939 1964 1965
INTs 9 10 11 11 12 12
Att.* 192 242 536 193 353 378
Team Record 2-7-2 4-8-0 10-6-0 1-9-1 5-9-0 2-12-0
* Opponents’ total pass attempts that season.
200 Plateau: Pittsburgh rushed for more than 200 yards twice in 2007, including a season-high 206 on 42 attempts in Week 1 at Cleveland. The Steelers then rushed for 205 yards in Week 3 versus San Francisco last year. Since the NFL merger in 1970, Pittsburgh is 95-6 (.941) in the regular season when it rushes for over 200 yards in a game. The Steelers have won 24 straight games in which they have eclipsed that mark for rushing yards. Pittsburgh is 7-0 all-time in the postseason when rushing for over 200 yards.
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Run Stuffers: The Steelers have allowed only three 100-yard rushers in the past 67 games (postseason included). The Steelers previously had a streak of 34 straight games in which it did not allow a 100-yard rusher. Prior to Jones (Week 11), the last time the Steelers allowed a 100-yard rusher was Week 12 of the 2005 season when Edgerrin James eclipsed the century mark for rushing yards. The following is a look at the Pro Bowl running backs who have have been unable to gain 100 yards rushing in a game against the Steelers during the past 67 games (including postseason): Player
Date
Steven Jackson, St. Louis Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Shaun Alexander, Seattle Edgerrin James, Arizona Frank Gore, San Francisco Jamal Lewis, Cleveland Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Warrick Dunn, Atlanta Larry Johnson, Kansas City LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Shaun Alexander, Seattle Edgerrin James, Indianapolis Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Jamal Lewis, Baltimore LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego Corey Dillon, New England Corey Dillon, New England Curtis Martin, New York Jets Jamal Lewis, Baltimore Tiki Barber, New York Giants Curtis Martin, New York Jets Clinton Portis, Washington Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eddie George, Dallas
12/20/07 11/11/07 10/7/07 9/30/07 9/23/07 9/9/07 12/24/06 11/27/06 10/22/06 10/15/06 10/8/06 2/5/06 1/15/06 11/20/05 10/31/05 10/10/05 9/25/05 1/22/05 1/15/05 12/26/04 12/18/04 12/12/04 11/28/04 11/7/04 10/17/04
Yards (Att.) 85 yds. (12 35 yds. (16 25 yds. (11 77 yds. (21 39 yds. (14 35 yds. (11 77 yds. (24 66 yds. (17 69 yds. (26 26 yds. (15 36 yds. (13 95 yds. (20 56 yds. (13 28 yds. (13 61 yds. (17 62 yds. (18 61 yds. (22 73 yds. (24 77 yds. (19 26 yds. (14 76 yds. (18 72 yds. (24 17 yds. (6 17 yds. (6 28 yds. (10
att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.) att.)
Turning Up the Heat: Pittsburgh opened the season with five sacks in Week 1 against the Houston Texans. It was the most sacks by the Steelers since they had six in a 38-7 victory over the Baltimore Ravens on Nov. 5, 2007. The five sacks rank second (tied) in the AFC and NFL. Last year, the Steelers had 36 sacks, which ranked sixth in the AFC and 13th (tied) in the NFL. Since 1994, the Steelers have led the AFC in sacks four times and the entire NFL twice. Sacks became an official NFL statistic in 1982, however, a record of “passers tackled” was kept prior to that time. Following are the Steelers’ single-season sack totals dating back to 1970: Pittsburgh Steelers Team Sack Totals (Since 1970) Year 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989
Total ................. 26 ................. 33 ................. 40 ................. 33 ................. 52 ................. 43 ................. 41 ................. 32 ................. 44 ................. 49 ................. 18 ................. 40 ................. 34 ................. 50 ................. 47 ................. 36 ................. 43 ................. 26 ................. 19 ................. 31
* Team Record
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Year 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Total .................. 34 .................. 38 .................. 36 .................. 42 .................. 55 * .................. 42 .................. 51 .................. 48 .................. 41 .................. 39 .................. 39 .................. 55 * .................. 50 .................. 35 .................. 41 .................. 47 .................. 39 .................. 36 .................... 5
Controlling The Clock: Pittsburgh held the ball for 31:31 in the season opener versus the Houston Texans. The Steelers did an excellent job in 2007 in controlling the time of possession. The Steelers controlled the clock in 14 of the 16 games and averaged holding the ball for 33:18 in 2007. Among The Best: Since the 1970 merger of the National and American Football Leagues, the Pittsburgh Steelers own the second-best record in the NFL. The following is a look at the top five regular-season records since the merger in 1970: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Team Miami Dolphins Pittsburgh Steelers Dallas Cowboys Denver Broncos San Francisco 49ers
W 354 352 348 338 330
L 227 231 237 239 252
T 2 2 0 6 3
Pct. .609 .606 .596 .586 .568
Additionally, Pittsburgh owns the third-best record in the NFL since the free-agency era (since 1993) with a 149-91-1 (.620) record. The following is a look at the top five regular-season records in the free agency era (since 1993): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Team Green Bay Packers New England Patriots Pittsburgh Steelers Denver Broncos Kansas City Chiefs
W 153 151 149 145 135
L 88 90 91 96 106
T 0 0 1 0 0
Pct. .635 .627 .620 .602 .560
Holding Their Ground: Over the past eight years, Pittsburgh’s defense has been among the best in holding its opponents to the fewest rushing yards in the league. The Steelers limited the Houston Texans to just 75 yards rushing in the 2008 season opener. The Steelers ranked second in the AFC and third in the NFL by allowing 89.9 rushing yards per game in 2007. Since 2000, Pittsburgh has allowed just 15 100-yard rushers to lead the NFL in that category. During the stretch, the Steelers have given up a league-low 9,911 yards on the ground, including just 1,299 in 2004, best in the NFL. Additionally, since 1994 the Steelers have led the AFC in rushing defense seven times and the entire NFL three times. Following is a look at the number of yards rushing the Steelers have allowed in each of the past eight seasons: Year 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 Total
Rushing Yds. Allowed 1,195 1,375 1,741 1,299 1,376 1,412 1,438 75 9,911
Avg./Game 85.9 74.7 108.8 81.2 85.5 88.2 89.9 75.0
AFC/NFL Rank 1st/1st 1st/1st 8th/12th 1st/1st 3rd/3rd 2nd/3rd 2nd/3rd 4th/7th
87.7
1st/1st
In the Red Zone: The Steelers converted all five of their attempts in the red zone into points in 2008, including five touchdowns. Their 100.0 percent touchdown ratio inside the opponent’s 20yard line ranks first in the AFC and in the NFL. Following is a look at how the Steelers offense has performed in the red zone in 2008: Opponent Att./Scores TDs FGs Pts Houston ............................ 5/5 .................... 5 ............. 0 .............. 35 Total .................................. 5/5 .................... 5 ............. 0 .............. 35
Red Zone Defense: The Steelers defense allowed three scores (two touchdowns, one field goal) in three possessions in the red zone this year. Their 66.7 touchdown percentage on defense ranked 13th in the AFC and 25th overall in the NFL. Following is a look at how the Steelers’ defense has performed in the red zone in 2008: Opponent Att./Scores TDs FGs Pts Houston ............................ 3/3 .................... 2 ............. 1 .............. 17 Total .................................. 3/3 .................... 2 ............. 1 .............. 17
Five & 10: The Steelers rank in the top five in the AFC and/or the top 10 in the NFL in several key team and individual categories in 2008. Following is a list of those rankings:
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2008 AFC/NFL RANKINGS Team Offense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Rushing Yards/Game .......................... 183.0 .................... 2nd/T-4th Rushing Yards/Attempt ......................... 4.7 ..................... 4th/T-12th Rushing Yards (Total) ........................... 183 ..................... 2nd/T-4th Passing, Percent Had Intercepted ....... 0.0 ..................... T-1st/T-1st First Downs/Game ................................ 21.0 ................... T-3rd/T-6th First Downs (Total) ................................. 21 .................... T-3rd/T-6th Third-Down Efficiency .......................... 60.0 .......................... 1st/3rd Points/Game .......................................... 38 ..................... 2nd/T-2nd Giveaways (Total) .................................... 0 ...................... T-1st/T-1st Red-Zone Efficiency ........................... 100.0 ................... T-1st/T-1st Team Defense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Total Yards/Game ............................... 234.0 ........................ 3rd/6th Yards/Play .............................................. 4.0 .......................... 4th/7th Rushing Yards/Game ........................... 75.0 ......................... 4th/7th Rushing Yards/Attempt ......................... 3.8 ........................ 5th/13th Passing Net Yards/Game .................... 159.0 ...................... 6th/10th Passing Net Yards/Play ......................... 4.8 .......................... 4th/4th Passing, Percent Had Intercepted ....... 0.6 ........................ 2nd/2nd Fourth-Down Efficiency ......................... 0.0 .................. T-5th/T-14th Points/Game Differential ..................... 21.0 ......................... 3rd/4th Net Yards/Game Differential ............... 71.0 ........................ 5th/11th Takeaway/Giveaway Differential ......... +2 .................... T-1st/T-2nd Takeaways (Total) .................................... 3 ..................... T-1st/T-2nd First-Down Plays/Opponent .................. 3.6 .......................... 6th/8th Special Teams Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Field Goal Percentage (Offense) ....... 100.0 ................... T-1st/T-1st Net Punting Average (Offense) ........... 41.3 ......................... 3rd/7th Punt Return Average (Defense) ............ 2.5 .......................... 4th/8th Kickoffs/Avg. Start (Kicking Team) ....... 22.4 ....................... 4th/10th Individual Offense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Roethlisberger (Passer Rating) ........... 147.0 .......................... 1st/1st Roethlisberger (Comp. Pct.) ................ 92.9 ........................... 1st/1st Roethlisberger (Avg. Gain/Pass) .......... 9.8 ......................... 2nd/5th Roethlisberger (Passing TDs) ................. 2 .................... T-2nd/T-4th Roethlisberger (TD Pct.) ...................... 14.3 ........................... 1st/1st Roethlisberger (Interceptions) ................ 0 ...................... T-1st/T-1st Roethlisberger (Interception Pct.) ........ 0.0 ..................... T-1st/T-1st Parker (Points/Single Game) ............... 18 ............................ 1st/1st Parker (Scoring/Non-kickers) ................. 18 ............................ 1st/1st Parker (Rushing Yards/Single Game) .. 138 ......................... 1st/2nd Parker (Rushing Attempts/Single Game) ... 25 .......................... 1st/2nd Parker (Rushing Yards - Total) ............. 138 ......................... 1st/2nd Parker (Rushing Touchdowns) ................ 3 ............................. 1st/1st Parker (Rushing Attempts - Total) ........ 25 .......................... 1st/2nd Parker (100-Yd. Rushing Games) ........... 1 ...................... T-1st/T-1st Parker (Yards From Scrimmage) ......... 138 ........................ 2nd/6th Parker (First Downs - Total) ..................... 8 ..................... T-1st/T-2nd Ward (Third-Down Receptions) .............. 2 ..................... T-3rd/T-8th Ward (Third-Down Touchdowns) ............ 1 ...................... T-1st/T-1st Ward (Scoring/Non-kickers) ................... 12 .................. T-2nd/T-2nd Individual Defense Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Harrison (Sacks/Single Game) ............. 3.0 ......................... 1st/T-1st Harrison (Sacks - Total) ......................... 3.0 ......................... 1st/T-1st Woodley (Interceptions) .......................... 1 ................... T-2nd/T-2nd Woodley (Defensive Fumble Recov.) .... 1 ...................... T-1st/T-1st Polamalu (Interceptions) ........................ 1 ................... T-2nd/T-2nd
Individual Special Teams Statistic Rank (AFC/NFL) Reed (PAT Percentage) ...................... 100.0 ................... T-1st/T-1st Reed (PATs - Total) .................................. 5 .......................... 1st/T-1st Reed (Scoring/Kickers) ............................ 8 ........................ 3rd/T-8th Reed (Touchbacks) .................................. 1 .................... T-2nd/T-7th Berger (Net Punting Avg.) ................... 41.3 ......................... 3rd/7th
COACHING NOTES Few And Far Between: Head Coach Mike Tomlin has a chance to be the first coach in Steelers history to win division titles in each of his first two seasons. Last year, the Steelers captured the AFC North in his first season. Tomlin became just the second head coach in team history to post a winning record in his first season. Three’s Company: Head coach Mike Tomlin won his first three games as an NFL head coach after soundly defeating the Cleveland Browns (Week 1), Buffalo Bills (Week 2) and San Francisco 49ers (Week 3) in consecutive weeks. Tomlin became only the second Steelers rookie head coach to win his first three games (Bill Cowher). LeBeau’s Magic: Defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau, in his 50th NFL season as either a player or coach, is considered the creator of the “fire-zone” or “zone blitz” defensive scheme that is used in multiple varieties by many NFL and college teams. LeBeau returned to the Steelers for a second stint as the team’s defensive leader prior to the 2004 season. Since his return, the Steelers defense has ranked at or near the top of most major statistical defensive categories. Since the beginning of the 2004 season, the Steelers rank first in points allowed (1,093), fewest total yards allowed (17,745) and fewest rushing yards allowed (5,525).
INDIVIDUAL NOTES Feeling at Home in O-H-I-O: QB Ben Roethlisberger, who hails from Findlay, Ohio, has never lost a game when playing in his home state. In his first four years, Roethlisberger is a perfect 9-0 (including the postseason) when playing in the Buckeye state. He is 5-0 against Cincinnati and 4-0 at Cleveland. The following is a look at Roethlisberger’s statistics in his four games at Cleveland and his five at Cincinnati in his career: Statistic at Cleveland at Cincinnati Record ................................................................. 4-0 ............................. 5-0 Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.) ............. 58.3 (60-103) ............. 70.4 (76-108) Passing Yards ..................................................... 793 ............................ 949 Passing Touchdowns ............................................... 7 ................................ 9 Interceptions ............................................................ 4 ................................ 3 Passer Rating ..................................................... 89.2 .......................... 113.5
Controlling The North: QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 17-4 (.810), including the postseason, against AFC North opponents during his starting career with the Steelers. He has won six straight games against divisional foes. Roethlisberger posted a perfect passer rating once (11/5/07 vs. Baltimore) in his 21 games against AFC North foes and has recorded a passer rating of over 100.0 a total of 10 times. The following is a look at his statistics against the AFC North in his 21 such games as a starter: Statistic 21 games vs. AFC North (as a starter) Record ............................................................. 17-4 Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.) ................. 62.7 (352-561) Passing Yards ................................................ 4,450 Passing Touchdowns ......................................... 36 Interceptions ...................................................... 23 Passer Rating .................................................. 91.7
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Also, the following is a look at Roethlisberger’s statistics in his career against AFC North opponents as a starter at home compared to the road: Statistic Home vs. AFC North Away vs. AFC North Record ................................................................. 8-3 ............................. 9-1 Completion Pct. (Comp.-Att.) ........... 63.1 (195-309) .......... 62.3 (157-252) Passing Yards .................................................. 2,449 ......................... 1,956 Passing Touchdowns ............................................. 20 .............................. 16 Interceptions .......................................................... 14 ................................ 9 Passer Rating ..................................................... 90.4 ........................... 92.6
Starting In Style: In his first five seasons, QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 40-16 (.714) record as a starting quarterback in the regular season. That mark is the fourth-best in the NFL among all active quarterbacks. The following is a look at the starting records of the top five active quarterbacks in the NFL (min. 25 starts): 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Name Tom Brady, Patriots Philip Rivers, Chargers Tony Romo, Cowboys Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers Peyton Manning, Colts
W 87 25 20 40 105
L 24 8 7 16 56
T 0 0 0 0 0
Pct. .784 .758 .741 .714 .652
Season For The Ages: QB Ben Roethlisberger had statistically the best season in Steelers’ history for a quarterback in 2007. Roethlisberger, who earned his first Pro Bowl selection this year, finished the regular season with a number of records and honors. Roethlisberger finished with a 104.1 passer rating, which broke his own record set in 2005 (98.6). He also tossed at least one touchdown in a team-record 15 straight games and had a Steelers’-record 32 touchdown passes on the season. Roethlisberger broke the single-game completion percentage record (85.7 versus Miami in Week 12) and twice had a perfect passer rating (Weeks 9 and 16). Additionally, Roethlisberger was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week twice and was the FedEx Air Player of the Week once. He tossed a Monday Night Football-record five touchdown passes against Baltimore in Week 9. Passing Perfection: QB Ben Roethlisberger, who earned his first trip to the Pro Bowl in 2007, has achieved a number of outstanding single-season accomplishments in his three-plusyear career, including achieving a feat three times that is rarely done in the NFL. Roethlisberger, who set the team’s single-season mark for passer rating (104.1) in 2007, has had a perfect passer rating (158.3) three times in his four-year career, tying him with QB Peyton Manning for the most in NFL history (minimum 10 attempts). Roethlisberger became the first player in Steelers history to record a passer rating of 100.0 or better for an entire season. Roethlisberger most recently accomplished the feat as he finished 16-of-20 passing for 261 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions in the Week 16 of the 2007 season during a win over the St. Louis Rams. Roethlisberger finished 13-of-16 for 209 yards passing with five touchdowns for a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in the Week 9 victory over the Baltimore Ravens, also in 2007. Roethlisberger opened the 2005 season with a perfect passer rating in the Steelers’ 34-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans in Week 1. He completed 9-of-11 passes for 218 yards with two touchdowns and no INTs. In his five seasons, Roethlisberger has 28 games (including postseason) in which he has a rating of 100.0 or better in a game, including his most recent against the Houston Texans in Week 1. The Steelers are 26-2 when he posts a 100-plus passer rating.
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Roethlisberger’s 28 career 100-plus passer rating games (postseason included) rank second in team history behind Terry Bradshaw, who had 37 (including postseason) such games since the passer rating rule was implemented in 1973. Steelers Highest Single-Season Passer-Ratings Leaders (Among Qualifiers) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Player Rating Ben Roethlisberger (2007) ..................................................... 104.1 Ben Roethlisberger (2005) ....................................................... 98.6 Ben Roethlisberger (2004) ....................................................... 98.1 Terry Bradshaw (1975) ................................................................. 87.8 Neil O’Donnell (1995) ................................................................... 87.7
Steelers Top Single-Season Completion Percentage Leaders (Minimum 250 Attempts) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.
Player Att. Comp. Ben Roethlisberger (2004) ............... 295 ............. 196 ............ Ben Roethlisberger (2007) ............... 404 ............. 264 ............ Ben Roethlisberger (2005) ............... 268 ............. 168 ............ Tommy Maddox (2002) ........................ 377 ............. 234 ............ Kordell Stewart (2001) .......................... 442 ............. 266 ............
Pct. 66.4 65.3 62.7 62.1 60.2
Home Cooking: QB Ben Roethlisberger owns a 23-6 (.793) mark in the regular season in his career at Heinz Field, including winning his first eight starts. At Heinz Field, Roethlisberger is 464-of-734 (63.2%) for 6,030 yards with 45 touchdowns and 25 interceptions for a passer rating of 95.2. He has thrown for over 300 yards twice and has 15 multitouchdown games at home. Roethlisberger has twice posted a perfect passer rating at home, including most recently in Week 9 of 2007 against Baltimore. He also had a perfect passer rating (158.3) against Tennessee in the 2005 season opener and has posted at least a 125.0 passer rating seven times. The Steelers have scored at least 20 points in 25 of the 29 games at home with Roethlisberger as the starter. 300-Yard Plateau: For his career, QB Ben Roethlisberger has four 300-yard passing games, which is tied with Terry Bradshaw for third on the team’s all-time list. He trails only Tommy Maddox (6) and Neil O’Donnell (5). In Weeks 8 and 9 of 2006, Roethlisberger threw for over 300 yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career. In Week 9 (2006), Roethlisberger finished with a career-high 433 yards passing against the Denver Broncos on 38-of-54 passing. The previous week at Oakland, he finished with 301 yards. Passing Fancy: In 2008, QB Ben Roethlisberger has a chance to become the first Steelers’ quarterback with three consecutive 3,000-yard seasons. He eclipsed the 3,000-yard passing mark for the second straight season in 2007, tying the team record for consecutive 3,000-yard passing seasons, set by Terry Bradshaw in 1979-80. Roethlisberger finished with 3,154 passing yards in 2007. He finished with 3,513 passing yards in 2006, which is the secondhighest single-season total in team history. Roethlisberger averaged 234.2 passing yards per game in 2006 and finished 211 yards shy of the team’s single-season yardage record set by Terry Bradshaw in 1979. Roethlisberger became just the fifth different quarterback in Steelers’ history to pass for over 3,000 yards in a single season. He joins Terry Bradshaw (twice), Kordell Stewart (twice), Tommy Maddox (once) and Neil O’Donnell (once) as quarterbacks in team history to achieve the feat.
Roethlisberger On The Run: QB Ben Roethlisberger rushed twice for 17 yards in the season opener against the Houston Texans. Last year, he rushed 35 times for a career-high 204 yards in 2007 with two touchdowns. Of his 35 rushes, 17 went for first downs, two of which were touchdown runs (30, 6). He was second in the NFL in rushing yards among all quarterbacks, trailing just Vince Young (395). Still Has It: WR Hines Ward, in his 11th year in the NFL and with the Steelers, showed in Week 1 he is still one of the elite receivers in the league. Ward finished with a team-high six catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Houston Texans. It marked his 15th career multi-touchdown game. Chart Topper: WR Hines Ward owns three of the top receiving records in Pittsburgh history. Ward is the team’s all-time leader in receiving yards (8,813), receptions (725) and receiving touchdowns (67). Ward became the team’s all-time leader in receiving yards in the Week 16 victory over the St. Louis Rams after finishing with six catches for 59 yards (9.8 avg.). He surpassed Hall of Famer John Stallworth, who finished his career with 8,723 receiving yards. Ward broke the team’s career receiving touchdowns mark in the Week 13 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. He caught two touchdown passes and passed Stallworth at the top of the Steelers’ list with his 63rd and 64th career touchdown catches. Stallworth finished his career with 63 touchdown receptions. Ward became the Steelers’ all-time leader in receptions in 2005 versus the Cleveland Browns. He finished with eight catches (for 124 yards) and passed Stallworth (537) for the most in Steelers’ history. Additionally, Ward has 16 career 100-yard receiving games, which are tied for second on the team’s all-time list with Louis Lipps (1984-91). Hines Field: In his last four games at Heinz Field dating back to 2007, WR Hines Ward has done some of his best work in his own back yard. In the 2008 season opener versus the Texans, Ward finished with a team-high six catches for 76 yards and two touchdowns. Last year in Week 12 versus Miami, Ward caught nine passes for 88 yards (9.8 avg.) in the Steelers 3-0 victory at a rain-soaked Heinz Field. Ward followed that up with 11 receptions for 90 yards (8.2 avg.) with two touchdowns in Week 13 against the Cincinnati Bengals. His 11 receptions tied for the second-highest total in his career and his two touchdowns marked the 14th career multi-touchdown game. In the 2007 regular-season home finale in Week 15, Ward caught his seventh touchdown pass of the season and finished with three catches for 27 yards (9.0 avg.) as the game was played in the snow throughout much of the contest. Hauling ‘Em In: WR Hines Ward became the first Steelers wide receiver to catch 700 passes in a career. Ward now has 725 career receptions and leads the team with six catches, 76 yards and two receiving touchdowns in 2008. He led the team with 71 receptions for 732 yards (10.3 avg.) in 2007. In 2005, Ward had three multi-touchdown and four 100-yard games. His 14.1-yard receiving average was his highest since 2000. Ward ranked second (tied) in the AFC and third (tied) in the NFL with 11 touchdown receptions in 2005, which was one shy of tying his career best (set in 2002) and of tying the Steelers’ singleseason mark.
Ward, who has led the Steelers in receiving the past six years, led the team with 69 catches for 975 yards in 2005. He finished just 25 receiving yards shy of his fifth straight 1,000-yard season. In 2004, Ward caught 80 passes for 1,004 yards (12.6 avg.) and four touchdowns. Red-Zone Receiver: WR Hines Ward has been a major target for Pittsburgh quarterbacks in the red zone. Since 2002, Ward is second (tied) in the NFL with 35 red-zone touchdowns. Ward had two in the 2008 season-opening victory over the Houston Texans. The following is a look at the top five active players in the NFL with touchdowns in the red zone since 2002: Player (Team) # of Red-Zone TDs 1. Randy Moss (Patriots/Raiders/Vikings) 36 2. Hines Ward (Steelers) 35 3. Marvin Harrison (Colts) 33 Terrell Owens (Cowboys/Eagles/49ers) 33 5. Antonio Gates (Chargers) 31
Pro Bowl Distinction: WR Hines Ward is the only wide receiver in Steelers history to be voted to four Pro Bowls. Ward’s 1,004 receiving yards in 2004 made him the first Steelers receiver to reach 1,000 yards four times during his career with the team. In 2002, Ward became the first receiver in Steelers history to catch 100 passes (112) in a season. He also became the first Steelers receiver with three consecutive games with at least 100 yards receiving. His 12 touchdown receptions in 2002 tied him with Louis Lipps (1985) and Buddy Dial (1961) for the highest single-season total in team history. Ward was selected to the 2002-05 AFC Pro Bowl squads. The following is where Ward ranks in Steelers history in several key receiving categories: Ward’s Rankings Among Steelers Receivers (All-Time) Category Statistic Receptions ....................................................................... 725 Receiving Yards ........................................................... 8,813 Receiving TDs ................................................................... 67 Consecutive Games w/ Catch ........................................ 147 1,000-Yd. Seasons (2001-04) ............................................. 4 Consecutive 1,000-Yd. Seasons (2001-04) ....................... 4 90-plus Catch Seasons (2001-03) ...................................... 3 Consecutive 90-plus Catch Seasons (2001-03) ................ 3 Receptions in a Season (2002) ....................................... 112 TD Receptions in a Season (2002) ................................... 12 Receptions in a Single Game (11/30/03) .......................... 13 Receiving Yards in a Season (2002) ........................... 1,329 Receiving Yards in a Game (10/22/06) .......................... 171 Career 100-Yard Games .................................................... 16 100-Yard Games in a Season (2002, 2005) ........................ 4 Consecutive 100-Yard Games (2002) ................................ 3 Rushing Yards by a Receiver ......................................... 426 Consecutive Pro Bowls by Receiver (2002-05) ................. 4
Rank ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st ......... T-1st ............ 2nd ............ 3rd ........... 11th ......... T-2nd ......... T-4th ............. 1st ............. 1st ............. 1st
Climbing the Charts: WR Hines Ward is the leading receiver in Steelers history in both receptions and receiving yardage. Following are the Steelers career receiving leaders: Steelers All-Time Leading Receivers Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Player No. Yds. Hines Ward (1998-present) .................. 725 ........ 8,813 John Stallworth (1974-87) ....................... 537 ........ 8,723 Louis Lipps (1984-91) .............................. 358 ........ 6,018 Lynn Swann (1974-82) ............................ 336 ........ 5,462 Elbie Nickel (1947-57) ............................. 329 ........ 5,133 Franco Harris (1972-83) ......................... 306 ........ 2,284 Plaxico Burress (2000-2004) ................... 261 ........ 4,164 Charles Johnson (1994-98) .................... 250 ........ 3,400 Merril Hoge (1987-93) .............................. 241 ........ 2,054 Ray Mathews (1951-59) .......................... 230 ........ 3,919
Avg. ...... 12.2 ...... 16.2 ...... 16.8 ...... 16.3 ...... 15.6 ........ 7.5 ...... 16.0 ...... 13.6 ........ 8.5 ...... 16.1
TDs ....... 67 ....... 63 ....... 39 ....... 51 ....... 37 ........ 9 ....... 22 ....... 15 ....... 13 ....... 34
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Steelers All-Time Receiving Yardage Leaders Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Player Rec. Yds. Hines Ward (1998-present) ................. 725 ........ 8,813 John Stallworth (1974-87) ...................... 537 ........ 8,723 Louis Lipps (1984-91) ............................. 358 ........ 6,018 Lynn Swann (1974-82) ........................... 336 ........ 5,462 Elbie Nickel (1947-57) ............................ 329 ........ 5,133 Buddy Dial (1959-63) ............................. 229 ........ 4,723 Plaxico Burress (2000-04) ..................... 261 ........ 4,164 Ray Mathews (1951-59) ......................... 230 ........ 3,919 Roy Jefferson (1965-69) ....................... 199 ........ 3,671 Yancey Thigpen (1992-97) ..................... 222 ........ 3,641
Avg. ....... 12.2 ....... 16.2 ....... 16.8 ....... 16.3 ....... 15.6 ....... 20.6 ....... 16.0 ....... 16.1 ....... 18.4 ....... 16.4
TDs ....... 67 ....... 63 ....... 39 ....... 51 ....... 37 ....... 42 ....... 22 ....... 34 ....... 29 ....... 21
Steelers’ All-Time Scoring Leaders Rank 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Player TDs PATs Gary Anderson (1982-93) ....................... 0 ...... 416 Roy Gerela (1971-78) ............................. 0 ...... 293 Jeff Reed (2002-present) ..................... 0 ...... 216 Franco Harris (1972-83) ..................... 100 .......... 0 Jerome Bettis (1996-2005) ................... 80 .......... 0 Norm Johnson (1995-98) ........................ 0 ...... 137 Hines Ward (1998-present) ............... 68 .......... 0 John Stallworth (1974-87) ..................... 64 .......... 0 Kris Brown (1999-01) .............................. 0 ........ 98 Lynn Swann (1974-82) .......................... 53 .......... 0
2pt. FGs Pts ....... 0 .... 309 .. 1,343 ....... 0 .... 146 ..... 731 ....... 0 .... 136 ..... 624 ....... 0 ........ 0 ..... 600 ....... 1 ........ 0 ..... 482 ....... 0 .... 105 ..... 452 ....... 5 ........ 0 ..... 418 ....... 0 ........ 0 ..... 384 ....... 0 ...... 80 ..... 338 ....... 0 ........ 0 ..... 318
Catching Consistency: WR Hines Ward has caught at least one pass in a Steelers’ record 147 consecutive games. That streak ranks third among active players for consecutive games with at least one reception. Jerry Rice (274) and Art Monk (183) own the top all-time record for consecutive games with a reception. The following is a look at the top three active players in the NFL with at least one reception in consecutive regular-season games: Player (Team) Consecutive Games Marvin Harrison (Colts) 176 Terrell Owens (Cowboys) 168 Hines Ward (Steelers) 147
Movin’ On Up: WR Hines Ward ranks eighth among active receivers in the NFL with 725 career receptions. The following is a list of the top 10 active receivers in the league: Name Marvin Harrison (Colts) Isaac Bruce (49ers) Terrell Owens (Cowboys) Tony Gonzalez (Chiefs) Torry Holt (Rams) Randy Moss (Patriots) Muhsin Muhammad (Panthers) Hines Ward (Steelers) Derrick Mason (Ravens) Joey Galloway (Buccaneers)
Yrs. 12 15 13 12 10 11 13 11 12 14
No. 1,050 942 887 826 806 780 748 725 714 675
Yards 14,020 14,109 13,157 9,937 11,873 12,309 9,990 8,813 9,068 10,628
TDs 123 84 130 66 71 125 56 67 47 77
Ward On The Run: WR Hines Ward’s versatility makes him a threat to run the football as well as catch a pass. Ward has 426 career rushing yards to mark the most by a Steelers wide receiver in team history. Ward scored his first career rushing touchdown in 2004 against Philadelphia. Season-Opening Gem: RB Willie Parker, in his first regularseason game since suffering a season-ending knee injury in Week 16 of last season, made the most of his opportunity in the season-opening victory over the Houston Texans to show he is back at full strength. Parker finished with 138 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.5 avg.) with a career-high three touchdowns, marking the 22nd time in his career he has rushed for over 100 yards. His 138 yards rushing are the fourth-highest by Parker.
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In four season openers as a starter, Parker had four 100-yard rushing games. In those contests, he has 99 rushes for 540 yards (5.5 avg.) with five touchdowns for an average of 135.0 yards per game on the ground. In 2005 against Tennessee in the season opener, Parker finished with 22 carries for 161 yards (7.3 avg.) and a touchdown while also hauling in a pass for 48 yards. That performance ranks seventh over the past 10 years for most rushing yards on Kickoff Weekend. Parker Powering Through: Prior to his season-ending injury in Week 16 in 2007, RB Willie Parker led the NFL with 1,316 rushing yards and was looking to become the first Steeler to lead the league in rushing since Bill Dudley did in 1946 with 604 yards rushing. He finished the season fourth in the NFL in rushing yards. Parker rushed for more than 100 yards in eight games in 2007 and nine of his last 16, dating back to the 2006 season. He had a league-best eight 100-yard rushing games on the year, breaking his previous career high that he set in 2006. Gimme The Rock: RB Willie Parker rushed 25 times for 138 yards in the season-opening victory over the Texans. Last year, he rushed a league-high 321 times for 1,316 yards (4.1 avg.) before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 16. Parker’s 337 rushing attempts in 2006 rank fourth on the team’s single-season rushing attempts list. He moved into fourth place ahead of Jerome Bettis, who had 320 in 1996. Big Play Parker: RB Willie Parker made a number of big plays for the Steelers in 2007 as he led the team in rushing with 1,316 yards. Of those yards, Parker broke 12 plays of at least 20 yards, including a season-long of 32 yards against Cincinnati in Week 8. His 12 plays of 20-plus yards ranked second in the NFL behind LaDainian Tomlinson’s 13. The following is a list of the top five “big play” rushers in 2007: Player LaDainian Tomlinson Willie Parker Ryan Grant Adrian Peterson Brian Westbrook
Team San Diego Pittsburgh Green Bay Minnesota Philadelphia
20+ rushes 13 12 11 11 11
Parker Proving His Worth: RB Willie Parker rushed for over 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season as he finished the 2007 season with 1,316 yards. He is just the third running back in team history to accomplish the feat (Jerome Bettis, Franco Harris). Parker finished the 2007 season just 179 yards shy of his careerhigh 1,494 yards before suffering a season-ending injury in Week 16. He finished the year ranked third in the AFC and sixth in the NFL. Parker has 22 career 100-yard rushing games and the Steelers are 19-3 in those contests. He had a league-leading eight 100yard rushing games in 2007, which ranked fourth on the team’s single-season list. Parker surpassed his previous best from the 2005 season (1,202) after rushing for over 100 yards in seven games last year. His 1,494 rushing yards last year are the third-highest singleseason total in team history, finishing just shy of reaching 1,500 for the year.
Home Sweet Home: RB Willie Parker has done some of his best work at Heinz Field throughout his career. Thirteen of his 22 100-yard rushing games have come at home. The following is a comparison of Parker’s production at Heinz Field compared to regular-season road contests as a starter during his five-year career: Statistic Heinz Field (24 gms.) Away (23 gms.) Team record ........................................................ 17-7 .......................... 12-11 Rushing Yards (Total) ....................................... 2,474 ......................... 1,675 Rushing Yards (Avg./Game) ........................... 103.1 ........................... 72.8 Rushing Attempts (Total) .................................... 534 ............................ 404 Rushing Attempts (Avg./Game) ........................ 22.3 ........................... 17.6 Rushing Touchdowns (Total) ................................. 13 ................................ 9 100-Yard Rushing Games ..................................... 13 ................................ 9
Holmes Heating Up: WR Santonio Holmes led the Steelers with 942 yards (18.1 avg.) and eight touchdown receptions in 2007 despite missing three games. Holmes’ 942 yards receiving in 2007 were a new career high, surpassing his 2006 total of 824 yards. He had a career-high 133 yards receiving four catches (33.3 avg.) in the Week 16 win over St. Louis, marking his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career. His performance was highlighted by a career-long 83-yard catch. Holmes had a breakout day in Week 4 of 2007 at Arizona as he finished with six catches for 128 yards (21.3 avg.) with two touchdowns. His catches tied a career high while his touchdowns were a personal-best. It marked his first multi-touchdown game of his career. Holmes had his second 100-yard receiving game of last season in Week 9 versus Baltimore as he posted four catches for 110 yards with two touchdowns. He began the year with two catches for 55 yards (27.5 avg.), including a 40-yard touchdown reception, in the season-opening victory at Cleveland. League Leader: WR Santonio Holmes finished the regular season averaging 18.1 yards per reception. His 18.1 average was tops in the league and was the most by a Steeler since WR Louis Lipps posted an 18.9 average (50 receptions for 944 yards) during the 1989 season. Holmes had 52 catches for 942 yards in 2007. Miller Time: TE Heath Miller has developed into one of the Steelers most potent offensive weapons. He had three catches for 26 yards (8.7 avg.) in the season opener versus the Houston Texans. In 2007, Miller was third on the team with 47 catches for 566 yards (12.0 avg.) and seven touchdowns, which were a new career high. Miller’s blocking ability separates him from many “receiving” tight ends and has played a major role in the success of the Steelers running game. Mendenhall’s Debut: Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall, the team’s first round draft pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, made his NFL debut in Week 1 versus the Houston Texans. Mendenhall saw significant action in his first game, finishing with 10 carries for 28 yards (2.8 avg.) as a backup to RB Willie Parker.
Harrison In Charge: LB James Harrison started off with a bang in 2008 and appears to be picking up right where he left off in 2007, when he earned his first Pro Bowl berth (starter). Harrison, the Steelers’ 2007 Team MVP, had an outstanding game in Week 1 of 2008 as he finished with a team-high eight tackles (six solo), three sacks and one forced fumble. It marked the second time in his career he posted at least three sacks in a game as he tallied 3.5 sacks versus Baltimore on Nov. 5, 2007. Harrison was named AFC Defensive Player of the Month of November (2007) after posting the best game of his career in the Week 9 Monday Night Football victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Harrison, who led the team with 8.5 sacks last season, finished with nine tackles (eight solo), 3.5 sacks (for 25 yards), three forced fumbles (one on special teams), one fumble recovery and one interception. Harrison was named AFC Defensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Harrison is the first player since 1982 (when the NFL recognized sacks as an official stat) to record 3.5 sacks, a fumble recovery and an interception in one game. On the year, Harrison had 80 tackles, ranking fourth on the team. Fantastic Farrior: LB James Farrior signed a new five-year deal prior to the 2008 season. He responded in Week 1 with five tackles and a half-sack in the win over Houston. Farrior led the team with 111 tackles and had a career-high six sacks last season. For his career, Farrior has 10 interceptions, including seven with Pittsburgh and three while playing for the Jets. Bringing The Wood: LB LaMarr Woodley made his first NFL start in the season-opening victory over the Houston Texans and did not disappoint. Woodley, in his second season in the NFL, finished with three tackles (all solo), one sack, one interception and one fumble recovery. His sack was the fifth of his career and his pick was his first career interception. In 2007, Woodley had four sacks and just 13 tackles (nine solo). Putting His Foote Down: LB Larry Foote had 89 tackles in 2007 along with three sacks and three forced fumbles as he was a main reason the Steelers defense ranked first in the NFL. His 89 tackles ranked third on the team. In the Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans this year, Foote finished with four tackles (one solo). Timmons Time: LB Lawrence Timmons, the Steelers’ No. 1 pick in the 2007 NFL Draft, had a very productive 2008 preseason and looks to become a major player in an already solid defense. During the 2008 preseason, Timmons finished with a teambest 18 tackles (nine solo) with one sack (eight yards) and one pass defensed. He started the final preseason game at RILB in place of the injured LB Larry Foote. Timmons had three tackles in the Week 1 victory over the Texans. Turning The Corner: CB Deshea Townsend continues to be a mainstay in the Steelers secondary after 10-plus seasons in the league. Townsend was second on the team (tied) with two interceptions in 2007. He finished with two tackles in the Week 1 victory over Houston.
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Man Of Troy: SS Troy Polamalu picked off his first pass of 2008 in the season opener against the Houston Texans. It was his 11th career interception as he also finished with three tackles (all solo). Polamalu had 74 tackles in 2007 and 12 passes defensed, despite missing five weeks (5, 12, 13, 14, 17) with an injury. Polamalu, who signed a four-year extension with the team in the 2007 offseason, was selected to his fourth straight Pro Bowl in 2007. Clark Return Is Key: S Ryan Clark, who suffered a seasonending injury in 2007 (Week 7) at Denver, returned to regularseason action for the first time and had a very productive afternoon against the Houston Texans in the 2008 season opener. Clark finished with seven tackles (five solo) while helping the Steelers shut down the Texans’ offense much of the afternoon. The Steelers limited Houston to just 234 yards of total offense in the 38-17 victory. Face Me Ike: CB Ike Taylor, who finished second on the team in 2007 with 90 tackles, posted six solo tackles in the Week 1 victory over the Houston Texans at Heinz Field. Taylor helped the Steelers hold Houston to only 234 yards of total offense, including just 75 yards on the ground. Getting His Kicks: K Jeff Reed began the 2008 season perfect as he was a perfect 5-for-5 in PATs and 1-for-1 in FGs in the win over the Texans in Week 1. Reed was 23-for-25 (.920) in field goals in 2007, with his only misses being a 65-yard attempt at Denver in Week 7 and a 44yard field goal on a rain-soaked Heinz Field versus Miami in Week 12. He was a perfect 44-for-44 in PATs for a team-high 113 points. Reed ranks third in scoring in Steelers’ history with 624 career points. He has 136 field goals and 216 PATs during his sevenyear career with the Steelers. He is just the fourth kicker in team history to boot at least 100 field goals in a career, joining Gary Anderson (309), Roy Gerela (146) and Norm Johnson (105). Reed’s136 career field goals rank third on the team’s all-time list. Captains Named: WR Hines Ward (co-offense), LB James Farrior (defense), QB Ben Roethlisberger (co-offense) and K Jeff Reed (special teams) were named captains for the Steelers in 2008. It marks Ward’s fourth consecutive honor while it was Farrior’s fifth straight. Roethlisberger and Reed both earned their first honor.
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THE STEELERS IN 2008
Overall: At Home: On the Road: Neutral:
Regular Season 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0
Post Season 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
By Month: September: October: November: December: January:
1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
vs. AFC: vs. AFC North vs. AFC East vs. AFC South vs. AFC West
1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
vs. NFC: vs. NFC East vs. NFC North vs. NFC South vs. NFC West
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
When Scoring First: When Opponent Scored First: When Scoring 20 or More Points: When Scoring Less Than 20 Points: When Leading after the first quarter: When Trailing after the first quarter: When Tied after the first quarter: When Leading at the Half: When Trailing at the Half: When Tied at the Half: When Leading after three quarters: When Trailing after three quarters: When Tied after three quarters: When Outrushing the Opponent: With 35 or More Rushing Attempts: With Less Than 25 Passing Attempts: When Led in Time of Possession: When Trailed in Time of Possession:
1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 1-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
On Turf: On Grass:
0-0 1-0
0-0 0-0
When led in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: When even in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: When trailed in Takeaway/Turnover Ratio: With an Individual 100-Yard Rusher: With an Individual 300-Yard Passer: With an Individual 100-Yard Receiver: With an Ind. Opponent 100-Yard Rusher: With an Ind. Opponent 300-Yard Passer: With an Ind. Opponent 100-Yard Receiver:
1-0 0-0 0-0 1-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 1-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
When winning the coin toss: When losing the coin toss: When playing outdoors: When playing indoors: In overtime games:
0-0 1-0 1-0 0-0 0-0
0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0
Preseason Game #1
Preseason Game #2
Pittsburgh 16, Philadelphia 10 Aug. 8, 2008 Heinz Field (57,410)
Buffalo 24, Pittsburgh 21 Aug. 14, 2008 Rogers Centre (48,434)
PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh won its preseason opener for the third time in four years as it defeated the visiting Philadelphia Eagles, 16-10, at Heinz Field on Aug. 8. The win was the Steelers’ fifth in the past six preseason games. The Steelers first-team offense looked solid as they took the opening kickoff 80 yards that was capped off with a 19-yard touchdown strike from QB Ben Roethlisberger to WR Santonio Holmes to give Pittsburgh an early 7-0 advantage. On the drive, Roethlisberger was 2-for-2 for 38 yards as he also connected with WR Hines Ward for a 19-yard completion. Philadelphia responded on the ensuing drive and trimmed the lead to 73 as K David Akers booted a 28-yard field goal with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The Eagles grabbed a 10-7 lead early in the second quarter as QB Donovan McNabb found FB Jason Davis for a three-yard score. Pittsburgh tied the game at 10-10 later in the second quarter on a 20yard field goal by K Jeff Reed. However, on the drive backup QB Charlie Batch suffered a fractured collarbone and was replaced by rookie QB Dennis Dixon. After a scoreless third quarter Reed connected on a pair of field goals in the fourth quarter, including a 50-yader with 7:28 left in the game to cap the scoring for both teams. The Steelers managed just 189 yards of total offense, but 80 of them came on the opening drive when the starters saw their only action. Philadelphia collected 271 yards of total offense in the game. Rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall led the Steelers with 34 yards rushing on seven carries (4.9 avg.). RB Justin Vincent added nine carries for 28 yards (3.1 avg.). Rookie WR Limas Sweed caught three passes for 23 yards to lead all Steelers. LB James Farrior, LB Donovan Woods and DE Nick Eason all posted a sack for the Steelers.
TORONTO — Playing their first preseason game in Canada since 1990, the Pittsburgh Steelers suffered a 24-21 setback to the host Buffalo Bills on Aug. 14 at the Rogers Centre. The loss dropped the Steelers to 1-1 in the preseason while the Bills improved to 1-1. The Steelers came out on their first offensive series of the game and moved the ball to the Bills’ 27-yard line before QB Ben Roethlisberger’s pass was tipped and picked off by Donte Whitner. Buffalo responded with a 10-play drive that ended with Trent Edwards finding Robert Royal in the end zone for a seven-yard score, giving it a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter. Buffalo upped the lead to 14-0 on its next possession as Edwards and Royal connected again, this time a 13-yard touchdown strike. Pittsburgh’s first-team offense got on the board on the ensuing drive as Roethlisberger engineered a five-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a 40-yard pass to WR Santonio Holmes for a touchdown. The Steelers had a chance to cut the lead to 14-10 later in the half but a 42-yard field goal by K Jeff Reed sailed wide left. After Buffalo took a 17-7 lead on its first drive of the second half, Pittsburgh again cut the lead to three points, 17-14, as rookie first-round draft pick RB Rashard Mendenhall scored from six yards out with 1:56 remaining in the third. However, Buffalo’s Leodis McKelvin returned the kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to stretch the Bills’ lead to 24-14. Rookie QB Dennis Dixon gave Pittsburgh hope as he scrambled around the right side with under five minutes to go in the game for a 47-yard score. He later tossed a hail mary pass as time expired that would have given the Steelers the victory, but Buffalo batted away the pass in the end zone. Pittsburgh finished with 338 yards of total offense to the Bills’ 263. Roethlisberger had another solid game as he finished 9-for-11 for 142 yards with one touchdown and one interception (111.2 passer rating). Dixon was 6-for-15 for 79 yards with one rushing touchdown, while newly-acquired QB Byron Leftwich finished 5-for-11 for 41 yards. Pittsburgh had three defensive sacks, including one each by LB Lawrence Timmons, LB James Harrison and DE Brett Keisel. Timmons led the Steelers with seven total tackles (four solo).
GAME SUMMARY Eagles (0-1) STEELERS (1-0)
3 7
7 3
0 0
0 6
10 16
TEAM Q TIME PLAY
DRIVE
SCORE
PIT PHI PHI PIT PIT PIT
8-80; 4:33 14-70; 7:19 8-65; 3:31 9-43; 5:13 7-15; 3:20 6-18; 2:49
7-0 7-3 7-10 10-10 13-10 16-10
1 1 2 2 4 4
10:27 3:08 12:56 3:29 12:02 7:28
Holmes 19 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick) Akers 28 FG Davis 3 pass from McNabb (Akers kick) Reed 20 FG Reed 24 FG Reed 50 FG
TEAM STATISTICS Eagles
Steelers
1st Downs 19 (4-13-2) 9 (6-2-1) 3rd Downs 3-14 (21%) 4-14 (29%) 4th Downs 0-1 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Total Net Yards 271 189 Plays-Avg. 71-3.8 52-3.6 Rushing Yards 61 118 Rush Att.-Avg. 20-3.1 35-3.4 Passing Yards 210 71 Att.-Comp.-Int. 48-28-0 16-9-0 Sacks By 1-0 3-19 Punts-Avg. 7-38.1 7-42.0 Penalties 10-78 5-67 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 0-0 Time of Poss. 30:29 29:31
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING: Phi. – Hunt 6-18; Buckhalter 518; Booker 4-16; Moats 3-9; Feeley 1-0; Kolb 1-0. Pit. – Mendenhall 7-34; Vincent 9-28; Russell 10-25; Parker 3-20; Batch 1-6; Davis 2-4; Moore 1-2; Bloom 1-0; Potts 1-(-1). PASSING: Phi. – Kolb 21-12-0, 81; Feeley 14-6-0, 51; McNabb 13-10-0, 97, 1 TD. Pit. – Dixon 9-6-0, 30; Batch 3-1-0, 3; Roethlisberger 2-2-0, 38, 1 TD; Potts 2-0-0, 0. RECEIVING: Phi. – Jackson 5-51; Lewis 338; Avant 3-24; Buckhalter 3-15; Baskett 2-17; McBride 2-14; Booker 2-2; Hardy 1-17; Smith 1-14; Curtis 1-8; Gasperson 1-8; Moats 1-7; Hunt 1-6; Jones 1-5; Davis 1-3, 1 TD. Pit. – Sweed 3-23; Russell 2-2; Holmes 1-19, 1 TD; Ward 1-19; Reid 1-5; Davis 1-3.
GAME SUMMARY STEELERS (1-1) Bills (1-1)
0 7
7 7
7 10
7 0
21 24
TEAM Q TIME PLAY
DRIVE
SCORE
BUF BUF PIT BUF PIT BUF PIT
10-67; 4:55 11-90; 6:43 5-75; 3:17 9-45; 5:27 5-18; 2:33 —; — 4-56; 2:20
0-7 0-14 7-14 7-17 14-17 14-24 21-24
1 2 2 3 3 3 4
5:03 9:43 6:26 9:33 1:51 1:38 4:32
Royal 7 pass from Edwards (Lindell kick) Royal 13 pass from Edwards (Lindell kick) Holmes 40 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick) Lindell 43 FG Mendenhall 6 run (Reed kick) McKelvin 95 kickoff return (Lindell kick) Dixon 47 run (Reed kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Steelers
RUSHING: Pit. – Dixon 2-54, 1 TD; Mendenhall 11-30, 1 TD; Parker 5-14; Russell 3-10; Vincent 1-0. Buf. – Omon 10-44; Wright 7-31; Lynch 5-25; Edwards 1-22; Hall 3-19; Jackson 5-18.
Bills
1st Downs 15 (4-11-0) 15 (8-7-0) 3rd Downs 5-14 (36%) 4-11 (36%) 4th Downs 2-2 (100%) 0-0 (0%) Total Net Yards 338 263 Plays-Avg. 61-5.5 52-5.1 Rushing Yards 108 159 Rush Att.-Avg. 22-4.9 31-5.1 Passing Yards 230 104 Att.-Comp.-Int. 37-20-1 18-14-0 Sacks By 3-22 2-32 Punts-Avg. 5-47.0 6-44.8 Penalties 5-30 4-26 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1 Time of Poss. 28:37 31:23
PASSING: Pit. – Dixon 15-6-0, 79; Roethlisberger 11-9-1, 142, 1 TD; Leftwich 115-0, 41. Buf. – Edwards 11-9-0, 104, 2 TDs; Losman 5-4-0, 19; Baker 2-1-0, 3. RECEIVING: Pit. – Baker 3-57; Ward 3-48; Reid 3-21; Holmes 2-53, 1 TD; Washington 230; Spaeth 2-23; Sweed 2-9; Moore 1-14; Parker 1-4; Latsko 1-3. Buf. – L. Evans 3-55; Jackson 3-10; Royal 2-20, 2 TDs; Parrish 219; Lynch 1-8; Wright 1-6; Huggins 1-5; J. Evans 1-3.
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Preseason Game #3
Preseason Game #4
Pittsburgh 12, Minnesota 10 Aug. 23, 2008 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (62,625)
Pittsburgh 19, Carolina 16 Aug. 28, 2008 Heinz Field (50,485)
MINNEAPOLIS — K Jeff Reed booted a 47-yard, game-winning field goal with four seconds left in the game to give Pittsburgh a come-frombehind 12-10 victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Aug. 23 at the Metrodome. The win upped the Steelers preseason record to 2-1 while the Vikings fell to 1-2. Reed was a perfect 4-for-4 in field goals on the night, providing all the points for the Steelers in the victory. He connected on field goals of 35, 43 and 37 yards prior to his game-winning 47-yarder. The Steelers fell behind 7-0 early in the second quarter as RB Adrian Peterson scored from one yard out. The 47-yard drive began after Steelers’ RB Rashard Mendenhall fumbled near midfield. Reed put Pittsburgh on the board later in the quarter with his 35-yard field goal, which was set up by an interception by CB Ike Taylor off of a QB Gus Frerotte pass attempt. Minnesota tacked on a 37-yard field goal on its first drive of the second half to make the score 10-3. However, a 56-yard drive by Pittsburgh extended over seven minutes and culminated with a 43-yarder by Reed at the 2:50 mark of the third quarter. A pair of Reed field goals in the fourth quarter capped the scoring for the Steelers. Pittsburgh finished with 281 yards of total offense (102 rushing, 179 passing) while limiting the Vikings to just 163 yards, including a mere 32 yards rushing. QB Ben Roethlisberger finished 10-for-17 for 65 yards passing while backup QB Byron Leftwich was 16-for-23 for 129 yards. Mendenhall tallied a game-high 79 yards rushing on 15 attempts (5.3 avg.). He also caught two passes for 15 yards out of the backfield. WR Willie Reid posted five receptions for 55 yards (11.0 avg.), while TE Heath Miller added three catches for 30 yards (10.0 avg.). Pittsburgh finished with four sacks in the game, including one each by DE Aaron Smith, LB James Harrison, LB LaMarr Woodley and LB Arnold Harrison. Smith, Harrison, Woodley and S Tyrone Carter each added a team-high five tackles.
PITTSBURGH — For the second consecutive week, K Jeff Reed played the role of hero for the Steelers as he booted a 43-yard field goal as time expired to give the Steelers a 19-16 victory over the Carolina Panthers on August 28 at Heinz Field. Reed’s game-winning kick was his fourth field goal of the night after he previously hit from distances of 41, 49 and 41 yards. The victory gave the Steelers a 3-1 preseason record while the Panthers fell to 2-2. Carolina struck first on a 32-yard field goal by K John Kasay but the Steelers answered by taking a 16-6 lead into the fourth quarter after a six-yard touchdown run by FB Carey Davis and three Reed field goals sandwiched around another 32-yard field goal by Kasay. Carolina came from behind to tie the game in the fourth quarter behind a 48-yard field goal from Kasay and a 29-yard touchdown pass from QB Brett Basanez to WR Chris Hannon with only 1:54 remaining in the game. Steelers’ QB Dennis Dixon responded by leading the Steelers on an eight play, 47-yard drive that was culminated with Reed hitting the gamewinner from 43-yards out. On the drive Dixon was a perfect 4-of-4 for 32 yards, along with an 11-yard scramble. The Steelers finished the evening with 302 yards of total offense (178 rushing, 124 passing) while the Panthers amassed 323 yards, with only 62 of those coming on the ground on 25 attempts (2.5 avg.). RB Rashard Mendenhall led the Steelers with 79 yards on 21 carries (3.8 avg.) while RB Gary Russell added 43 yards on 14 attempts (3.1 avg.) as the Steelers controlled the ball for 32:29 and finished with 44 rushes for 178 yards (4.0 avg.) as a team. Defensively, the Steelers forced two turnovers on interceptions by CB Bryant McFadden and LB Keyaron Fox. Fox also led the team with eight tackles (four solo) while rookie LB Donovan Woods recorded the Steelers only sack of the evening.
GAME SUMMARY STEELERS (2-1) Vikings (1-2)
0 0
3 7
3 3
6 0
12 10
TEAM Q TIME PLAY
DRIVE
SCORE
MIN PIT MIN PIT PIT PIT
6-47; 1:44 9-18; 4:06 11-60; 4:54 13-56; 7:16 13-65; 5:50 11-45; 2:12
0-7 3-7 3-10 6-10 9-10 12-10
2 2 3 3 4 4
14:12 6:40 10:06 2:50 10:02 0:04
Peterson 1 run (Longwell kick) Reed 35 FG Longwell 37 FG Reed 43 FG Reed 37 FG Reed 47 FG
GAME SUMMARY Panthers (2-2) STEELERS (3-1)
3 10
3 3
0 3
10 3
16 19
TEAM Q TIME PLAY
DRIVE
SCORE
CAR PIT PIT PIT CAR PIT CAR CAR PIT
8-37; 3:51 5-77; 2:56 6-18; 2:29 10-60; 4:24 11-44; 1:37 12-51; 6:56 7-20; 3:18 7-67; 2:28 8-47; 1:54
0-3 7-3 10-3 13-3 13-6 16-6 16-9 16-16 19-16
1 1 1 2 2 3 4 4 4
9:43 6:47 0:57 8:42 0:33 6:02 11:33 1:54 0:00
Kasay 32 FG Davis 6 run (Reed kick) Reed 41 FG Reed 49 FG Kasay 32 FG Reed 41 FG Kasay 48 FG Hannon 29 pass from Basanez (Kasay kick) Reed 43 FG
TEAM STATISTICS
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
TEAM STATISTICS
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Steelers
RUSHING: Pit. – Mendenhall 15-79; Parker 10-18; Moore 1-4; Russell 1-4; Roethlisberger 1-0. Min. – Peterson 12-21, 1 TD; Taylor 4-5; Hicks 3-5; Frerotte 1-1; Young 2-0.
Panthers
RUSHING: Car. – Birmingham 9-38; Toefield 13-18; Basanez 1-4; Fleming 1-2; Moore 1-0. Pit. – Mendenhall 21-79; Russell 14-43; Parker 4-34; Davis 3-11, 1 TD; Dixon 1-11; Roethlisberger 1-0.
Vikings
1st Downs 19 (4-13-2) 12 (1-9-2) 3rd Downs 5-17 (29%) 4-12 (33%) 4th Downs 3-4 (75%) 0-0 (0%) Total Net Yards 281 163 Plays-Avg. 74-3.8 50-3.3 Rushing Yards 102 32 Rush Att.-Avg. 31-3.3 22-1.5 Passing Yards 179 131 Att.-Comp.-Int. 40-26-0 24-17-1 Sacks By 4-21 3-15 Punts-Avg. 4-48.0 7-48.6 Penalties 8-65 10-75 Fumbles-Lost 2-2 0-0 Time of Poss. 36:23 23:37
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PASSING: Pit. – Leftwich 23-16-0, 129; Roethlisberger 17-10-0, 65. Min. – Frerotte 19-13-1, 133; Booty 5-4-0, 19. RECEIVING: Pit. – Reid 5-55; Miller 3-30; Sweed 3-28; Baker 3-23; Moore 3-12; Mendenhall 2-15; Sherrod 2-10; Parker 2-2; Washington 1-11; Ward 1-6; Latsko 1-2. Min. – Allison 5-56; Peterson 3-11; Shiancoe 2-36; Nance 2-25; Tahi 2-6; N. Jones 1-7; B. Jones 1-6; Tapeh 1-5.
Steelers
1st Downs 17 (3-13-1) 18 (9-7-2) 3rd Downs 4-14 (29%) 4-14 (29%) 4th Downs 0-1 (0%) 0-1 (0%) Total Net Yards 323 302 Plays-Avg. 64-5.0 67-4.5 Rushing Yards 62 178 Rush Att.-Avg. 25-2.5 44-4.0 Passing Yards 261 124 Att.-Comp.-Int. 38-21-2 23-11-0 Sacks By 0-0 1-9 Punts-Avg. 5-40.2 5-35.8 Penalties 8-80 4-20 Fumbles-Lost 1-0 2-1 Time of Poss. 27:21 32:39
PASSING: Car. – Moore 27-15-2, 164; Basanez 11-6-0, 106, 1 TD. Pit. – Leftwich 146-0, 82; Dixon 9-5-0, 42. RECEIVING: Car. – Jarrett 6-56; Thompson 5-74; Barnidge 3-33; Taylor 2-25; Fleming 220; Hannon 1-29, 1 TD; Rosario 1-21; Birmingham 1-12. Pit. – Baker 2-35; Allen 222; Drummond 2-10; Moore 1-26; Russell 113; Rucker 1-10; Davis 1-5; Sherrod 1-3.
Game #1 Pittsburgh 38, Houston 17 Sept. 7, 2008 Heinz Field (64,001) PITTSBURGH — The Steelers scored touchdowns on their first three offensive possessions, and an opportunistic defense turned two interceptions, five sacks and a forced fumble into a 38-17 season-opening victory over the Houston Texans on Sept. 7 at Heinz Field. It marked Pittsburgh’s sixth straight season-opening victory, the longest in the NFL. The Steelers stopped the Texans on a fourth-and-one during the opening possession. QB Ben Roethlisberger then led the Steelers on an eightplay, 52-yard drive that was punctuated by a seven-yard touchdown run by RB Willie Parker, the first of his career-high three touchdowns on the day. Parker put the Steelers up 14-0 early in the second quarter when he ran 13 yards for his second touchdown of the game. On the Steelers’ next possession, Roethlisberger found WR Hines Ward from 13 yards out for the first of two hookups between the two. A 34-yard field goal by Texans K Kris Brown late in the second quarter made the score 21-3 Steelers at the half. Pittsburgh picked right up where it left off early in the third quarter as Parker finished a 10-play, 71-yard drive by scoring his third touchdown of the game. Ward added a 16-yard touchdown reception from Roethlisberger on the next series. K Jeff Reed added a 44-yard field goal in the fourth quarter, sandwiched between a 14-yard touchdown pass from Schaub to WR Kevin Walter and a four-yard touchdown run by Schaub to give the Steelers a 38-17 victory. Pittsburgh outgained the Texans 305-234 in total offense, including 183 rushing yards to Houston’s 75. Roethlisberger finished the game 13-for-14 passing for 137 yards with two touchdowns and a passer rating of 147.0 The Steelers ran the ball 39 times for 183 yards (4.7 avg.) as Parker had 25 carries for 138 yards (5.5 avg.) with three touchdowns and rookie RB Rashard Mendenhall added 10 carries for 28 yards (2.8 avg.) in his NFL debut. Ward led the Steelers with six catches for 76 yards (12.7 avg.) with two touchdowns. S Troy Polamalu and LB LaMarr Woodley each had an interception. The Steelers registered five sacks in the game, including three by LB James Harrison, one by Woodley and a half-sack each by LB James Farrior and DE Nick Eason.
GAME SUMMARY Texans (0-1) STEELERS (1-0)
0 7
3 14
0 14
14 3
17 38
TEAM Q TIME PLAY
DRIVE
SCORE
PIT PIT PIT HOU PIT PIT HOU PIT HOU
8-52; 4:48 11-76; 6:03 2-32; 0:28 4-(-4); 2:06 10-71; 5:50 9-80; 5:36 8-57; 4:14 4-2; 0:54 10-74; 4:10
7-0 14-0 21-0 21-3 28-3 35-3 35-10 38-10 38-17
1 2 2 2 3 3 4 4 4
5:44 11:00 9:03 4:29 9:10 2:04 9:00 5:24 1:14
Parker 7 run (Reed kick) Parker 13 run (Reed kick) Ward 13 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick) Brown 34 FG Parker 4 run (Reed kick) Ward 16 pass from Roethlisberger (Reed kick) Walter 14 pass from Schaub (Brown kick) Reed 44 FG Schaub 4 run (Brown kick)
TEAM STATISTICS
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
Texans
RUSHING: Hou. – Slaton 13-43; Green 5-28; Schaub 2-4, 1 TD. Pit. – Parker 25-138, 3 TDs; Mendenhall 10-28; Roethlisberger 2-17; Leftwich 2-0.
Steelers
1st Downs 20 (5-13-2) 21 (10-9-2) 3rd Downs 3-10 (30%) 6-10 (60%) 4th Downs 0-1 (0%) 0-0 (0%) Total Net Yards 234 305 Plays-Avg. 58-4.0 59-5.2 Rushing Yards 75 183 Rush Att.-Avg. 20-3.8 39-4.7 Passing Yards 159 122 Att.-Comp.-Int. 33-25-2 18-13-0 Sacks By 2-15 5-43 Punts-Avg. 4-43.3 3-43.0 Penalties 5-43 4-41 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 3-1 Time of Poss. 28:29 31:31
PASSING: Hou. – Schaub 33-25-2, 202, 1 TD. Pit. – Roethlisberger 14-13-0, 137, 2 TDs; Leftwich 4-0-0, 0. RECEIVING: Hou. – Johnson 10-112; Green 4-3; Walter 3-41, 1 TD; Daniels 3-33; Slaton 36; Leach 1-5; Anderson 1-2. Pit. – Ward 6-76, 2 TDs; Miller 3-26; Holmes 2-19; Davis 1-10; Spaeth 1-6.
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PITTSBURGH STEELERS / WEEK 1 / THROUGH SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2008 WON 1, LOST 0 09/07 W 38-17 09/14 09/21 09/29 10/05 10/19 10/26 11/03 11/09 11/16 11/20 11/30 12/07 12/14 12/21 12/28
Houston 64,001 at Cleveland at Philadelphia Baltimore at Jacksonville at Cincinnati New York Giants at Washington Indianapolis San Diego Cincinnati at New England Dallas at Baltimore at Tennessee Cleveland Pitt. Opp. TOTAL FIRST DOWNS 21 20 Rushing 10 5 Passing 9 13 Penalty 2 2 3rd Down: Made/Att 6/10 3/10 3rd Down Pct. 60.0 30.0 4th Down: Made/Att 0/0 0/1 4th Down Pct. 0.0 0.0 POSSESSION AVG. 31:31 28:29 TOTAL NET YARDS 305 234 Avg. Per Game 305.0 234.0 Total Plays 59 58 Avg. Per Play 5.2 4.0 NET YARDS RUSHING 183 75 Avg. Per Game 183.0 75.0 Total Rushes 39 20 NET YARDS PASSING 122 159 Avg. Per Game 122.0 159.0 Sacked/Yards Lost 2/15 5/43 Gross Yards 137 202 Att./Completions 18/13 33/25 Completion Pct. 72.2 75.8 Had Intercepted 0 2 PUNTS/AVERAGE 3/43.0 4/43.3 NET PUNTING AVG. 3/41.3 4/39.0 PENALTIES/YARDS 4/41 5/43 FUMBLES/BALL LOST 3/1 1/1 TOUCHDOWNS 5 2 Rushing 3 1 Passing 2 1 Returns 0 0 * SCORE BY PERIODS Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 OT PTS TEAM 7 14 14 3 0 38 OPPONENTS 0 3 0 14 0 17 * SCORING TD-Ru-Pa-Rt K-PAT FG S PTS Parker 3 3 0 0 0 18 Ward 2 0 2 0 0 12 Reed 0 0 0 0 5/ 5 1/ 1 0 8 TEAM 5 3 2 0 5/ 5 1/ 1 0 38 OPPONENTS 2 1 1 0 2/ 2 1/ 1 0 17 2-Pt. Conversions: TEAM 0-0, OPPONENTS 0-0 SACKS: J. Harrison 3, Woodley 1, Eason 0.5, Farrior 0.5, TEAM 5, OPPONENTS 2 FUM/LOST: Roethlisberger 2/1, Holmes 1/0 * PASSING Roethlisberger Leftwich TEAM OPPONENTS
* RUSHING Parker Mendenhall Roethlisberger Leftwich TEAM OPPONENTS * RECEIVING Ward Miller Holmes C. Davis Spaeth TEAM OPPONENTS * INTERCEPTIONS Woodley Polamalu TEAM OPPONENTS * PUNTING Berger TEAM OPPONENTS * PUNT RETURNS Moore TEAM OPPONENTS * KICKOFF RETURNS Mendenhall Moore TEAM OPPONENTS * FIELD GOALS Reed TEAM OPPONENTS Reed: (44G) OPPONENTS: (34G)
Att Cmp Yds Cmp% Yds/Att TD 14 13 137 92.9 9.79 2 4 0 0 0.0 0.00 0 18 13 137 72.2 7.61 2 33 25 202 75.8 6.12 1
No. Yds Avg Long TD 25 138 5.5 32 3 10 28 2.8 9 0 2 17 8.5 17 0 2 0 0.0 0 0 39 183 4.7 32 3 20 75 3.8 14 1 No. Yds Avg Long TD 6 76 12.7 29 2 3 26 8.7 11 0 2 19 9.5 10 0 1 10 10.0 10 0 1 6 6.0 6 0 13 137 10.5 29 2 25 202 8.1 24 1 No. Yds Avg Long TD 1 6 6.0 6 0 1 0 0.0 0 0 2 6 3.0 6 0 0 0 --- --0 No. Yds Avg Net TB In Lg B 3 129 43.0 41.3 0 0 45 0 3 129 43.0 41.3 0 0 45 0 4 173 43.3 39.0 1 1 56 0 Ret FC Yds Avg Long TD 1 2 -3 -3.0 -3 0 1 2 -3 -3.0 -3 0 2 0 5 2.5 5 0 No. Yds Avg Long TD 2 46 23.0 27 0 2 33 16.5 21 0 4 79 19.8 27 0 6 112 18.7 28 0 1-19 20-29 30-39 40-49 50+ 0/ 0 0/ 0 0/ 0 1/ 1 0/0 0/ 0 0/ 0 0/ 0 1/ 1 0/0 0/ 0 0/ 0 1/ 1 0/ 0 0/0
TD% Int Int% Long Sack/Lost Rating 14.3 0 0.0 29 2/ 15 147.0 0.0 0 0.0 --0/ 0 39.6 11.1 0 0.0 29 2/ 15 131.0 3.0 2 6.1 24 5/ 43 75.6
2008 PITTSBURGH STEELERS DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS
Player Harrison Taylor Clark Farrior Foote Woodley Polamalu McFadden Timmons Kirschke Eason Townsend Carter Gay Hampton Keisel Aa. Smith Woods C. Davis Frazier
U 7 6 5 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 1 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0
A 3 2 3 4 2 2 0 1 1 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tot 10 8 8 8 6 6 4 4 4 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 0 0 0
TOTALS OPPONENTS
56 43
21 19
77 62
Sacks/ Yds. 3.0/20.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.5/7.0 0.0/0.0 1.0/9.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.5/7.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0 0.0/0.0
Int./ QH/P Yards 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/2 1/6 0/0 1/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 0/3 0/0 0/2 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
5.0/43.0 0/11 2.0/15.0 1/0
2/6 0/0
PD 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2
FF FR 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2
1 1
SPECIAL TEAMS STATISTICS U A Tot FF FR BL 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 8 4
2 5
10 9
0 0
0 0
0 0
2008 PITTSBURGH STEELERS DEPTH CHART OFFENSE WR LT LG C RG RT TE RB
86 77 68 62 73 74 83 39
HINES WARD (6-0, 205, 11) MARVEL SMITH (6-5, 321, 9) CHRIS KEMOEATU (6-3, 344, 4) JUSTIN HARTWIG (6-4, 312, 7) KENDALL SIMMONS (6-3, 315, 7) WILLIE COLON (6-3, 315, 3) HEATH MILLER (6-5, 256, 4) WILLIE PARKER (5-10, 209, 5)
FB QB WR
38
CAREY DAVIS (5-10, 225, 3)
7
BEN ROETHLISBERGER (6-5, 241, 5)
10
SANTONIO HOLMES (5-11, 189, 3)
85 79
Nate Washington (6-1, 185, 4) Trai Essex (6-4, 324, 4)
72 78 89 34
Darnell Stapleton (6-3, 305, 2) Max Starks (6-8, 345, 5) Matt Spaeth (6-7, 270, 2) Rashard Mendenhall (5-10, 225, R)
4 81
Byron Leftwich (6-5, 250, 6) Dallas Baker (6-3, 206, 1)
66
Tony Hills (6-5, 304, R)
49 21 33
Sean McHugh (6-5, 265, 5) Mewelde Moore (5-11, 209, 5) Gary Russell (5-11, 215, 2)
2 14
Dennis Dixon (6-3, 195, R) Limas Sweed (6-4, 220, R)
DEFENSE DE NT DE LOLB LILB RILB ROLB LCB FS SS RCB
91 98 99 56 51 50 92 24 25 43 26
AARON SMITH (6-5, 298, 10) CASEY HAMPTON (6-1, 325, 8) BRETT KEISEL (6-5, 285, 7) LAMARR WOODLEY (6-2, 265, 2) JAMES FARRIOR (6-2, 243, 12) LARRY FOOTE (6-1, 239, 7) JAMES HARRISON (6-0, 242, 5) IKE TAYLOR (6-2, 195, 6) RYAN CLARK (5-11, 205, 7) TROY POLAMALU (5-10, 207, 6) DESHEA TOWNSEND (5-10, 190, 11)
90 76 93 54 57 94 95 22 27 23 20
Travis Kirschke (6-3, 298, 12) Chris Hoke (6-2, 305, 8) Nick Eason (6-3, 305, 6) Andre Frazier (6-5, 255, 4) Keyaron Fox (6-3, 235, 5) Lawrence Timmons (6-1, 234, 2) Donovan Woods (6-2, 230, R) William Gay (5-10, 190, 2) Anthony Smith (6-1, 200, 3) Tyrone Carter (5-9, 195, 9) Bryant McFadden (6-0, 190, 4)
96
Orpheus Roye (6-4, 330, 13)
53 37
Bruce Davis (6-3. 252, R) Anthony Madison (5-9, 180, 3)
SPECIAL TEAMS P PK LS H KR PR
• •
Rookies Injured
17 3 60 17 21 21
MITCH BERGER (6-4, 228, 13) JEFF REED (5-11, 225, 7) GREG WARREN (6-3, 252, 4) MITCH BERGER (6-4, 228, 13) MEWELDE MOORE (5-11, 209, 5) MEWELDE MOORE (5-11, 209, 5)
34 10
Rashard Mendenhall (5-10, 225, R) Santonio Holmes (5-11, 189, 3)
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2008 ALPHABETICAL ROSTER NO NAME
POS HT
WT
DOB
81 17 23 25 74 53 38 2 93 79 51 50 57 54 22 98 92 62 66 76 10 99 68 90 4 37 20 49 34 83 21 39 43 3 7 96 33 73 91 27 77 89 72 78 14 24 94 26 86 60 85 56 95
WR P S S OT LB RB QB DE OT LB LB LB LB CB DT LB C OT DT WR DE OG DE QB CB CB TE RB TE RB RB S K QB DE RB OG DE S OT TE G/C OT WR CB LB CB WR LS WR LB LB
6-3 6-4 5-9 5-11 6-3 6-3 5-10 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-2 6-1 6-3 6-5 5-10 6-1 6-0 6-4 6-5 6-2 5-11 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-5 5-9 6-0 6-5 5-10 6-5 5-11 5-10 5-10 5-11 6-5 6-4 5-11 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-5 6-7 6-3 6-8 6-4 6-2 6-1 5-10 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-2
206 228 195 205 315 252 225 195 305 324 243 239 235 245 190 325 242 312 304 305 192 285 344 298 250 180 190 265 225 256 209 209 207 225 241 330 215 315 298 200 321 270 305 345 220 195 234 190 205 252 185 265 230
11/10/82 06/24/72 03/31/76 10/12/79 04/09/83 09/02/85 03/27/81 01/11/85 05/29/80 12/05/82 01/06/75 06/12/80 01/23/82 06/29/82 01/01/85 09/03/77 05/04/78 11/21/78 11/04/84 04/06/76 03/03/84 09/19/78 01/04/83 09/06/74 01/14/80 10/08/81 11/21/81 05/27/82 06/19/87 10/22/82 07/24/82 11/11/80 04/19/81 04/09/79 03/02/82 01/21/73 09/08/86 03/11/79 04/19/76 09/20/83 08/06/78 11/24/84 09/21/85 01/10/82 12/25/84 05/05/80 05/14/86 09/08/75 03/08/76 10/18/81 08/28/83 11/03/84 07/27/85
25 36 32 28 25 22 27 22 28 25 33 28 26 26 23 31 30 29 23 32 24 29 25 34 28 26 26 26 20 25 26 27 27 29 26 35 22 29 32 24 30 23 22 26 23 28 22 33 32 26 25 23 22
WR LB CB S OL DL WR TE RB
5-10 6-4 5-10 6-0 6-6 6-4 6-6 6-2 5-10
185 235 190 198 321 292 221 250 219
03/05/83 11/19/85 05/19/85 08/18/83 04/11/82 02/03/83 01/04/85 05/11/85 01/25/83
QB P
6-2 6-3
216 12/05/74 230 01/12/84
13 46 30 41 65 71 87 84 28 16 9
Baker, Dallas Berger, Mitch Carter, Tyrone Clark, Ryan Colon, Willie Davis, Bruce Davis, Carey Dixon, Dennis Eason, Nick Essex, Trai Farrior, James Foote, Larry Fox, Keyaron Frazier, Andre Gay, William Hampton, Casey Harrison, James Hartwig, Justin Hills, Tony Hoke, Chris Holmes, Santonio Keisel, Brett Kemoeatu, Chris Kirschke, Travis Leftwich, Byron Madison, Anthony McFadden, Bryant McHugh, Sean Mendenhall, Rashard Miller, Heath Moore, Mewelde Parker, Willie Polamalu, Troy Reed, Jeff Roethlisberger, Ben Roye, Orpheus Russell, Gary Simmons, Kendall Smith, Aaron Smith, Anthony Smith, Marvel Spaeth, Matt Stapleton, Darnell Starks, Max Sweed, Limas Taylor, Ike Timmons, Lawrence Townsend, Deshea Ward, Hines Warren, Greg Washington, Nate Woodley, LaMarr Woods, Donovan PRACTICE SQUAD Allen, Marvin Bailey, Patrick Lewis, Roy Mason, Grant Parquet, Jeremy Paxson, Scott Rucker, Micah Sherrod, Dezmond Vincent, Justin RESERVE/INJURED Batch, Charlie Sepulveda, Daniel
AGE EXP
HOMETOWN
HOW ACQ
1 13 9 7 3 R 3 R 6 4 12 7 5 4 2 8 5 7 R 8 3 7 4 12 6 3 4 5 R 4 5 5 6 7 5 13 2 7 10 3 9 2 2 5 R 6 2 11 11 4 4 2 R
Florida Colorado Minnesota Louisiana State Hofstra UCLA Illinois Oregon Clemson Northwestern Virginia Michigan Georgia Tech Cincinnati Louisville Texas Kent State Kansas Texas Brigham Young Ohio State Brigham Young Utah UCLA Marshall Alabama Florida State Penn State Illinois Virginia Tulane North Carolina Southern California North Carolina Miami (OH) Florida State Minnesota Auburn Northern Colorado Syracuse Arizona State Minnesota Rutgers Florida Texas LA-Lafayette Florida State Alabama Georgia North Carolina Tiffin Michigan Oklahoma State
New Smyrna Beach, FL Kamloops, Canada Pompano Beach, FL Merraro, LA Bronx, NY Houston, TX St. Louis, MO San Leandro, CA Lyons, GA Fort Wayne, IN Ettrick, VA Detroit, MI Atlanta, GA Cincinnati, OH Tallahasee, FL Galveston, TX Akron, OH Mankato, MN Houston, TX Long Beach, CA Belle Glade, FL Greybull, WY Kahuka, HI Highland Ranch, CO Washington, D.C. Thomasville, AL Hollywood, FL University Heights, OH Skokie, IL Swords Creek, VA Hammond, LA Clinton, NC Tenmile, OR Charlotte, NC Findlay, OH Miami, FL Columbus, OH Ripley, MS Colorado Springs, CO Hubbard, OH Oakland, CA St. Michael, MN Union, NJ Orlando, FL Brenham, TX Gretna, LA Florence, SC Batesville, MS Forest Park, GA Goldsboro, NC Toledo, OH Saginaw, MI Oklahoma City, OK
D7 '07 FA '08 FA '04 UFA '06 (Was) D4a '06 D3 '08 FA '06 D5 '08 FA '07 D3 '05 UFA '02 (NYJ) D4 '02 FA '08 FA '07 D5b '07 D1 '01 FA '04 UFA '08 (Car) D4 '08 FA '01 D1 '06 D7b '02 D6 '05 UFA '04 (SF) FA '08 FA '07 D2 '05 FA '08 D1 '08 D1 '05 UFA '08 (Min) FA '04 D1 '03 FA '02 D1 '04 FA '08 FA '07 D1 '02 D4 '99 D3a '06 D2 '00 D3 '07 FA '07 D3 '04 D2 '08 D4 '03 D1 '07 D4a '98 D3b '98 FA '05 FA '05 D2 '07 FA '08
25 23 23 25 26 25 23 22 25
1 R R 2 4 1 R R 1
None Croydon, England Duke Elmendorf, TX Washington Los Angeles, CA Michigan Pontiac, MI Southern Mississipp Norco, LA Penn State Philadelphia, PA Eastern Illinois Bonita Springs, FL Mississippi State Newport, RI LSU Lake Charles, LA
FA '08 FA '08 FA '08 FA '07 FA '07 FA '06 FA '08 FA '08 FA '07
0/0 0/0 0/0 5/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
33 23
11 2
Eastern Michigan Baylor
FA '02 D4a '07
7/1 16/0
Homestead, PA Austin, Texas
Experience Includes 2008 Season Number of Players on Active Roster: 53 Head Coach: Assistants:
9/9/2008 2007 GP/GS
COLLEGE
Mike Tomlin John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator); Ken Anderson (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Harold Goodwin (offensive asst); Randy Fichtner (wide receivers); Ray Horton (defensive backs); Amos Jones (asst special teams); Bob Ligashesky (special teams); Lou Spanos (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson (running backs); Larry Zierlein (offensive line); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and conditioning).
0/0 5/0 16/5 6/6 16/16 0/0 16/7 0/0 16/1 3/0 16/16 16/16 10/0 10/0 16/0 15/15 16/16 15/15 0/0 16/1 13/13 16/16 15/0 16/4 3/2 9/0 13/0 15/12 0/0 16/16 12/0 15/15 11/11 16/0 15/15 13/6 3/0 16/16 11/11 16/10 12/12 14/6 0/0 16/4 0/0 16/16 16/0 16/16 13/13 16/0 16/4 13/0 0/0
PITTSBURGH STEELERS 2008 NUMERICAL ROSTER NO 2 3 4 7 10 14 17 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 33 34 37 38 39 43 49 50 51 53 54 56 57 60 62 66 68 72 73 74 76 77 78 79 81 83 85 86 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 98 99 13 28 30 41 46 65 71 84 87 9 16
POS QB K QB QB WR WR P CB RB CB S CB S CB S RB RB CB RB RB S TE LB LB LB LB LB LB LS C OT OG G/C OG OT DT OT OT OT WR TE WR WR TE DE DE LB DE LB LB DE DT DE
HT 6-3 5-11 6-5 6-5 5-11 6-4 6-4 6-0 5-11 5-10 5-9 6-2 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-11 5-10 5-9 5-10 5-10 5-10 6-5 6-1 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-3 6-4 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-2 6-5 6-8 6-4 6-3 6-5 6-1 6-0 6-7 6-3 6-5 6-0 6-3 6-1 6-2 6-4 6-1 6-5
WT 195 225 250 241 192 220 228 190 209 190 195 195 205 190 200 215 225 180 225 209 207 265 239 243 252 245 265 235 252 312 304 344 305 315 315 305 321 345 324 206 256 185 205 270 298 298 242 305 234 230 330 325 285
DOB AGE EXP COLLEGE 01/11/85 22 R Oregon 04/09/79 29 7 North Carolina 01/14/80 28 6 Marshall 03/02/82 26 5 Miami (OH) 03/03/84 24 3 Ohio State 12/25/84 23 R Texas 06/24/72 36 13 Colorado 11/21/81 26 4 Florida State 07/24/82 25 5 Tulane 01/01/85 23 2 Louisville 03/31/76 32 9 Minnesota 05/05/80 28 6 LA-Lafayette 10/12/79 28 7 Louisiana State 09/08/75 33 11 Alabama 09/20/83 24 3 Syracuse 09/08/86 22 2 Minnesota 06/19/87 20 R Illinois 10/08/81 26 3 Alabama 03/27/81 27 3 Illinois 11/11/80 27 5 North Carolina 04/19/81 27 6 Southern California 05/27/82 26 5 Penn State 06/12/80 28 7 Michigan 01/06/75 33 12 Virginia 09/02/85 22 R UCLA 06/29/82 26 4 Cincinnati 11/03/84 23 2 Michigan 01/24/82 26 5 Georgia Tech 10/18/81 26 4 North Carolina 11/21/78 29 7 Kansas 11/04/84 23 R Texas 01/04/83 25 4 Utah 09/21/85 22 2 Rutgers 03/11/79 29 7 Auburn 04/09/83 26 3 Hofstra 04/06/76 32 8 Brigham Young 08/06/78 30 9 Arizona State 01/10/82 26 5 Florida 12/05/82 25 4 Northwestern 11/10/82 25 1 Florida 10/22/82 25 4 Virginia 08/28/83 25 4 Tiffin 03/08/76 32 11 Georgia 11/24/84 23 2 Minnesota 09/06/74 34 12 UCLA 04/19/76 32 10 Northern Colorado 05/04/78 30 5 Kent State 05/29/80 28 6 Clemson 05/14/86 22 2 Florida State 07/27/85 22 R Oklahoma State 01/21/73 35 13 Florida State 09/03/77 31 8 Texas 09/19/78 29 7 Brigham Young
WR RB CB S LB OL DL TE WR
5-10 5-10 5-10 6-0 6-4 6-6 6-4 6-2 6-6
185 219 190 198 235 321 292 250 221
03/05/83 01/25/83 05/19/85 08/18/83 11/19/85 04/11/82 02/03/83 05/11/85 01/04/85
P QB
6-3 6-2
230 01/12/84 216 12/05/74
Head Coach: Assistants:
Mike Tomlin John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator); Ken Anderson (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Harold Goodwin (offensive asst); Randy Fichtner (wide receivers); Ray Horton (defensive backs); Amos Jones (asst special teams); Bob Ligashesky (special teams); Lou Spanos (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson (running backs); Larry Zierlein (offensive line); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and conditioning).
25 25 23 25 23 26 25 22 23
1 1 R 2 R 4 1 R R
HOMETOWN San Leandro, CA Charlotte, NC Washington, D.C. Findlay, OH Belle Glade, FL Brenham, TX Kamloops, Canada Hollywood, FL Hammond, LA Tallahasee, FL Pompano Beach, FL Gretna, LA Merraro, LA Batesville, MS Hubbard, OH Columbus, OH Skokie, IL Thomasville, AL St. Louis, MO Clinton, NC Tenmile, OR University Heights, OH Detroit, MI Ettrick, VA Houston, TX Cincinnati, OH Saginaw, MI Atlanta, GA Goldsboro, NC Mankato, MN Houston, TX Kahuka, HI Union, NJ Ripley, MS Bronx, NY Long Beach, CA Oakland, CA Orlando, FL Fort Wayne, IN New Smyrna Beach, FL Swords Creek, VA Toledo, OH Forest Park, GA St. Michael, MN Highland Ranch, CO Colorado Springs, CO Akron, OH Lyons, GA Florence, SC Oklahoma City, OK Miami, FL Galveston, TX Greybull, WY
9/9/2008
NAME Dennis Dixon Jeff Reed Byron Leftwich Ben Roethlisberger Santonio Holmes Limas Sweed Mitch Berger Bryant McFadden Mewelde Moore William Gay Tyrone Carter Ike Taylor Ryan Clark Deshea Townsend Anthony Smith Gary Russell Rashard Mendenhall Anthony Madison Carey Davis Willie Parker Troy Polamalu Sean McHugh Larry Foote James Farrior Bruce Davis Andre Frazier LaMarr Woodley Keyaron Fox Greg Warren Justin Hartwig Tony Hills Chris Kemoeatu Darnell Stapleton Kendall Simmons Willie Colon Chris Hoke Marvel Smith Max Starks Trai Essex Dallas Baker Heath Miller Nate Washington Hines Ward Matt Spaeth Travis Kirschke Aaron Smith James Harrison Nick Eason Lawrence Timmons Donovan Woods Orpheus Roye Casey Hampton Brett Keisel PRACTICE SQUAD Marvin Allen Justin Vincent Roy Lewis Grant Mason Patrick Bailey Jeremy Parquet Scott Paxson Dezmond Sherrod Micah Rucker RESERVE/INJURED Daniel Sepulveda Charlie Batch
None Croydon, England LSU Lake Charles, LA Washington Los Angeles, CA Michigan Pontiac, MI Duke Elmendorf, TX Southern MississippNorco, LA Penn State Philadelphia, PA Mississippi State Newport, RI Eastern Illinois Bonita Springs, FL
23 2 Baylor Austin, Texas 33 11 Eastern Michigan Homestead, PA Experience Includes 2008 Season Number of Players on Active Roster: 53
HOW ACQ 2007 GP/GS D5 '08 0/0 FA '02 16/0 FA '08 3/2 D1 '04 15/15 D1 '06 13/13 D2 '08 0/0 FA '08 5/0 D2 '05 13/0 UFA '08 (Min) 12/0 D5b '07 16/0 FA '04 16/5 D4 '03 16/16 UFA '06 (Was) 6/6 D4a '98 16/16 D3a '06 16/10 FA '07 3/0 D1 '08 0/0 FA '07 9/0 FA '06 16/7 FA '04 15/15 D1 '03 11/11 FA '08 15/12 D4 '02 16/16 UFA '02 (NYJ) 16/16 D3 '08 0/0 FA '07 10/0 D2 '07 13/0 FA '08 10/0 FA '05 16/0 UFA '08 (Car) 15/15 D4 '08 0/0 D6 '05 15/0 FA '07 0/0 D1 '02 16/16 D4a '06 16/16 FA '01 16/1 D2 '00 12/12 D3 '04 16/4 D3 '05 3/0 D7 '07 0/0 D1 '05 16/16 FA '05 16/4 D3b '98 13/13 D3 '07 14/6 UFA '04 (SF) 16/4 D4 '99 11/11 FA '04 16/16 FA '07 16/1 D1 '07 16/0 FA '08 0/0 FA '08 13/6 D1 '01 15/15 D7b '02 16/16 FA '08 FA '07 FA '08 FA '07 FA '08 FA '07 FA '06 FA '08 FA '08
0/0 0/0 0/0 5/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
D4a '07 FA '02
16/0 7/1
2008 PITTSBURGH STEELERS BY POSITION 9/9/2008 OFFENSE (28) NO NAME
POS HT
WT
QB QB QB
6-3 6-5 6-5
RB RB RB RB RB
DOB
AGE
EXP
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
HOW ACQ
2007 GP/GS
195 01/11/85 250 01/14/80 241 03/02/82
22 28 26
R 6 5
Oregon Marshall Miami (OH)
San Leandro, CA Washington, D.C. Findlay, OH
D5 '08 FA '08 D1 '04
0/0 3/2 15/15
5-11 5-11 5-10 5-10 5-10
209 215 225 225 209
07/24/82 09/08/86 06/19/87 03/27/81 11/11/80
26 22 20 27 27
5 2 R 3 5
Tulane Minnesota Illinois Illinois North Carolina
Hammond, LA Columbus, OH Skokie, IL St. Louis, MO Clinton, NC
UFA '08 (Min) FA '07 D1 '08 FA '06 FA '04
12/0 3/0 0/0 16/7 15/15
WR WR WR WR WR
5-11 6-4 6-3 6-1 6-0
192 220 206 185 205
03/03/84 12/25/84 11/10/82 08/28/83 03/08/76
24 23 25 25 32
3 R 1 4 11
Ohio State Texas Florida Tiffin Georgia
Belle Glade, FL Brenham, TX New Smyrna Beach, FL Toledo, OH Forest Park, GA
D1 '06 D2 '08 D7 '07 FA '05 D3b '98
13/13 0/0 0/0 16/4 13/13
TE TE TE
6-5 6-5 6-7
265 05/27/82 256 10/22/82 270 11/24/84
26 25 23
5 4 2
Penn State Virginia Minnesota
University Heights, OH FA '08 Swords Creek, VA D1 '05 St. Michael, MN D3 '07
15/12 16/16 14/6
C OT OG G/C OG OT OT OT OT
6-4 6-5 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-3 6-5 6-8 6-4
312 304 344 305 315 315 321 345 324
11/21/78 11/04/84 01/04/83 09/21/85 03/11/79 04/09/83 08/06/78 01/10/82 12/05/82
29 23 25 22 29 26 30 26 25
7 R 4 2 7 3 9 5 4
Kansas Texas Utah Rutgers Auburn Hofstra Arizona State Florida Northwestern
Mankato, MN Houston, TX Kahuka, HI Union, NJ Ripley, MS Bronx, NY Oakland, CA Orlando, FL Fort Wayne, IN
UFA '08 (Car) D4 '08 D6 '05 FA '07 D1 '02 D4a '06 D2 '00 D3 '04 D3 '05
15/15 0/0 15/0 0/0 16/16 16/16 12/12 16/4 3/0
K P LS
5-11 225 04/09/79 6-4 228 06/24/72 6-3 252 10/18/81
29 36 26
7 13 4
North Carolina Colorado North Carolina
Charlotte, NC Kamloops, Canada Goldsboro, NC
FA '02 FA '08 FA '05
QUARTERBACKS (3)
2 4 7
Dennis Dixon Byron Leftwich Ben Roethlisberger
RUNNING BACKS (5)
21 33 34 38 39
Mewelde Moore Gary Russell Rashard Mendenhall Carey Davis Willie Parker
WIDE RECEIVERS (5)
10 14 81 85 86
Santonio Holmes Limas Sweed Dallas Baker Nate Washington Hines Ward
TIGHT ENDS (3)
49 83 89
Sean McHugh Heath Miller Matt Spaeth
OFFENSIVE LINEMEN (9)
62 66 68 72 73 74 77 78 79
Justin Hartwig Tony Hills Chris Kemoeatu Darnell Stapleton Kendall Simmons Willie Colon Marvel Smith Max Starks Trai Essex
SPECIALISTS (3)
3 17 60
Jeff Reed Mitch Berger Greg Warren
16/0 5/0 16/0
DEFENSE (25) DEFENSIVE LINEMEN (7)
76 90 91 93 96 98 99
Chris Hoke Travis Kirschke Aaron Smith Nick Eason Orpheus Roye Casey Hampton Brett Keisel
DT DE DE DE DE DT DE
6-2 6-3 6-5 6-3 6-4 6-1 6-5
305 298 298 305 330 325 285
04/06/76 09/06/74 04/19/76 05/29/80 01/21/73 09/03/77 09/19/78
32 34 32 28 35 31 29
8 12 10 6 13 8 7
Brigham Young UCLA Northern Colorado Clemson Florida State Texas Brigham Young
Long Beach, CA Highland Ranch, CO Colorado Springs, CO Lyons, GA Miami, FL Galveston, TX Greybull, WY
FA '02 UFA '04 (SF) D4 '99 FA '07 FA '08 D1 '01 D7b '02
16/1 16/4 11/11 16/1 13/6 15/15 16/16
LB LB LB LB LB LB LB LB LB
6-1 6-2 6-3 6-5 6-2 6-3 6-0 6-1 6-2
239 243 252 245 265 235 242 234 230
06/12/80 01/06/75 09/02/85 06/29/82 11/03/84 01/24/82 05/04/78 05/14/86 07/27/85
28 33 22 26 23 26 30 22 22
7 12 R 4 2 5 5 2 R
Michigan Virginia UCLA Cincinnati Michigan Georgia Tech Kent State Florida State Oklahoma State
Detroit, MI Ettrick, VA Houston, TX Cincinnati, OH Saginaw, MI Atlanta, GA Akron, OH Florence, SC Oklahoma City, OK
D4 '02 UFA '02 (NYJ) D3 '08 FA '07 D2 '07 FA '08 FA '04 D1 '07 FA '08
16/16 16/16 0/0 10/0 13/0 10/0 16/16 16/0 0/0
CB CB S CB S CB S CB S
6-0 5-10 5-9 6-2 5-11 5-10 6-1 5-9 5-10
190 190 195 195 205 190 200 180 207
11/21/81 01/01/85 03/31/76 05/05/80 10/12/79 09/08/75 09/20/83 10/08/81 04/19/81
26 23 32 28 28 33 24 26 27
4 2 9 6 7 11 3 3 6
Florida State Louisville Minnesota LA-Lafayette Louisiana State Alabama Syracuse Alabama Southern California
Hollywood, FL Tallahasee, FL Pompano Beach, FL Gretna, LA Merraro, LA Batesville, MS Hubbard, OH Thomasville, AL Tenmile, OR
D2 '05 D5b '07 FA '04 D4 '03 UFA '06 (Was) D4a '98 D3a '06 FA '07 D1 '03
13/0 16/0 16/5 16/16 6/6 16/16 16/10 9/0 11/11
LINEBACKERS (9)
50 51 53 54 56 57 92 94 95
Larry Foote James Farrior Bruce Davis Andre Frazier LaMarr Woodley Keyaron Fox James Harrison Lawrence Timmons Donovan Woods
DEFENSIVE BACKS (9)
20 22 23 24 25 26 27 37 43
Bryant McFadden William Gay Tyrone Carter Ike Taylor Ryan Clark Deshea Townsend Anthony Smith Anthony Madison Troy Polamalu
Experience Includes 2008 Season Number of Players on Active Roster: 53 Head Coach: Assistants:
Mike Tomlin John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator); Ken Anderson (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Harold Goodwin (offensive asst); Randy Fichtner (wide receivers); Ray Horton (defensive backs); Amos Jones (asst special teams); Bob Ligashesky (special teams); Lou Spanos (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson (running backs); Larry Zierlein (offensive line); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and conditioning).
2008 PITTSBURGH STEELERS BY EXPERIENCE NO
NAME
POS
HT
WT
DOB
AGE
EXP
COLLEGE
HOMETOWN
9/9/2008 HOW ACQ 2007 GS/GP
13th YEAR (2)
17 96
Berger, Mitch Roye, Orpheus
P DE
6-4 6-4
228 06/24/72 330 01/21/73
36 35
13 13
Colorado Florida State
Kamloops, Canada Miami, FL
FA '08 FA '08
51 90
Farrior, James Kirschke, Travis
LB DE
6-2 6-3
243 01/06/75 298 09/06/74
33 34
12 12
Virginia UCLA
Ettrick, VA Highland Ranch, CO
UFA '02 (NYJ) UFA '04 (SF)
16/16 16/4
26 86
Townsend, Deshea Ward, Hines
CB WR
5-10 190 09/08/75 6-0 205 03/08/76
33 32
11 11
Alabama Georgia
Batesville, MS Forest Park, GA
D4a '98 D3b '98
16/16 13/13
91
Smith, Aaron
DE
6-5
298 04/19/76
32
10
Northern Colorado Colorado Springs, CO
D4 '99
11/11
23 77
Carter, Tyrone Smith, Marvel
S OT
5-9 6-5
195 03/31/76 321 08/06/78
32 30
9 9
Minnesota Arizona State
Pompano Beach, FL Oakland, CA
FA '04 D2 '00
16/5 12/12
98 76
Hampton, Casey Hoke, Chris
DT DT
6-1 6-2
325 09/03/77 305 04/06/76
31 32
8 8
Texas Brigham Young
Galveston, TX Long Beach, CA
D1 '01 FA '01
15/15 16/1
25 50 62 99 3 73
Clark, Ryan Foote, Larry Hartwig, Justin Keisel, Brett Reed, Jeff Simmons, Kendall
S LB C DE K OG
5-11 6-1 6-4 6-5 5-11 6-3
205 239 312 285 225 315
10/12/79 06/12/80 11/21/78 09/19/78 04/09/79 03/11/79
28 28 29 29 29 29
7 7 7 7 7 7
Louisiana State Michigan Kansas Brigham Young North Carolina Auburn
Merraro, LA Detroit, MI Mankato, MN Greybull, WY Charlotte, NC Ripley, MS
UFA '06 (Was) D4 '02 UFA '08 (Car) D7b '02 FA '02 D1 '02
6/6 16/16 15/15 16/16 16/0 16/16
93 4 43 24
Eason, Nick Leftwich, Byron Polamalu, Troy Taylor, Ike
DE QB S CB
6-3 6-5 5-10 6-2
305 250 207 195
05/29/80 01/14/80 04/19/81 05/05/80
28 28 27 28
6 6 6 6
Clemson Marshall Southern California LA-Lafayette
Lyons, GA Washington, D.C. Tenmile, OR Gretna, LA
FA '07 FA '08 D1 '03 D4 '03
16/1 3/2 11/11 16/16
92 57 49 21 39 7 78
Harrison, James Fox, Keyaron McHugh, Sean Moore, Mewelde Parker, Willie Roethlisberger, Ben Starks, Max
LB LB TE RB RB QB OT
6-0 6-3 6-5 5-11 5-10 6-5 6-8
242 235 265 209 209 241 345
05/04/78 01/24/82 05/27/82 07/24/82 11/11/80 03/02/82 01/10/82
30 26 26 25 27 26 26
5 5 5 5 5 5 5
Kent State Georgia Tech Penn State Tulane North Carolina Miami (OH) Florida
Akron, OH Atlanta, GA University Heights, OH Hammond, LA Clinton, NC Findlay, OH Orlando, FL
FA '04 FA '08 FA '08 UFA '08 (Min) FA '04 D1 '04 D3 '04
16/16 10/0 15/12 12/0 15/15 15/15 16/4
79 54 68 20 83 60 85
Essex, Trai Frazier, Andre Kemoeatu, Chris McFadden, Bryant Miller, Heath Warren, Greg Washington, Nate
OT LB OG CB TE LS WR
6-4 6-5 6-3 6-0 6-5 6-3 6-1
324 245 344 190 256 252 185
12/05/82 06/29/82 01/04/83 11/21/81 10/22/82 10/18/81 08/28/83
25 26 25 26 25 26 25
4 4 4 4 4 4 4
Northwestern Cincinnati Utah Florida State Virginia North Carolina Tiffin
Fort Wayne, IN Cincinnati, OH Kahuka, HI Hollywood, FL Swords Creek, VA Goldsboro, NC Toledo, OH
D3 '05 FA '07 D6 '05 D2 '05 D1 '05 FA '05 FA '05
3/0 10/0 15/0 13/0 16/16 16/0 16/4
74 38 10 37 27
Colon, Willie Davis, Carey Holmes, Santonio Madison, Anthony Smith, Anthony
OT RB WR CB S
6-3 5-10 5-11 5-9 6-1
315 225 192 180 200
04/09/83 03/27/81 03/03/84 10/08/81 09/20/83
26 27 24 26 24
3 3 3 3 3
Hofstra Illinois Ohio State Alabama Syracuse
Bronx, NY St. Louis, MO Belle Glade, FL Thomasville, AL Hubbard, OH
D4a '06 FA '06 D1 '06 FA '07 D3a '06
16/16 16/7 13/13 9/0 16/10
22 33 89 72 56 94
Gay, William Russell, Gary Spaeth, Matt Stapleton, Darnell Woodley, LaMarr Timmons, Lawrence
CB RB TE G/C LB LB
5-10 5-11 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-1
190 215 270 305 265 234
01/01/85 09/08/86 11/24/84 09/21/85 11/03/84 05/14/86
23 22 23 22 23 22
2 2 2 2 2 2
Louisville Minnesota Minnesota Rutgers Michigan Florida State
Tallahasee, FL Columbus, OH St. Michael, MN Union, NJ Saginaw, MI Florence, SC
D5b '07 FA '07 D3 '07 FA '07 D2 '07 D1 '07
16/0 3/0 14/6 0/0 13/0 16/0
81
Baker, Dallas
WR
6-3
206 11/10/82
25
1
Florida
New Smyrna Beach, FL D7 '07
0/0
53 2 66 34 14 95
Davis, Bruce Dixon, Dennis Hills, Tony Mendenhall, Rashard Sweed, Limas Woods, Donovan
LB QB OT RB WR LB
6-3 6-3 6-5 5-10 6-4 6-2
252 195 304 225 220 230
Houston, TX San Leandro, CA Houston, TX Skokie, IL Brenham, TX Oklahoma City, OK
0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0
Head Coach: Assistants:
Mike Tomlin John Mitchell (asst head coach/defensive line); Dick LeBeau (defensive coordinator); Bruce Arians (offensive coordinator); Ken Anderson (quarterbacks); Keith Butler (linebackers); James Daniel (tight ends); Harold Goodwin (offensive asst); Randy Fichtner (wide receivers); Ray Horton (defensive backs); Amos Jones (asst special teams); Bob Ligashesky (special teams); Lou Spanos (defensive asst); Kirby Wilson (running backs); Larry Zierlein (offensive line); Garrett Giemont (strength and conditioning); Marcel Pastoor (asst strength and conditioning).
12th YEAR (2) 11th YEAR (2) 10th YEAR (1) 9th YEAR (2) 8th YEAR (2) 7th YEAR (6)
6th YEAR (4)
5th YEAR (7)
4th YEAR (7)
3rd YEAR (5)
2nd YEAR (6)
1st YEAR (1) ROOKIES (6)
09/02/85 22 R UCLA 01/11/85 22 R Oregon 11/04/84 23 R Texas 06/19/87 20 R Illinois 12/25/84 23 R Texas 07/27/85 22 R Oklahoma State Experience Includes 2008 Season Number of Players on Active Roster: 53
D3 '08 D5 '08 D4 '08 D1 '08 D2 '08 FA '08
5/0 13/6
2008 ROSTER MOVES Date
01/03/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/11/08 01/14/08 01/14/08 01/15/08 02/06/08 02/06/08 02/19/08 02/22/08 02/22/08 02/22/08 03/03/08 03/03/08 03/07/08 03/12/08 03/18/08 3/18/08 3/20/08 3/25/08 3/26/08 3/27/08 4/16/08 4/21/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/28/08 4/29/08 5/03/08 5/03/08 6/28/08 6/28/08 6/28/08 6/28/08 7/2/08 7/2/08 7/7/08 7/9/08 7/14/08 7/14/08 7/16/08 7/24/08 7/25/08 7/27/08 7/29/08 7/29/08 7/31/08 7/31/08 8/2/08 8/2/08 8/10/08 8/10/08 8/10/08 8/10/08 8/12/08 8/12/08 8/16/08 8/16/08
Pos.
TE WR WR S LB RB WR OG RB LS DT WR QB DE LB CB/RS TE QB RB LB LB G OT WR C LS DL WR OT LB WR C CB QB DL K DL WR TE CB LB DL WR WR RB S OL LS QB WR OT LB QB DB LB WR RB WR P WR OT WR K OL LB WR P QB DL DE TE TE
Name
Cody Boyd Dallas Baker Jeremy Bloom Mike Lorello Anthony Trucks Justin Vincent Gerran Walker Matt Lentz Billy Latsko Jared Retkofsky Scott Paxson Matt Trannon Jared Zabransky Travis Kirschke Clint Kriewaldt Allen Rossum Jerame Tuman Ben Roethlisberger Mewelde Moore Andre Frazier Keyaron Fox Chris Kemoeatu Trai Essex Cedrick Wilson Justin Hartwig Greg Warren Nick Eason Nate Washington Max Starks Patrick Bailey Dorien Bryant Doug Legursky Roy Lewis Mike Potts Martavius Prince Julian Rauch Jordan Reffett Micah Rucker Dezmond Sherrod Travis Williams Donovan Woods Kyle Clement Dorien Bryant Kevin Marion Najeh Davenport Mike Lorello Doug Legursky Jared Retkofsky Jared Zabransky Marvin Allen Tony Hills Bruce Davis Dennis Dixon Ryan Mundy Mike Humpal Matt Trannon Rashard Mendenhall Limas Sweed Paul Ernster Kevin Marion Jason Capizzi Eddie Drummond Julian Rauch Doug Legursky Anthony Trucks Gerran Walker Mitch Berger Byron Leftwich Kyle Clement Kevin Huntley Jonathan Dekker Lee Vickers
Transaction
Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract extension Released Released Released Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Released Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Released Signed contract Released Released Released Released Released Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Signed contract Released Signed contract Signed contract Claimed on Waivers Released Placed on Waived/Injured List Signed contract Released Signed contract Released Released Signed contract Signed contract Released Claimed on Waivers Placed on Waived/Injured List Signed contract
Date 8/16/08 8/17/08 8/21/08 8/25/08 8/25/08 8/25/08 8/25/08 8/26/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/30/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 8/31/08 9/2/08 9/3/08
Pos. DE DE LB P QB DL WR TE LB QB WR P LB FB OL OL CB S LB DE S OL DL DL WR WR TE TE RB CB LB CB S OL DL WR TE RB C TE
Name Kevin Huntley Orpheus Roye James Farrior Daniel Sepulveda Mike Potts Martavius Prince Jeremy Bloom Cody Boyd Patrick Bailey Charlie Batch Eddie Drummond Paul Ernster Mike Humpal Billy Latsko Doug Legursky Matt Lentz Roy Lewis Grant Mason Arnold Harrison Ryan McBean Ryan Mundy Jeremy Parquet Scott Paxson Jordan Reffett Willie Reid Micah Rucker Dezmond Sherrod Lee Vickers Justin Vincent Travis Williams Patrick Bailey Roy Lewis Grant Mason Jeremy Parquet Scott Paxson Micah Rucker Dezmond Sherrod Justin Vincent Sean Mahan Sean McHugh
Transaction Released Signed contract Signed contract extension Placed on Reserve/Injured List Released Released Released Placed on Waived/Injured List Released Placed on Reserve/Injured List Released Released Placed on Waived/Injured List Released Released Released Released Released Placed on Waived/Injured List Released Released Released Released Released Released Released Released Released Released Released Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Signed to practice squad Traded to Tampa Bay Signed contract
HOW THE 2008 STEELERS WERE BUILT Year-Record (Finish)
Draft Choices (29)
Free Agents (18) Unrestricted Free Agents (6) Trade (0)
________________________________________________________________________________________________ rd
1998: 7-9 (3 AFC Central)
_
Hines Ward (#3b) Deshea Townsend (#4a) ____________________ __________________________________________________________ _ th DE Aaron Smith (#4) 1999: 6-10 (4 AFC Central) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ rd OT Marvel Smith (#2) 2000: 9-7 (3 AFC Central) _________________________________________________________________________________________________ _ st DT Casey Hampton (#1) DT Chris Hoke FA 2001: 13-3 (1 AFC Central) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____ _ st OG Kendall Simmons (#1) K Jeff Reed FA 2002: 11-5-1 (1 AFC North) LB Larry Foote (#4) LB James Farrior UFA (NYJ) DE Brett Keisel (#7b) rd
WR CB
2003: 6-10 (3 AFC North)
S CB
Troy Polamalu Ike Taylor
(#1) (#4)
st
QB OT
Ben Roethlisberger Max Starks
(#1) (#3)
2004: 15-1 (1 AFC North)
S Tyrone Carter FA LB James Harrison FA DE Travis Kirschke UFA (S.F.) RB Willie Parker FA _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ nd TE Heath Miller (#1) WR Nate Washington FA 2005: 11-5 (2 AFC North) CB Bryant McFadden (#2) LS Greg Warren FA OT Trai Essex (#3) OG Chris Kemoeatu (#6) _____________________________________________________________________________________________ ____ _ nd WR Santonio Holmes (#1) S Ryan Clark UFA (WAS) 2006: 8-8 (T-2 AFC North) FS Anthony Smith (#3a) RB Carey Davis FA OT Willie Colon (#4a) _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ___ st LB Lawrence Timmons (#1) RB Gary Russell FA 2007: 10-6 (1 AFC North) LB LaMarr Woodley (#2) C Darnell Stapleton FA TE Matt Spaeth (#3) DE Nick Eason FA CB William Gay (#5b) CB Anthony Madison FA WR Dallas Baker (#7) LB Andre Frazier FA _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ 2008: 0-0 (AFC North) RB Rashard Mendenhall (#1) P Mitch Berger FA WR Limas Sweed (#2) QB Byron Leftwich FA LB Bruce Davis (#3) LB Donovan Woods FA OT Tony Hills (#4) DE Orpheus Roye FA QB Dennis Dixon (#5) RB Mewelde Moore UFA (MIN) LB Keyaron Fox UFA (KC) C Justin Hartwig UFA (CAR) TE Sean McHugh FA
2008 STARTING LINEUPS OFFENSE Opponent SE
LT
LG
C
RG
RT
TE
FL
QB
RB
FB
Preseason PHILADELPHIA (8/8)
Holmes
M.Smith
Kemoeatu
Mahan
Simmons
Colon
Miller
Ward
Roethlisberger
Parker
C.Davis
At Buffalo (8/14)
Holmes
M.Smith
Kemoeatu
Hartwig
Simmons
Colon
Miller
Ward
Roethlisberger
Parker
Spaeth (TE)
At Minnesota (8/23)
Holmes
M. Smith
Kemoeatu
Hartwig
Simmons
Colon
Miller
Ward
Roethlisberger
Parker
Spaeth (TE)
CAROLINA (8/28)
Holmes
M. Smith
Kemoeatu
Hartwig
Simmons
Colon
Miller
Ward
Roethlisberger
Parker
Spaeth (TE)
QB
RB
Roethlisberger
Parker
SE
LT
LG
C
M. Smtih
Kemoeatu Hartwig
RG
RT
TE
FL
FB
Regular Season HOUSTON (9/7)
Holmes
At Cleveland (9/14) At Philadelphia (9/21) BALTIMORE (9/29) At Jacksonville (10/5) At Cincinnati (10/19) NEW YORK GIANTS (10/26) At Washington (11/3) INDIANAPOLIS (11/9) SAN DIEGO (11/16) CINCINNATI (11/20) At New England (11/30) DALLAS (12/7) At Baltimore (12/14) At Tennessee (12/21) CLEVELAND (12/28)
Simmons
Colon
Miller
Ward
C. Davis
2008 STARTING LINEUPS DEFENSE Opponent LE
NT
RE
LOLB
LILB
RILB
ROLB
LCB
RCB
SS
FS
Preseason
PHILADELPHIA (8/8)
Aa. Smith Hoke
Keisel
Woodley
Farrior
Foote
J. Harrison
Taylor
Townsend
Carter
Clark
At Buffalo (8/14)
Aa. Smith Hampton
Keisel
Woodley
Farrior
Foote
J. Harrison
Taylor
McFadden
Carter
Clark
At Minnesota (8/23)
Aa. Smith Hampton
Keisel
Woodley
Farrior
Foote
J. Harrison
Taylor
Townsend
Carter
Clark
CAROLINA (8/28)
Aa. Smith Hampton
Keisel
Woodley
Farrior
Timmons J. Harrison
Taylor
Townsend
Polamalu Clark
LE
RE
LOLB
LILB
RILB
LCB
Keisel
Woodley
Farrior
Foote
NT
ROLB
RCB
SS
FS
Regular Season HOUSTON (9/7)
Aa. Smith Hampton
At Cleveland (9/14) At Philadelphia (9/21) BALTIMORE (9/29) At Jacksonville (10/5) At Cincinnati (10/19) NEW YORK GIANTS (10/26) At Washington (11/3) INDIANAPOLIS (11/9) SAN DIEGO (11/16) CINCINNATI (11/20) At New England (11/30) DALLAS (12/7) At Baltimore (12/14) At Tennessee (12/21) CLEVELAND (12/28)
J. Harrison
Taylor
Townsend
Polamalu Clark
2008 PLAYER PARTICIPATION Games
1 2 3 4 5 6 Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct 7 14 21 29 5 19 @ @ @ @ HOUCLE PHI BAL JAC CIN
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec 26 3 9 16 20 30 7 14 21 28 @ @ @ @ NYGWAS IND SD CIN NE DAL BAL TEN CLE
Career G-S
Consec. G-S
2008 Injury Games Missed
2008 Games/ Starts
0-0 0-0 1-0 70-50 165-0 120-39 70-47 19-19 0-0 18-7 0-0 47-4 25-4 169-135 95-68 41-4 33-0 17-0 101-94 20-2 61-25 68-64 0-0 62-14 30-18 67-33 19-3 142-30 50-46 0-0 23-0
0-0 0-0 1-0 2-1 6-0 49-0 1-1 19-19 0-0 17-1 0-0 28-0 3-0 39-39 86-65 5-0 1-0 17-0 12-12 0-0 24-18 1-0 0-0 37-0 5-5 52-33 13-1 65-0 1-0 0-0 10-0
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0/0 0/0 1/0 0/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 0/0 1/1 0/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 1/0 1/0 1/0 1/1 0/0 1/1 1/1 0/0 1/0 1/1 1/1 1/1 1/0 1/0 0/0 1/0
Names Allen, Marvin Bailey, Patrick Baker, Dallas Batch, Charlie Berger, Mitch Carter, Tyrone Clark, Ryan Colon, Willie Davis, Bruce Davis, Carey Dixon, Dennis Eason, Nick Essex, Trai Farrior, James Foote, Larry Fox, Keyaron Frazier, Andre Gay, William Hampton, Casey Harrison, Arnold Harrison, James Hartwig, Justin Hills, Tony Hoke, Chris Holmes, Santonio Keisel, Brett Kemoeatu, Chris Kirschke, Travis Leftwich, Byron Lewis, Roy Madison, Anthony
PS PS P IR
P P FS RT
SI FB
DNP P P ILB ILB
P P P NT IR OLB
C SI P WR RE LG P
P PS P
Bold denotes starter and position P DNP IR SI PUP PS
— — — — — —
Played Did not play Injured reserve Sunday inactive Physically unable to perform Practice squad
2008 PLAYER PARTICIPATION Games
1 2 3 4 5 6 Sep Sep Sep Sep Oct Oct 7 14 21 29 5 19 @ @ @ @ HOUCLE PHI BAL JAC CIN
7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 Oct Nov Nov Nov Nov Nov Dec Dec Dec Dec 26 3 9 16 20 30 7 14 21 28 @ @ @ @ NYGWAS IND SD CIN NE DAL BAL TEN CLE
Career G-S
Consec. G-S
2008 Injury Games Missed
2008 Games/ Starts
5-0 42-10 25-14 1-0 49-48 55-11 55-47 0-0 0-0 73-57 87-0 57-56 174-128 0-0 3-0 16-0 0-0 77-77 130-122 32-14 106-103 15-6 1-0 57-34 0-0 78-45 17-0 156-76 0-0 155-136 49-0 34-6 14-1 1-0
0-0 10-0 0-0 1-0 49-45 3-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 1-1 87-0 1-1 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 0-0 27-27 1-1 0-0 1-1 13-0 1-0 17-0 0-0 60-18 17-0 49-17 0-0 1-1 49-0 33-0 4-1 1-0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0/0 1/0 0/0 1/0 1/1 1/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 1/1 1/0 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 1/1 1/1 0/0 1/1 1/0 1/0 1/0 0/0 1/1 1/0 1/1 0/0 1/1 1/0 1/0 1/1 1/0
Names Mason, Grant McFadden, Bryant McHugh, Sean Mendenhall, Rashard Miller, Heath Moore, Mewelde Parker, Willie Parquet, Jeremy Paxson, Scott Polamalu, Troy Reed, Jeff Roethlisberger, Ben Roye, Orpheus Rucker, Micah Russell, Gary Sepulveda, Daniel Sherrod, Dezmond Simmons, Kendall Smith, Aaron Smith, Anthony Smith, Marvel Spaeth, Matt Stapleton, Darnell Starks, Max Sweed, Limas Taylor, Ike Timmons, Lawrence Townsend, Deshea Vincent, Justin Ward, Hines Warren, Greg Washington, Nate Woodley, LaMarr Woods, Donovan
PS P
SI P TE
P HB PS PS SS P QB
SI PS SI IR
PS RG LE SI LT P P P
SI CB P CB
PS WR P P OLB
P
Bold denotes starter and position P DNP IR SI PUP PS
— — — — — —
Played Did not play Injured reserve Sunday inactive Physically unable to perform Practice squad
2008 INDIVIDUAL HIGHS OPPONENTS
STEELERS RUSHING Rushes Yards Long TDs
25 138 32 3
Willie Parker Willie Parker Willie Parker Willie Parker
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
6 76 29 2
Hines Ward Hines Ward Hines Ward Hines Ward
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Ben Roethlisberger Ben Roethlisberger Ben Roethlisberger Ben Roethlisberger Ben Roethlisberger
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
1 -3 -3
Mewelde Moore Mewelde Moore Mewelde Moore
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
2 2 46 27
Rashard Mendenhall Mewelde Moore Rashard Mendenhall Rashard Mendenhall
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Mitch Berger Mitch Berger Mitch Berger Mitch Berger Mitch Berger
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
1 1 6
Troy Polamalu LaMarr Woodley LaMarr Woodley
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
TACKLES Total Solo Assisted
10 7 4
James Harrison James Harrison James Farrior
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Sacks
3
James Harrison
vs. Hou (9/7)
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Steve Slaton Steve Slaton Ahman Green
13 43 14
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Andre Johnson Andre Johnson Andre Johnson Kevin Walter
10 112 24 1
RECEIVING Receptions Yards Long TDs
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Matt Schaub Matt Schaub Matt Schaub Matt Schaub Matt Schaub Matt Schaub
33 25 202 24 1 2
PASSING Attempts Completions Yards Long TDs INTs
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Jacoby Jones Jacoby Jones Jacoby Jones
2 5 5
vs. Hou (9/7)
Andre’ Davis
6
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Andre’ Davis Andre’ Davis
112 28
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Matt Turk Matt Turk Matt Turk Matt Turk Matt Turk Matt Turk Matt Turk
4 173 43.3 39.0 56 1 1
PUNT RETURNS Returns Yards Long TDs KICKOFF RETURNS Returns Yards Long TDs PUNTS Punts Yards Avg. Net Long In 20 Touchbacks INTERCEPTIONS Interceptions Long Return TDs
vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7) vs. Hou (9/7)
Zac Diles Zac Diles DeMeco Ryans Will Demps Mario Williams
13 11 4 4 2
14 13 137 29 2
3 129 43.0 41.3 45
2008 DRIVE ENGINEERING REGULAR SEASON No. Drives STEELERS Sept. 7 vs. Hou 12 Sept. 14 at Cle Sept. 21 at Phi Sept. 29 vs. Bal Oct. 5 at Jack Oct. 19 at Cin Oct. 26 vs. NYG Nov. 3 at Phi Nov. 9 vs. Ind Nov. 16 vs. S.D. Nov. 20 vs. Cin Nov. 30 at N. E. Dec. 7 vs. Dal Dec. 14 at Bal Dec. 21 at Ten Dec. 28 vs. Cle TOTAL 12
TD 5
5
Missed Blkd Blkd FG FG FG Punt Punt Downs Fum. Int. Safety Time 1 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 0 2
Pts 38
Scoring Effic. 50.0
1
38
50.0
Missed Blkd Blkd FG FG FG Punt Punt Downs Fum. Int. Safety Time 1 0 0 4 0 1 1 2 0 0
Pts 17
Scoring Effic. 27.2
17
27.2
1
0
0
3
0
0
1
0
0
1st Drive TD
REGULAR SEASON No. Drives OPPONENTS Sept. 7 vs. Hou 11 Sept. 14 at Cle Sept. 21 at Phi Sept. 29 vs. Bal Oct. 5 at Jack Oct. 19 at Cin Oct. 26 vs. NYG Nov. 3 at Phi Nov. 9 vs. Ind Nov. 16 vs. S.D. Nov. 20 vs. Cin Nov. 30 at N. E. Dec. 7 vs. Dal Dec. 14 at Bal Dec. 21 at Ten Dec. 28 vs. Cle TOTAL 11
TD 2
2
1
0
0
4
0
1
1
2
0
0
1st Drive Downs
2008 STEELERS SCORING DRIVES REGULAR SEASON Opponent
Obtained
Scoring Play
vs. Houston vs. Houston vs. Houston vs. Houston vs. Houston vs. Houston
Downs Punt Interception Kickoff Punt Fumble
Parker 7 yd. run Parker 13 yd. run Ward 13 yd. pass from Roethlisberger Parker 4 yd. run Ward 16 yd. pass from Roethlisberger Reed 44 yd. FG
Plays
Yards
Drive Time
8 11 2 10 9 4
52 76 19 66 80 2
04:48 06:03 00:28 05:50 05:36 00:54
Score Pit-Opp 7-0 14-0 21-0 28-3 35-3 38-10
Qtr 1 2 2 3 3 4
Time Remain 05:44 11:00 09:03 09:10 02:04 05:24
2008 OPPONENTS SCORING DRIVES REGULAR SEASON
Opponent
Obtained
Scoring Play
vs. Houston vs. Houston vs. Houston
Fumble Punt Kickoff
K. Brown 34 yd. FG Walter 14 yd. pass from Schaub Schaub 4 yd. run
Plays
Yards
Drive Time
Score Pit-Opp
Qtr
Time Remain
4 7 10
-4 53 69
02:06 04:14 04:10
21-3 35-10 38-17
2 4 4
04:29 09:00 01:14
THIRD/FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS REGULAR SEASON Date
Opponent
9/7/08
STEELERS vs. Houston
9/14/08
STEELERS at Cleveland
9/21/08
STEELERS at Philadelphia
9/29/08
STEELERS vs. Baltimore
10/5/08
STEELERS at Jacksonville
10/19/08
STEELERS at Cincinnati
10/26/08
STEELERS vs. New York Giants
11/3/08
STEELERS at Washington
11/9/08
STEELERS vs. Indianapolis
11/16/08
STEELERS vs. San Diego
11/20/08
STEELERS vs. Cincinnati
11/30/08
STEELERS at New England
12/7/08
STEELERS at Dallas
12/14/08
STEELERS at Baltimore
12/21/08
STEELERS at Tennessee
12/28/08
STEELERS vs. Cleveland
STEELERS OPPONENTS
THIRD DOWN Made Att.
Pct.
FOURTH DOWN Made Att.
Pct.
6 3
10 10
60% 30%
0 0
0 1
0% 0%
6 3
10 10
60% 30%
0 0
0 1
0% 0%
