STEELERS Farrior is starting to fit in on defense

The new inside linebacker is leading the team in tackles.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers finally are comfortable with their new quarterback.
It's not just the offense with Tommy Maddox, either. The Steelers' defense also has a different play-caller in James Farrior, the former Jets linebacker and the only new starter on what was the NFL's No. 1 defense last season.
Farrior's adjustment from outside linebacker in the Jets' 4-3 defense to inside linebacker in the Steelers' 3-4 set admittedly was difficult, and is ongoing.
It may be one reason why the Steelers' defense looked so out of sync early in the season, allowing 60 points in its first two games.
"I'm still learning. It's an everyday process," Farrior said. "But from the first day I got here until now, it's like night and day."
Despite coming off the field on passing downs, Farrior leads the team with 50 tackles, one more than Joey Porter, who plays nearly every down.
Farrior also was one of the NFL's leading tacklers last season with New York, but the Jets' defense was designed with more latitude for him to make plays.
"That's my job, to try to be around the ball as much as I can," Farrior said.
"That's what I try to do, go out and make every tackle possible. But in this defense, I have a lot more responsibility -- especially calling the defense, getting everybody set up."
Back on track
Just as the Steelers' offense has done since changing quarterbacks, the Steelers' defense has settled down since its terrible start to allow only 33 points in its last three games. Farrior's ever-improving play is one of the reasons why.
"It's not easy to be an inside linebacker in this defense," safety Lee Flowers said. "But he's starting to come into his own. He's starting to be a leader out on the field. The first couple of weeks, he was getting a feel for being with 10 new guys and what we do. Now, we're starting to know how fast he is. He gets to the ball way quicker than a couple of other linebackers we had here."
Farrior replaced Earl Holmes, Pittsburgh's leading tackler the last three seasons. Holmes wanted a big money deal, and got one from Cleveland, but the Steelers felt it was more cost-effective to replace him than to re-sign him.
Just as he was with Pittsburgh, Holmes is the Browns' leading tackler with 58 tackles in eight games. The Steelers (4-3) and Browns (4-4) meet Sunday in Cleveland for first place in the AFC North.