Steelers glad to be back home

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The scrapes and scratches on Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Hines Ward tell the story.
"Look at this," he said Tuesday, holding his arms out. "I don't know what was up there. It was the 'good' field but you still found some rocks up there ... It wasn't one of the best fields we've practiced on."
Ward was referring to the new practice field carved out of a cornfield at the Steelers' training camp at St. Vincent College in Latrobe. A layer of skin burned off his arms and patches formed around his elbows after practicing there.
That's why the Steelers are glad to be back on the practice fields at their regular season training complex in Pittsburgh. They just hope there's enough time to get their passing game in a groove before the Sept. 7 opener against Baltimore.
Ward, receiver Plaxico Burress and quarterback Tommy Maddox say things will improve quickly now that the Steelers are back practicing on familiar -- and dry -- ground.
"Field condition means a lot, particularly with the timing between receiver and quarterback," Ward said. "It's kind of hard to run routes when you can't even get your proper footing or proper steps."
The Steelers practiced more than expected on the new field at St. Vincent because heavy rains soaked the field they normally use the most.
At their South Side complex, Ward said, "It's a nice facility, nice grass. It makes it easy, particularly on us receivers. We run so much, and I know all of camp, every receiver, the bottom of their feet was either blistered up or hurting."