STEELERS NOTEBOOK From San Francisco

Improvement: Coach Bill Cowher said the Steelers offensive line has gotten better each game over the past four weeks. "But we still can get better," said Cowher whose teams are 16-5 in Monday night games, but 6-5 in the road games. Cowher is happier about special teams play. "Since I've been here, this may be the best collection of guys. [Antwaan] Randle El, in the last 11 games, has three punt returns for touchdowns. The only blemish I can think about is that [punt] block [by the Seahawks on Nov. 2], but [the punt] group has been very, very solid. The best group has been that kickoff coverage group. It's a special bunch of guys -- they get excited about it. If there's been a phase that's most consistent, it's been our kicking game. Right now, we are playing with an energy that if it can be carried over to both sides of the ball, it is."
Praise for Randle El: 49ers coach Dennis Erickson said Randle El "is the best one that we have faced. He is a really talented athlete -- It is really important that we get some hang time on the football so that we can get some coverage on it. If you kick one flat to him, he is going to make you pay. He is that good."
Monday trip blues: One thing Cowher is not happy about is that the Steelers are the only Monday road team this season that has a road game the following Sunday. Asked if that's fair, Cowher replied, "Absolutely not. I didn't see how there is any justification for that, but that's the hand we've been dealt." The Steelers will fly home after tonight's game and arrive in Pittsburgh at about 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Steelers visit Cleveland next Sunday at 1 p.m.
Offensive line: Four of the 49ers' starters on the offensive line will play: left tackle Derrick Deese, left guard Ron Stone, center Jeremy Newberry and right tackle Scott Gragg. Kyle Kosier will replace Eric Heitmann at right guard. Erickson said Newberry and Kosier will be responsible for blocking Steelers nose tackle Casey Hampton. "He's got to be 350-360 pounds, maybe more," said Erickson of Hampton. "But he's a big man who can move around." Erickson said Gragg, who has the responsibility of keeping Steelers blitzers away from quarterback Tim Rattay, "really understands the game, he doesn't make many assignments mistakes. He's not the greatest athlete in the world, but he's big and he gets his hands on people."
Tandem runners: Erickson said he likes the different look tailbacks Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow give the 49ers. "Garrison is a little more of an inside runner. He has good feet that helps makes things happen. Kevan is bigger and offers a really different look. He has really good vision. It's a pretty good contrast."
Here comes 'Blitzburgh': Erickson said the Steelers' 3-4 alignment has received planning time by his staff. "They do some different things, particularly on defense, than what we've seen. It's different because you don't know where they are coming from. It is also good against the run. They move people around and you don't know which linebacker is coming and they can create problems for you, as far as protection is concerned."
-- Tom Williams