The Steelers line finally healthy, but is it too late?

Two years after leading the NFL in rushing, Pittsburgh is ranked second to last.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Weeks after it was expected and perhaps weeks after it really mattered, the Pittsburgh Steelers finally have their starting offensive line together.
For the first time since the last day of summer -- or the Steelers' third game of the season -- Marvel Smith and Oliver Ross were the starting tackles, Alan Faneca and Kendall Simmons were the guards and Jeff Hartings was the center during practice Wednesday.
Smith, who moved to left tackle this season but has played only three full games there, has essentially missed seven games, a major setback to an offense that hasn't run the ball this badly in 34 years. The Steelers are next-to-last in rushing among the 32 teams, a staggering falloff for a team that easily led the league only two years ago.
"I had no idea it would take this long, that the season might be almost over with," said Smith, who didn't miss a game to injury during his first two seasons as a starter.
Big question
The question now is whether having the line they expected to have will make any difference to the Steelers (3-7), who couldn't possibly have expected the NFL's most consistent running game to go so bad so quickly.
Going into Sunday's game at Cleveland (4-6), the Steelers have rushed for only 830 yards in 10 games (83 yards per game average), an enormous drop-off from their 2,120 yards in 16 games last season (132.5 yards per game) and 2,774 yards in 2001 (173.4 yards per game).
Their leading rusher, Amos Zereoue (335 yards) is on pace for the lowest rushing total by the team leader since Dick Hoak had 531 yards during a 14-game season in 1969 -- when the Steelers finished 1-13.
The Steelers had a season-low 44 yards rushing in Monday night's 30-14 loss at San Francisco, the sixth time in seven games they've been held below 100 yards. They've had only two 100-yard games all season -- Jerome Bettis had seven by himself in 2000 -- after running for more than 100 in all but five games last season.
"But we should play better now," Faneca said. "We're kicking on all pistons, finally."
Getting back
There was speculation Faneca might stay at left tackle and Smith would return to right tackle, where he started in 2001 and 2002, once Smith was ready. However, Faneca was back at guard after making All-Pro there the last two seasons and Ross, at least for now, is staying at right tackle.
Despite his nearly two-month layoff, Smith also felt comfortable, but it wasn't a feeling mutually shared by many teammates. The Steelers were back on the practice field barely 36 hours after losing in San Francisco, their sixth loss in seven games, and wide receiver Hines Ward acknowledged being tired, sore and far less fresh than for a normal Wednesday practice.
Wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (toe), guard Keydrick Vincent (groin), tight end Jay Riemersma (sternum) and Bettis (shoulder) didn't practice, but Ward worked out despite a sprained neck and sore tongue. He nearly bit his tongue in two while trying to make a catch Monday night and missed much of the second half.