NFL Steelers change offense to fit

Tommy Maddox and new tight end Jay Riemersma have made a difference.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- The transformation of the Pittsburgh Steelers offense from a grind-it-out, run it down your throat attack to an air force began on Sept. 29, 2002, when Tommy Maddox replaced Kordell Stewart at quarterback.
The final piece of the transformation puzzle was displayed in Sunday's 34-15 win over division rival Baltimore when tight end Jay Riemersma became the starter over nine-year veteran Mark Bruener.
Unlike Stewart, whose running ability usually generated his passing success, Maddox's in-the-pocket style relies on precise throws and timing.
Unlike Bruener, whose main strength is serving as another blocking lineman, Riemersma has enough speed to run downfield and get open, requiring opposing safeties to give him attention as a passing option.
Adds new dimension
"He adds a dimension that we haven't had," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "He gives you a guy that [the defense] has to think about down the middle of the field."
The former Buffalo and University of Michigan tight end caught just two passes from Maddox Sunday. But the threat he created was credited by wide receivers Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward for giving them more opportunities against a decent Ravens pass defense.
"We have a great receiver corps here and somewhere down the line, people are going to start giving us credit," said Ward after catching nine passes for 91 yards and two touchdowns. "We have a great tandem, especially with the addition of Jay stretching the defense.
"Plex and I are going to see a lot of one-on-one coverage," Ward said. "With a trigger man like Tommy, good things are going to happen to us."
Burress had six receptions for 116 yards as the Steelers passed for 260 overall.
"[Opponents] have to make choices and he's going to be a special guy to help this offense," said Burress of Riemersma. "He can get up the field and get in those seams very fast and it creates problems for defensive backs."
The transformation has its price -- because he doesn't play special teams and backups Jerame Tuman and Matt Cushing do, Bruener was deactivated for Sunday's game. The loss of linebacker Joey Porter (gunshot wound) created the special teams hole when Clark Haggans was moved up to starter.
"We had to preserve [Haggans]. Mark, being the competitor he is, was disappointed," Cowher said, "but being the professional he is he understood it."
Downplays role
Riemersma, who said he left Buffalo feeling unappreciated, downplayed his role.
"This is a great opportunity for me," said the 30-year-old, eight-year veteran. "When I talked to Coach Cowher and the staff in the off-season, they made it very clear they wanted me to come here.
"Coming from the environment in Buffalo, all I wanted to feel was wanted. And when they wanted me, that's all I needed to hear," Riemersma said.
"This offense has those plays [to the tight end] available -- I think we're just going to take advantage of what the defense gives us," Riemersma said. "It will happen in waves. [The receivers] will make plays outside and the next week I'll make a couple of plays inside and we'll just feed off one another."
Maddox said having another option "makes it fun to quarterback this offense. If we can keep stretching the field and stay balanced, it's going to be hard for defense to know what to take away."
Although the Steelers snapped their string of three straight season-opening losses, Maddox suggested a few more games need to be played before postseason tickets are printed.
"It's a long season and we can't put too much into this win," Maddox said. "But it's better than being 0-1 and having to dig yourself out of a hole."
However, Cowher said that grabbing a win against an AFC North Division opponent "was significant. They are a divisional opponent that a lot of people picked to win our division."
williams@vindy.com