STEELERS Strong rushing attack reduces team's worry

By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- For much of the 1990s, the Pittsburgh Steelers were known for their strong rushing attack.
But when Tommy Maddox took over as starting quarterback three seasons ago, the passing game dominated.
In 2004, the goal is to attain an equal dose of running and passing, according to wide receiver Hines Ward.
"If we're balanced, able to run and pass like we did in these first two preseason games, teams are going to find it hard to defend us," Ward said after Saturday's 38-3 rout of the Houston Texans at Heinz Field.
Production
The Steelers rushed for 205 yards on 49 carries and gained 222 more yards through the air.
Maddox credited the men up front.
"The offensive line is obviously playing very well and playing with a lot of confidence," said Maddox, who completed 4-of-7 passes for 80 yards.
In his three series, Maddox produced two touchdown drives.
The first came midway through the opening quarter and was triggered by a play-action pass to Ward for a 29-yard pickup to the Houston 9.
"Our play-action success was a credit to our running game," Ward said. "The first play we ran [Bettis for 2-yard gain] was designed to set up that play."
Ward had a suggestion for Maddox after he capped the drive with a 4-yard touchdown reception.
"I told Tommy that I wished that he had thrown it harder, faster," Ward said of the pass that picked up 29 yards. "Me going across the middle, there's a clock that goes off in my head. When I caught it, I was expecting to get hit."
What happened?
Relief
"There was no one around me so I was laughing to myself," Ward said. "I thought he was going to leave me out to dry, but it worked [because] it was a great run fake.
"That comes from the running game -- you have to establish the running game to go out and work play action," Ward said.
Bettis, the future Hall of Famer who's expected to share backfield time with free-agent Duce Staley, started and rushed 10 times for 48 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown.
Staley had just two carries for 5 yards.
"Everybody on this team knows what type of guy Jerome is and the type of runner Duce is," Ward said. "We need both of those guys all year long regardless of who's in there.
"I think [they] complement each other and give us two veterans back there," Ward said. "With those two guys [available] over the course of 16 weeks, it's going to help this team tremendously."
Some numbers
Late in the game, Willie Parker rushed 12 times for 71 yards, including a 25-yard touchdown. Verron Haynes had eight carries for 31 yards and a 2-yard score.
Defensively, the Steelers limited the Texans to 54 yards rushing and 134 in the air.
"We got a little bit better defensively," Steelers coach Bill Cowher said. "I thought that we made some great strides [but] we still have a ways to go."
williams@vindy.com