STEELERS Same players, but new outlook

Bill Cowher's coaching staff has been tremendously overhauled.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Steelers open training camp today with perhaps their most altered look since coach Bill Cowher's arrival in 1992.
The offense figures to be much different, the defense to be significantly altered -- and that's just on the coaching staff.
The players? They're mostly the same. And that may present the Steelers' biggest challenge as they open Camp Cowher, Year 13 at St. Vincent College in Latrobe.
Namely, how do they get much better, and in a hurry, after going 6-10 last season with nearly the same players? "It is an opportunity for our staff to take and develop this team and put it together," Cowher said.
Coaching changes
Even if that staff is a work in progress by itself, with eight coaches added or changing responsibilities since last season. Both coordinators have changed, with Ken Whisenhunt moving up from receivers coach to replace new Bills coach Mike Mularkey as offensive coordinator and Dick LeBeau back for his second turn as defensive coordinator following Tim Lewis' firing.
LeBeau was brought back -- he ran the much-acclaimed Blitzburgh defense of the mid 1990s -- partly because players such as linebacker Joey Porter felt the Steelers' defense was much too passive last season.
Lewis apparently had so little confidence in the deep-coverage ability of cornerbacks Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington, he stayed away from the frequent blitzing and gambling that Cowher had long favored.
As a result, the Steelers' pass coverage was improved but the defense had far fewer sacks and forced turnovers than it did during a 10-5-1 season in 2002.
LeBeau is promising to bring back the aggressiveness and the blitzing, but he must do so while breaking in a nearly new secondary.
Deshea Townsend replaced Washington midway through last season but has never spent a full season as a starter, and both safeties -- 2003 first-rounder Troy Polamalu and Chris Hope -- are first-time starters.
"That is what I kind of like about it. There is a mix [of younger and older players]," Cowher said. "Now, getting that mix to come together and getting players who hopefully stay healthy and have big years will have a lot to do with where we go with it."
Roethlisberger unsigned
Offensively, the Steelers aren't counting on much this season from still-unsigned first round draft pick Ben Roethlisberger, who expects to serve an apprentice year under starting quarterback Tommy Maddox.
If Roethlisberger is to stay on the sidelines, the offensive line must play much better than it did a year ago.
Then, a patchwork unit weakened by left tackle Marvel Smith's neck injury and right guard Kendall Simmons' season-long bout with diabetes and weight loss did a poor job of protecting Maddox and a worse job of blocking for the league's second-worst running game.
Running back Duce Staley, the only major offseason addition, should help get the running game going again.
But the Steelers also need Smith to stay healthy, Simmons to retain the 40 pounds he's put back on since last season and for someone, probably Oliver Ross, to settle in at right tackle.
One immediate issue when camp opens is wide receiver Plaxico Burress' attitude. He angered Cowher by being the only player to miss the voluntary spring coaching sessions, apparently in protest of not being offered a contract extension.
As a result, Cowher said it's not a certainty Burress will line up as a starter when practice starts Sunday.