'Mighty mite' Parker is super sub for Pittsburgh

The diminutive running back used shifty moves and speedy legs to key victory.
By TOM WILLIAMS
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
PITTSBURGH -- "Fast" Willie Parker, the non-drafted running back who wasn't good enough to start regularly for bad University of North Carolina football teams, has become the Steelers' latest super substitute.
With Duce Staley and future Hall of Famer Jerome Bettis sidelined indefinitely with leg injuries, many wondered if the mighty mite back could hold up as a featured back in a meaningful game.
Wonder no more. The 5-foot-10 Parker used shifty moves and speedy legs to shred Tennessee's defense for 161 rushing yards in Sunday's victory.
"Running is natural to Willie and today he did a tremendous job of it," wide receiver Hines Ward said. "The offensive line opened up some huge holes for him and he took advantage.
"And even when they didn't, he found a way to bounce it wide," Ward said. "And we had some great blocking downfield for him."
Parker also caught a screen pass for a 48-yard gain in the first quarter.
Unexpected play
"I think we caught them with their pants down on that play," Parker said. "They weren't looking for that and Hines just blocked well on it."
Left guard Alan Faneca called Parker "a dynamic player, He really proved that today. He kind of put us on his back as an offense and carried us."
Faneca said the second-year back has benefited from being around Staley and Bettis, the backs expected to power the Steelers offense.
"Spending a year with guys like Verron [Haynes] and Jerome and Duce and picking up how they do things, you can't help but to get better and smarter about how the plays are supposed to develop because of the defenses," Faneca said.
Parker is the fourth different starting tailback to start for the Steelers in the past four years. Bettis started in 2002, Amos Zereoue in 2003 and Staley last season.
In 2004, Parker was inactive for the first seven games, behind Staley, Bettis and Haynes on the depth chart. Then Staley was injured on Oct. 31 against the Patriots and Parker received his chance.
Parker shifty alternative
As Bettis pounded opposing defenses with his steamroller style, Parker's speed proved a shifty alternative.
And in the season finale at Buffalo (that meant nothing because the Steelers had clinched home-field advantage for the playoffs), Parker started and gained 102 yards on 19 carries.
"Last year, he was [about] speed and trying to hit the hole," left tackle Marvel Smith said. "Now he sees what's going on out there. He's able to hit the hole and make a lot of people miss, too."
Parker admitted he's "a little bruised right now but it feels good to get a win."
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger said no one was surprised at Parker's totals.
"We expected that from him," Roethlisberger said. "He may have exceeded [media] expectations, but not ours. He had a phenomenal game.
"He makes people miss, he shows unbelievable speed."
Asked if he's the Ben Roethlisberger of 2005, the quarterback responded, "I hope Willie does better than that."
williams@vindy.com