Steelers starters may see second half

August 29, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

“We’re going to get at the very least a half of play. We’ll kind of analyze it at the half and go from there. … ”

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin

About his strategy on whether to keep starters in the game or not

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Steelers put together something resembling a game plan for tonight’s exhibition game against Buffalo. They stayed with the practice routine and weekly schedule they use for the games that count.

The practices lasted as long as they will during the season. The starters got as much work as usual.

Calling this the NFL’s version of a dress rehearsal, Mike Tomlin dared to suggest his starters might see a territory rarely visited during the preseason: the second half.

If Tomlin doesn’t like what he sees, if quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hasn’t taken enough snaps or his defense isn’t playing to the level he expects, there’s a possibility his regulars may play past halftime.

That probably won’t happen but, given that some coaches won’t play their starters a single down next week, Tomlin’s approach is a bit of a throwback to the days when the regulars didn’t sit down after a couple of series.

“We’re going to get at the very least a half of play,” Tomlin said. “We’ll kind of analyze it at the half and go from there. We’re not worried about a snap count or anything that you worry about in the first two games. We want to see 30 minutes of Steelers football and then kind of make a determination from there.”

So far in the preseason, 180 minutes of Bills football haven’t produced much offensively to get excited about, at least from the starters. That’s why coach Dick Jauron is putting as much importance as Tomlin is on an otherwise inconsequential game.

One major concern is a Buffalo no-huddle offense that’s been more of a no-points offense — so far, the Bills starters have produced only 253 yards, 12 first downs, a field goal and no touchdowns.

It hasn’t helped that wide receiver Terrell Owens has missed the last two games and will sit out tonight because of a sprained toe, but the Bills are running out of time to get this working before the games matter. Quarterback Trent Edwards was under constant pressure while throwing an interception and losing a fumble in five series against Green Bay last week.

“We’ve got to score some touchdowns and, obviously, this week there will be more of an emphasis on that,” Edwards said.

If the Bills wanted a test of where they are offensively, they may get it from the Steelers defense, which was No. 1 overall, No. 1 against the pass and No. 2 against the run last season. The Bills also usually struggle against 3-4 defenses like Pittsburgh’s; they were 0-6 last season inside the AFC East, where every opponent used the 3-4.