Turnin 2 SS 2b
07-31-2002, 09:45 AM
The best news for the team was the health of Jerome Bettis, who reported to camp trim and in shape.
There were worries that Bettis' offseason conditioning might have been hampered by the groin/hip injury that forced him to miss five games toward the end of last season and was aggravated in the AFC title game loss to the Patriots.
But Bettis, who worked in the offseason again with track specialist Bob Kersee, ran easily during the team's conditioning drills and beat all his other teammates in the final run of back-to-back 40-yard sprints, high-stepping like he always does for the final five yards.
That was a welcome sight for the offense, which will rely on Bettis to keep opposing defenses from coming after Kordell Stewart.
Bettis was off to his best season ever last season and was leading the NFL in rushing when he was injured in the 11th game.
Part of the reason was because he reported to camp in the best shape of his life. The Steelers are hoping this will be a repeat of last season.
Still, expect coach Bill Cowher to limit how much work Bettis gets during training camp.
Cowher will use him sparingly and give him just enough reps to get ready for the regular season. . . .
With the signing of Aaron Smith to a long-term deal, the Steelers have done a good job locking up all the key components of their defense.
During the offseason, they gave unrestricted free agent Jason Gildon, a Pro Bowler, a lucrative contract, then extended the contract of Joey Porter, who would have been a free-agent at the end of the 2002 season.
Add that to Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington, each of whom were extended before the start of the 2001 season, and the team has seven of its 11 starters on defense under contract for the next five years.
There were worries that Bettis' offseason conditioning might have been hampered by the groin/hip injury that forced him to miss five games toward the end of last season and was aggravated in the AFC title game loss to the Patriots.
But Bettis, who worked in the offseason again with track specialist Bob Kersee, ran easily during the team's conditioning drills and beat all his other teammates in the final run of back-to-back 40-yard sprints, high-stepping like he always does for the final five yards.
That was a welcome sight for the offense, which will rely on Bettis to keep opposing defenses from coming after Kordell Stewart.
Bettis was off to his best season ever last season and was leading the NFL in rushing when he was injured in the 11th game.
Part of the reason was because he reported to camp in the best shape of his life. The Steelers are hoping this will be a repeat of last season.
Still, expect coach Bill Cowher to limit how much work Bettis gets during training camp.
Cowher will use him sparingly and give him just enough reps to get ready for the regular season. . . .
With the signing of Aaron Smith to a long-term deal, the Steelers have done a good job locking up all the key components of their defense.
During the offseason, they gave unrestricted free agent Jason Gildon, a Pro Bowler, a lucrative contract, then extended the contract of Joey Porter, who would have been a free-agent at the end of the 2002 season.
Add that to Chad Scott and Dewayne Washington, each of whom were extended before the start of the 2001 season, and the team has seven of its 11 starters on defense under contract for the next five years.