[url]http://nflfromthesidelines.blogspot.com/2008/09/some-mid-week-thoughts.html[/url]

Thursday, September 11, 2008
Some mid-week thoughts
Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Marvel Smith and Deshea Townsend took the veteran's Wednesday off from practice. All should be back at practice Thursday.

© Willie Parker said today that he had known for a little while that he was going to be the goal-line back, but the team was keeping it a secret. After Parker scored three TDs Sunday, the secret is out.

The team had been hiding it pretty well. Even fullback Carey Davis got more short-yardage carries in the preseason than Parker.

© Nate Washington of all people gave me an honest answer when asked about attacking Cleveland's young secondary. The Steelers are going to attack, attack, attack those two second-year corners.

© Casey Hampton's suggestion to teammate Justin Hartwig for blocking Shaun Rogers? Hold on for the ride.

Rogers is a force when he wants to be. Trouble is, he doesn't always want to be.

Hampton and Rogers were teammates at Texas. Rogers was the talented one. Hampton the overachiever. Kind of funny, isn't it, that Hampton took so much heat for coming to camp overweight?

© The Steelers' schedule continues to look better and better. Jacksonville put both of its starting guards on IR this week and Shawne Merriman is out for the season.
Good to see that the Steelers plan to attack the banged up Browns secondary. Hopefully, the weather doesn't prevent that from happening.

In the comments, Dale also talks about Mendhall a bit - suggesting that he won't just be a mop up guy all season. He also speculates that Sweed won't be activated this game.