LATROBE, Pa. (AP) -One of the intriguing questions before the Pittsburgh Steelers opened training camp was this: Who would replace Jerome Bettis, the short-yardage and goal-line specialist?
The answer, apparently, is nobody. Or everybody.
Former starter Duce Staley or third-down back Verron Haynes appeared to be competing for the job, but coach Bill Cowher said Wednesday the Steelers probably won't have such a specialist this season. That means starter Willie Parker might get the ball frequently inside the 10-yard line, something that rarely happened last season.
``I can't say right now there's been one person like there was with Jerome. And I don't think that's a bad thing,'' Cowher said. ``That's the way it was last year. This year's a different year.''
Staley is more of a power runner than Parker and looked to be a logical replacement for Bettis. But Staley has had an uneven training camp, rushing for 25 yards on 12 carries in two exhibition games.
He opened the 2004 season as the starter, averaging 100-plus yards for seven games until getting hurt. Yet he frequently was pulled for Bettis in goal-line situations. Bettis kept that role last season when Parker started. Parker outrushed Bettis 1,202 yards to 368 yards and averaged 1.4 yards per carry more than Bettis, who ran for nine touchdowns to Parker's four.
When camp opened last month, Parker said he wanted to prove he could handle the short-yardage situations. But Haynes is expected to keep his job as the third-down specialist.
``Verron has proven to be a very, very good third-down back,'' said Cowher, who has praised Haynes frequently during camp. ``I just think you can never have enough good running backs, particularly with the way we like to play the game.''
The answer, apparently, is nobody. Or everybody.
Former starter Duce Staley or third-down back Verron Haynes appeared to be competing for the job, but coach Bill Cowher said Wednesday the Steelers probably won't have such a specialist this season. That means starter Willie Parker might get the ball frequently inside the 10-yard line, something that rarely happened last season.
``I can't say right now there's been one person like there was with Jerome. And I don't think that's a bad thing,'' Cowher said. ``That's the way it was last year. This year's a different year.''
Staley is more of a power runner than Parker and looked to be a logical replacement for Bettis. But Staley has had an uneven training camp, rushing for 25 yards on 12 carries in two exhibition games.
He opened the 2004 season as the starter, averaging 100-plus yards for seven games until getting hurt. Yet he frequently was pulled for Bettis in goal-line situations. Bettis kept that role last season when Parker started. Parker outrushed Bettis 1,202 yards to 368 yards and averaged 1.4 yards per carry more than Bettis, who ran for nine touchdowns to Parker's four.
When camp opened last month, Parker said he wanted to prove he could handle the short-yardage situations. But Haynes is expected to keep his job as the third-down specialist.
``Verron has proven to be a very, very good third-down back,'' said Cowher, who has praised Haynes frequently during camp. ``I just think you can never have enough good running backs, particularly with the way we like to play the game.''
