The game brought back bad memories of their loss in the AFC championship game to New England by repeating some of the special teams disasters from that January contest in Heinz Field. That's what most everyone focused on - a blocked punt, 12 men on the field on a punt return and a crucial penalty on a kickoff.

What Bill Cowher and the rest of his staff were more interested in was the way the quarterbacks threw the ball against the Jets. Kordell Stewart, Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch were a combined 24 of 32 for 296 yards. They did not have a touchdown and Stewart threw a bad interception, but otherwise the quarterbacks were terrific.

And while their running game was not - Jerome Bettis, Amos Zereoue and Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala combined for 32 yards on 24 carries - no one's losing sleep over that because they know they have proven commodities there and they will be able to run the ball. After all, they were No. 1 in the league doing it last year with virtually the same cast.

But the passing game is always a question mark and has been ever since Neil O'Donnell left after the 1995 season. It came around in the second half of last season and it appears it will pick right back up. And if the Steelers can throw the ball, they will have the kind of balance on offense they have not had since that 1995 season.

Plaxico Burress showed how valuable he could be when he leaped up for a jump ball near the goal line. Stewart lofted a 40-yarder up for grabs, intentionally, because Burress was one-on-one with a shrimp cornerback that was 9 or 10 inches shorter. Burress easily caught the ball at the one.

Things like that - and the performance of slot receivers Terance Mathis and Antwaan Randle El, who combined for 9 receptions and 120 yards - carried far more meaning to Cowher than a few special teams mistakes. Kevin Spencer, their new special teams coach, will get those fixed. This is a time of year when many of the players on those teams won't make the final roster, anyway.

Make the special teams boo-boos now and get them ironed out rather than the way they did it last year, saving their worst for last and missing a chance at the Super Bowl.

They also have a dangerous punt returner this year in Randle El. He's so quick and cuts so sharply that punt returning will be a natural for him.

Losing the first exhibition game actually may have been good for the Steelers. It got everyone's attention, including many fans who believe a trip to the Super Bowl is preordained for a team that is the odds-on favorites to get there from the AFC. This is a team that usually reacts well to getting knocked down, so an early loss was just what Dr. Cowher ordered.

CAMP CALENDAR
Camp runs through Aug. 23. They will hold a second night practice off campus Wednesday, Aug. 14 at Greensburg's Offutt Field. Admission to the 7 p.m. practice will be $3 for adults, which means they will also be open to opposing NFL scouts and/or coaches. Camp ends Aug. 23.

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