Healthier, stronger
PITTSBURGH – Sunday’s 24-17 victory at Cincinnati wasn’t just the first road win for the Steelers, it marked another milestone as well.For the first time this season, the Steelers didn’t suffer any major injuries and could head into Sunday’s game at Heinz Field against the Washington Redskins as healthy as they have been in some time.Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday he expects Pro Bowl center Maurkice Pouncey to return to practice today after sitting out the win over the Bengals. Running backs Rashard Mendenhall and Isaac Redman and linebacker Chris Carter also have a shot at playing.That could leave the Steelers (3-3) with only All-Pro strong safety Troy Polamalu and right tackle Marcus Gilbert still sidelined for the Redskins (3-4).That’s good news for a team looking to get above .500 for the first time this season, particularly on defense, where the Steelers have mixed together five different starting combinations because of injuries.Even without Polamalu on the field against the Bengals – the fourth game he’s missed with a calf injury – the defense limited Cincinnati to 185 total yards as linebackers James Harrison and LaMarr Woodley each played a full game together for the first time this season.”I thought we did a nice job of rushing the passer collectively and shrinking the pocket,” said Tomlin. “It didn’t necessarily manifest itself in terms of sacks, but I thought it affected the throwing lanes. I thought it reduced the throwing lanes. Rush and coverage worked well together in those circumstances. All in all, it was a good collective effort.”The Steelers, who rose to No. 2 in the NFL in yards allowed per game, will need another solid defensive effort this week.Washington leads the NFL in rushing behind a pair of rookies, running back Alfred Morris, who is second in the NFL with 658 yards, and quarterback Robert Griffin III, who is 12th passing with 468 yards.”Their run game is a catalyst for them, no question,” said Tomlin.The running game was a catalyst for the Steelers against the Bengals, too. Pittsburgh rushed for a season-high 167 yards, including a career-high 122 for Jonathan Dwyer, who was making his first career start with Mendenhall and Redman hurting.The Steelers had averaged just 3.0 yards per carry in their first five games before gashing the Bengals for 5.8 yards per attempt.Dwyer had been inactive in the Steelers’ previous two games after losing a fumble at Oakland, and Tomlin would not commit to a pecking order among his top three backs if all are ready to go against the Redskins.”We’re going to base those judgments on what it looks like as these guys prepare and get closer to game action during the week,” Tomlin said. “We’re not going to hypothesize what that might be. We’ll simply react to it and come up with the best formula that’s suited for us being successful this week.”Tomlin was impressed with the way Dwyer ran, particularly in the fourth quarter when the Steelers were attempting to run out the clock. Dwyer had eight carries for 72 yards in the fourth quarter.”He’s evolving and maturing as a player and as a person,” said Tomlin of the third-year running back. “It’s good to see him take advantage of opportunities when presented. I think that helps his cause and ours.”Odds and end zonesWith Gilbert out, rookie Mike Adams will make his second consecutive start at right tackle. … Will Allen, who has started the past two games in place of Polamalu, is dealing with an ankle injury that could slow him at practice early in the week. … Tomlin said he is troubled by the special teams, particularly a high number of penalties that unit has drawn. On Sunday, the Steelers had five penalties, four of which came on special teams. Tomlin said repeated penalties by the same player could result in that player being benched.