Friday, November 09, 2007
By Gerry Dulac, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
When it was pointed out that the Steelers were 2-0 and had held the opposition to a total of 20 points without him, defensive end Aaron Smith smiled and said, "Everyone is expendable."
Perhaps. But maybe not Smith.
After the Steelers played most of the past three games without him -- he was injured in the first quarter of the 31-28 loss in Denver -- Smith will return to the starting lineup Sunday against the Cleveland Browns (5-3), tired of standing on the sideline and watching his teammates succeed without him.
Even though the Steelers held the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens to just two touchdowns and 400 yards of offense in lopsided division victories, defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau could not be more thrilled to get Smith back.
"Aaron Smith is unquestionably one of the better defensive ends in the National Football League," LeBeau said. "You're always going to be a better defense with him. We welcome him back any time we can get him."
As LeBeau was talking on the practice field, Smith was hitting the blocking sled behind him, a drill usually reserved for training camp or players who need better technique. Not Smith, a nine-year veteran and a Pro Bowl performer after the 2004 season.
"Tiger Woods hits 400 golf balls every day and he doesn't need to," LeBeau said. "I think he knows how to hit a golf ball, but he's still out there hitting them."
Do not be fooled by the seemingly impressive numbers compiled by the defense in Smith's absence.
Smith's specialty is run defense and, without him, the Steelers nearly gave up a 100-yard rushing performance to Bengals running back Kenny Watson -- something they haven't done in a league-best 33 consecutive games -- and allowed a 33-yard touchdown run by Baltimore's Willis McGahee.
It was the longest run of the season against the Steelers and only the second rushing touchdown in eight games. The Steelers used defensive end Nick Eason to replace Smith against the Bengals, then switched to Travis Kirschke against the Ravens.
Against the Browns, who have averaged 31.4 points per game since a 34-7 blowout loss to the Steelers in the season opener, Smith will return to his normal spot at left defensive end.
"He's very big and very strong," LeBeau said. "He's a strong man. And he plays strong."
Smith was injured on the first series against the Denver Broncos -- he sprained the medial collateral ligament in his left knee -- and did not return to the game. When he didn't play against the Bengals, it marked the first time since his rookie season of 1999 that he had missed a game -- a streak of 105 consecutive games, 115 including playoffs. He has started every game but two since the 2000 season.
"It's hard," Smith said. "Being a competitor, you want to go out there and you want to be a part of the team and help them win. You enjoy competing, and when you can't compete for a while, you miss it.
"Most of our lives, since we were little kids, you get up and look forward to some kind of competition. When you can't do it, it's tough."
Smith has never had to deal with coming back from an injury-induced layoff, so he is curious to see how he will react to even a short layoff.
"It's a game of reaction, and you get so used to doing it that if you take a little time off, you got to get that back," Smith said. "Hopefully, it doesn't take long. I've been ready to play, energy-wise. But I haven't played football in two weeks. I have to knock the dust off me."
And maybe a few running backs.
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NOTES -- QB Ben Roethlisberger (hip contusion) and RB Willie Parker (inflamed knee) returned to practice, but WR Santonio Holmes (hamstring) was held out as a precaution. Holmes, though, said he will attempt to practice today and expects to play against the Browns. Safety Ryan Clark (spleen) and TE Jerame Tuman (back) did not practice. ... Browns G Eric Steinbach (back) and LB Antwan Peek (knee) did not practice. CB Leigh Bodden (back), who played at Duquesne University, returned and took part in an entire practice.
Gerry Dulac can be reached at gdulac@post-gazette.com.
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