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Once again, running a bit late with the Jottings but hey, at least they're getting done this year. Steelers 2-0 after taking down the not-so-impressive Bills and have the Niners coming to town. I like the way the season is starting out (surprise!). OK, let's do this...

• Another good day from Ben Roethlisberger as he gets used to the new offense. The only thing that concerns me is his habit of waiting the extra second to get rid of the ball, especially on deep routes. Maybe he still thinks he's throwing to slowness-in-motion Plaxico Burress instead of the 4.4 running Santonio Holmes. Maybe he still is a bit indecisive in his new offense. Whatever it is, let's hope it disappears as the season moves on.
• If Ben hasn't fully grasped the offense, not to worry, Willie Parker sure has. A 5.5-yard average against a team that was gearing up to stop him was pretty impressive. I think it gets better as the season goes on too. I'm also guessing that the better Willie does, the less the team needs a guy like Dan Kreider active on game day. Carey Davis can handle his duties and many more. What the Steelers do need is a short yardage threat active and I believe we're not that far away from seeing Gary Russell in there. The future may come this week in fact as Najeh Davenport is a bit banged up.
• Heavy-duty props to the O-line after last week. They gave Ben plenty of time and opened up some nice holes for Willie. What I liked the most was how they were able to wear down the Bills even though the Steelers threw the ball 34 times. That's a tough task when you have to go in reverse that many times.
• Nate Washington. Insert your own Jotting here.
• Even though the ball was thrown late on the play and intercepted, I still like the way the Steelers are sending Santonio Holmes on deep routes and giving him chances to make plays. It not only gives the Steelers a very realistic shot at a big play but also keeps the safeties very honest in coverage. It opens up the running game and Heath Miller underneath.
• Back to Nate Washington for a sec, here's my two cents. The guy obviously has talent, what he needs is concentration. His drops are coming from lack of attention to detail and not his lack of hands. Not sure if this can be fixed but if it can he'll be a good one.
• Jeff Reed doesn't get noticed too much lately. That's good; I hope he can stay that way.
• A lot is said of the defensive line of the Patriots and how good they are. That's fine and they are good but if I was given a choice I would take the Steelers' front three. Casey Hampton (along with the Chargers' Jamal Williams) is the best nose tackle in football. Heck, even his butt hurts people (sadly, his own). Aaron Smith isn't exciting but he's a past Pro Bowler who handles the non-glamorous work as well as anyone and still makes plays behind the line of scrimmage. The wild card in the mix is Brett Keisel. He can play DE; swing out into coverage as an OLB and even move to the middle acting as a strong safety-MLB hybrid. He's great in pursuit and just makes it tough to get a good read on what he and the D are doing. Having Dick Lebeau moving all the parts around sure doesn't hurt either.
• Since I brought him up, let's stay with Lebeau for a moment. I can't begin to say just how important his return to the team has been. I don't think the Steelers have ring #5 without him. The interesting thing this year though is how much he's been allowed to do with the D. Mike Tomlin is not showing any interest in getting in his way, which is saying a lot for a man who used to be a defensive coordinator himself. That's a selfless move on his part and a smart move as well. Lebeau is bringing all new kinds of blitzes and packages that the league hasn't seen and is a good reason the Steelers have only given up 10 points so far. Here is a perfect example of the importance of having a head coach without a massive ego that needs feeding weekly. Bill Cowher never let Lebeau have full control of the defense and we can see the impact it had in the past. Now, and this is according to Troy Polamalu, the "reigns on coach Lebeau" have been removed. Good news for everybody who happens to be a Steelers fan, not so much for QBs around the league.
• James Farrior is playing like it's 2004 again. Whether it's being used better by Lebeau or something else I don't know but he's been a machine out there the first two games.
• I knew James Harrison had good pass rush moves and I knew he had the nasty demeanor but who knew about the guy's level of strength? Man, the way he just got under LT Jason Peters and drove him back was just amazing. Just so you know, Peters is no slouch out there and weighs 340 pounds to Harrison's 242. For you math challenged out there, that's almost 100 pounds he's giving away at the point of attack. Wow.
• Good news on the injury front, Harrison will be good to go this week after meeting the backside of Casey Hampton with his head and losing that contest. Maybe Hampton should face the opposite direction when playing D, that's one angry butt that guy has.
• With Harrison out for the second half, LaMarr Woodley was given a good opportunity to show what he can do in extended playing time. Not bad either, four tackles that were all solo and throw in his first sack as well. Regardless how Timmons turns out, the Steelers look like they got a first round linebacker with Woodley in round two.
• Speaking of Timmons, it's time for our weekly Laurence "Special Teammons" update. So far, so OK I guess. He's not seeing time with the regular defense but he is seeing a lot of action on special teams and there he does look good. I'm beginning to think the nickname I've given him might be too appropriate. Hey, might as well get something out of him this year, they're sure paying for it.
• Ike Taylor is looking like the up and comer he once was the last couple of games. Just ask Lee Evans, a fine receiver who hauled in a mighty two catches for 17 yards against him. I'm probably not alone in wondering how the Randy Moss/Ike Taylor will turn out later in the season. So far both Braylon Edwards and Evans would probably bet on Taylor. They just wouldn't admit it.

Around the league:
• I'm not so sure the Patriots' situation is completely resolved as of yet. The league is still investigating the additional info that they requested (demanded) from Belichick and the Pats. Am I thinking there will be more coming in the form of penalties? No, not really. I am hoping though.
• The big item this week was Donovan McNabb going on Bryant Gumbel's HBO show to tell us all how tough it is to be a black QB and that he's not been given a fair shake by the fans because of it. News to Mr. McNabb, it has nothing to do with you being black. It has to do with the simple fact that you really aren't that good. I mean, look how well Jeff Garcia did with them last season when you went down (again) with another injury. You are not accurate on most routes and lack any kind of touch. For some reason your ability to read and dissect defenses seems to get worse year-by-year and now, because of the injuries you have had, you lack your old mobility that allowed you to buy extra time to make better decisions. Besides Donovan, you do realize you're playing in Philly, don't you? These folks booed one of the best third baseman of all time in Mike Schmidt, a future Hall of Fame basketballer in Charles Barkley and even the jolly old fat man himself, Santa Claus. Next to those three guys you haven't amounted to much in your career.
• Bills TE Kevin Everett is expected to be able to walk again after his injury in week one. I've read about how quickly he received treatment on the field (check it out for yourself) and I wonder why that kind of expertise isn't at the ready at every game played in the NFL. Normally I would look for the players' union to take this issue up but since NFLPA head Gene Upshaw is so deep in the owners' pockets, I doubt we'll see anything more about it.

OK, time to wrap this up; I need to go to dinner. Again, I'm not going to make any predictions here but I do know that the Niners will be coming to Pittsburgh with an offense that depends heavily on RB Frank Gore. I also know that the Steelers haven't allowed a RB to rush for over 100 yards in 27 games. Something has to give and since the last two RBs that did get over 100 yards were both on heavy passing teams (Cincy and Indy), I'll bet it's the Niners who give.

Gotta go, nuf fer now&

Tim Campion