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Thursday, September 26, 2002

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Bill Cowher invited Kordell Stewart into his office last week for a little talk, and the message the coach gave his quarterback was straightforward:

	Will Tommy Maddox, above, have Kordell Stewart looking over his shoulder Sunday afternoon? (Matt Freed, Post-Gazette) Steelers Notebook 9/26/02

Improve your play or Tommy Maddox will get his chance.

With his team 0-2 and underperforming in many areas, the Steelers' coach is prepared to make a change at quarterback, if necessary, to try to improve the offense. Stewart can avoid that by playing well against the Cleveland Browns, but, if he does not, Cowher will go to Maddox, his backup.

"It was just a meeting to figure out where I was mentally and to really get me to understand that I need to go out and play strong," Stewart said. "Just letting me know to go out and play and don't worry about anything.

"That's why we had that bye week, to come back, clear our minds and know that there were a lot of mistakes made and, at the same time, there was a case of urgency. It starts out on the practice field, and everything else takes care of itself from there once you get in the game."

Stewart began the season by throwing two interceptions in his first three passes at New England, which beat the Steelers, 30-14. He threw two touchdown passes against Oakland, but fumbled a snap on first down at the Raiders' 3 as the Steelers lost, 30-17.

Other players and other areas of the team also have underperformed but, with 10 turnovers on an offense that has been unable to generate many points, much of the focus has been on the quarterback. Stewart's passer rating of 68.0 ranks 14th in the AFC, but the defense that was No. 1 last year ranks 30th in the NFL and the running game that led the league last season is tied for No. 25.

Mike Mularkey, the offensive coordinator, said Stewart's play needs to improve, but, "if you asked me about the O-line, I'd say the same thing."

Mularkey said they're looking for more consistency across the board.

"I don't think it's a confidence thing; it's consistency right now that we're lacking," he said. "You can say that at a couple different positions. I'm serious about that. Don't go and put it on his shoulders, because it's not him."

Cowher did that when he talked to Stewart, who had his best season last year when he made the Pro Bowl, was voted the Steelers' MVP by his teammates and earned the Post-Gazette Dapper Dan Man of the Year Award, all after helping the Steelers to a 13-3 record.

That apparently won't be enough to keep his job if he performs poorly Sunday against Cleveland. The Steelers entered the season as the AFC favorite to make the Super Bowl with 20 of 22 starters returning from the team that reached the AFC championship game last January. At 0-2, Cowher does not want to let the season get away from him.

"If we have to make changes, we will do so," Cowher said Monday during his news conference. "Whatever we feel like we have to do to start playing good football."

Stewart understands the ramifications after his talk with the coach.

"I would say it was a conversation set to a point that I have to understand I need to go do my job, basically," he said. "Go out and do what I need to do and do it well, and just not do more than what I can. Just do what I can to lead the football team, because once you try to do too much, that's when the mistakes come.

"In so many words, I have to go out and just play well and do my part. Not do more than I can, not think that I'm Moses or anyone, just go out and play."

Cowher has replaced Stewart several times in the past. He benched him in a game at Tampa Bay near the end of the 1998 season for two series in favor of Mike Tomczak. Stewart returned to finish that game and the final two of the season.

In 1999, although the Steelers got of to a 2-0 start and Stewart played well in those two games, Cowher replaced him with Tomczak at halftime of the third game, against Seattle. He returned Stewart to the starting job the next week but pulled him in the 12th game in favor of Tomczak. Cowher put Stewart at wide receiver for the final four games of the '99 season.

Kent Graham opened the 2000 season as the starter, but, after the Steelers lost the first three games and Graham was injured, Stewart took over, and they won their next two with him as quarterback. Graham started the next two games but played poorly and was pulled in favor of Stewart early in the seventh game. Stewart finished the 2000 season as the starting quarterback and helped to rally the Steelers to a 9-7 record.

Then came last season, when he set a Steelers record for completion percentage and produced personal highs in passing and running yardage.

Receiver Hines Ward, off to another fast start with 15 receptions and three touchdowns, said Stewart should not be blamed for the team's woes through the first two games.

"We need better play all the way around. Kordell's played well, he hasn't played bad. Nobody's played a perfect game, myself included.

"Kordell's going to get a lot of the heat because he's the quarterback. He's the guy who makes everything go. We're still behind him, he's still our leader.

"We have all the confidence in the world, but we just have to go out and put a solid game together. But us turning the ball over doesn't help Kordell. Kordell doesn't have anything to do with us fumbling the ball."