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Wednesday, June 11, 2003

By Ed Bouchette, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Antwaan Randle El caught the ball, threw it, ran with it and returned it on punts and kickoffs as a rookie. There would seem to be little more he could do on a football field in his second season as a receiver.

	Randle El His 47 receptions in 2002 were only the beginning (Peter Diana, Post-Gazette)

He disagrees.

"I think I may be asked to do a little bit more, and I'm always up for that. Given the opportunity, that's what I want to do."

Randle El did more things with a football in his rookie season than anyone on the team. His 47 receptions ranked third on the team.

He ran 19 times for 134 yards. He lined up at quarterback and completed seven of eight passes. He led the team with 733 yards on 32 kickoff returns, including a 99-yard touchdown. He also led them with 37 punt returns.

The only things he did not do with the football was snap it or kick it.

"I'm not sure when I say I'll do more, but I know different packages will come throughout the season. Maybe I'll throw the ball a little more, run a little more, whatever it may be. I'm always up for doing that."

Praise for Mays

The Steelers are looking for their No. 4 wide receiver behind Hines Ward, Plaxico Burress and Randle El. Burress said the search is over and it belongs to Lee Mays.

"He's going to be our fourth receiver," Burress said.

Mays made the team as a sixth-round draft pick from Texas-El Paso last season. At 6 feet 2 and 210 pounds, he is the second-biggest receiver on the team. He tied Randle El with 32 kickoff returns but did not catch a pass until the Steelers' playoff loss in Tennessee, when he had three for 81 yards.

Terance Mathis was the No. 4 receiver last season, and he still could be signed as a free agent after minicamp if recently signed veteran Chris Doering does not work out. Doering was signed as a possible No. 4 man, but Mays has the inside track.

"He's probably the most improved player on the field right now," Burress said. "I've seen this guy take tremendous strides. He's probably, to this point, taken more strides than I had from my rookie year to second year."

On the blocks

Burress, Mays, Ward, Randle El and the rest of the wide receivers are on a mission. Catch more passes? Score more touchdowns? No, block more often.

"One of our deals this year is to go down field and block more, be more aggressive in the run game," Burress said. "Because if we're aggressive -- Hines and myself and Randle El -- in the run game, that's going to open the passing game up more.

"We have to open up the holes for those guys and go down field and block so those guys can run the football."

Short snaps

Tight end Jerame Tuman did not practice yesterday because he was sick. ... The Steelers have practices today and tomorrow and then break until training camp opens July 25.