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A year after the Steelers' special teams were a disaster, Pittsburgh has fixed half the problems. This year's coverage units are some of the best in the league, and Pittsburgh did not allow a 50-yard return all season.

But the return units had been just the bizarro twins of the coverage teams, as punt returner Santonio Holmes and kick returners Gary Russell and Najeh Davenport have been more focused on holding on to the ball than actually getting any significant yardage.

Steelers fans were still pretty happy with that though. We remember way too many special teams nightmares -- too many kick and punt returns for touchdowns, the infamous blocked field goal/return that beat the Steelers in the AFC Championship among others. So to have good coverage teams and bad returns teams seemed like a good trade.

Willie Parker already missed four games this season because of a bum knee, and he'll be out of commission against the Colts this afternoon after injuring his shoulder in Washington last Monday night.

According to NFL Network's Adam Schefter, it could be something that keeps Parker out for more than one game:

Willie Parker found out during the week that he has a torn labrum in his shoulder. He went for a second opinion on that shoulder on Friday; if and when he plays again this season, he's going to have to wear a harness. [The Steelers are] awaiting the results of a second test ... to see what the proper course of action is.

Schefter also points out that Chad Javon Ocho Cinco has played the 2008 season with the same injury -- and the requisite harness -- and hasn't been his usual effective self.

The Steelers have had a lot of bad news when it comes to injuries, so it's good to actually hear something good for a chance. While Willie Parker won't play tomorrow against the Jaguars, the Steelers' tailback should be back in the lineup when the Steelers play the Bengals after the upcoming bye week.

"I know I could play this week," said Parker, who has rushed for 263 yards and three touchdowns on 66 carries. "(The coaches) know I could play this week. I think it's best that I do sit out and relax and then come back (after the bye)."

By giving Parker two more weeks, they should give his knee a chance to be closer to 100 percent than he would be if he tried to go this week. And considering the Jaguars problems on pass defense, it makes sense to give Parker a little more time while also giving Mewelde Moore, an impressive receiver out of the backfield, a larger role in a game suited to his skills.

With Rashard Mendenhall out for the rest of the season, Najeh Davenport, Gary Russell and Moore will also be playing this Sunday for the chance to be the primary backup once Parker returns. Davenport would seem to have the inside track, considering he held that job last year, but both Russell and Moore could make pretty persuasive arguments themselves.

Four days ago, I had no idea who Danny Ware was. Before last weekend, apparently, he was just a running back sequestered on the Giants practice squad. Now he's the guy who was arrested for being drunk while standing in oncoming traffic at two in the morning. No idea what would possess anybody to do that (well, other than to get their mind right for the big game), but at least he wasn't wearing his uniform, so there's that.

Whatever, Ware tells the New York Post that the full story has yet to be told (I mean, there has to be a completely logical explanation for this; 24-year-old professional athletes just don't get drunk and start doing stupid stuff for no reason.)

"The truth is going to come out," said Ware, who was arrested along with a woman for drunken conduct and because they seemed oblivious to traffic that had to steer around them as they stood in the street talking, police told the Athens Banner Herald. His court case is later this month. ... "Everybody sees the comments," Ware said. "You can have your own opinion. But the truth's going to come out, we'll just have to wait."

And wait I will.

Pro Football Talk is suggesting that the Steelers may be giving Shaun Alexander a call now that Rashard Mendenhall is done for the season. Alexander could be the fill-in starter until Willie Parker returns from a knee injury, and he could then become the primary backup.

That sounds great if you're getting the Alexander who was one of the league's best backs before he firted with the "Curse of 370" in 2005. Ever since then, Alexander has been a below average back who has averaged only 3.6 yards per carry, fumbled eight times in two years and has battled injuries. He once was a great one, but there aren't many examples of once-great backs regaining their greatness at the age of 31.

Gary Russell may be pretty talented for a No. 4 tailback, but he's still a No. 4 tailback, which explains why he's on the waiver wire this week, victim of the Steelers' need to pick up a linebacker because of Donovan Wood's injury. To fill Woods' spot the Steelers have brought former Duke linebacker Patrick Bailey up from the practice squad.

You may think that the fourth game of the preseason doesn't mean anything, but Bailey has earned his roster spot on the basis of that game. Bailey made the tackle in kick coverage on three different kicks in that game, which helped earn him a spot on the practice squad, and also ensured he was the first option when the Steelers needed a fill-in special teamer.

For Russell hopefully this will be a two-day vacation. If Woods is healthy enough to play next week it wouldn't be surprising to see the Steelers waive Bailey to pick Russell back up next week, but for that to happen, Russell will have to not be picked up by someone else. It's a pretty safe gamble, as there aren't many teams struggling at running back enough to shake up the roster a day before a game to add a fourth-stringer who's yet to be active this year.

Last week, the Steelers released Najeh Davenport, a 245-pound running back who was signed to replace the ineffective Duce Staley in 2006. Staley was signed two years earlier to take over for the soon-to-be-retiring Jerome Bettis (he's from Detroit, you know). The common theme among the three backs? They were all big, plodding bruisers who could move the pile and excelled in short-yardage situations.

But as Pittsburgh heads into 2008, Gary Russell is the "heaviest" runner of those destined for the final 53, and he weighs 215 pounds (according to NFL.com). Rookie Rashard Mendenhall is 210, and Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore are listed at 209. But it's Moore, signed this offseason to a three-year, $4.95 million deal, who could be the key component to the new-fangled running game.

Not so much for his ability to actually run the ball, but because of his many other talents.

With the AFC North wrapped up and absolutely nothing to play for, it makes sense that the Steelers would rest some of their starters.

Four of them, to be exact. In today's preseason J.V. matchup with the Ravens, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be the third quarterback (behind Charlie Batch and Brian St. Pierre), and the following players won't waste the effort putting on pads: wide receiver Hines Ward, safety Troy Polamalu, and returner Allen Rossum. Tackle Marvel Smith had back surgery earlier in the week, and running back Willie Parker was placed on injured reserve earlier this week with a broken leg.

While a win or loss doesn't affect Pittsburgh's postseason positioning, it will be a good opportunity for many of the young players on the roster. Rookie undrafted free agent running back Gary Russell could see a lot of action; Parker showed he was a big-play back during Week 17 of his rookie season: he went for over 100 yards against the Bills in a meaningless-for-the-Steelers game (although Buffalo was playing for a wild-card spot).

Returner/wide receiver Willie Reid will also get a second chance. Reid was taken in the third round of the 2006 draft to replace Antwaan Randle El. He was injured for most of his rookie season, and he performed so poorly in '07 that the Steelers traded for Rossum just before the start of the season.

One thought, though: if I'm Mike Tomlin, I'm letting Brian St. Pierre start this game. Charlie Batch is too valuable to lose to injury in a game that doesn't matter. God forbid, if Roethlisberger goes down during the playoffs, the Steelers will be in a bad way. But maybe I'm getting a little ahead of myself.