The Steelers are 2-1 in the preseason after losing to the Bills 24-21 in Toronto and beating the Vikings 12-10 in Minnesota. Neither effort was particularly encouraging. The first team defense was shredded by Trent Edwards. Pittsburgh was down 14-0 before scoring in the second quarter. The defense's results were better against the Vikings. What that means with Travaris Jackson and Bernard Berrian on the sidelines is not clear. The offense on the other hand stalled in Minnesota after doing an OK job in Toronto.

The main problem on offense remains pass protection. Ben Roethlisberger was sacked twice and repeatedly pressured against the Vikings. The failure to meaningfully address the offensive line after Roethlisberger was sacked 47 times last year is shaping up as a major mistake. Not a big surprise. Justin Hartwig, the one major addition to the line, was named the starting center over Sean Mahan after the third exhibition game. It was really the only choice. The Mahan signing last offseason was not General Manager Kevin Colbert’s finest move. Unfortunately Mahan is probably not the biggest waste of money on the offensive line. Max Starks was given a $7 million tender offer as a restricted free agent this offseason. He has lost the battle with Willie Colon at right tackle. Whether Starks even dresses over Trai Essex as a backup is an open question.

The final preseason game is at home against the Panthers. Don't expect to see much of the starters. Especially the offensive skill position players and top defenders.

There were no surprises in the Steelers first set of roster moves. Punter Daniel Sepulveda was placed on injured reserve. Punt returner Jeremy Bloom, defensive end Martavius Prince, quarterback Mike Potts and injured tight end Cody Boyd were released.

QB: Roethlisberger put up decent stats despite repeatedly being forced to run for his life. He completed 9 of 11 passes for 142 yards and a 40 yard touchdown in Toronto. The interception he threw on the first drive was a deflection that should have been caught. The going was tougher in Minnesota where he completed 10 passes in 17 attempts for 65 yard, no touchdowns or interceptions. Byron Leftwich started his Steelers career slowly by completing only 5 of 11 passes for 41 yards. The improvement he showed in his second outing was encouraging. Leftwich was 16 of 23 for 129 yards in extended action. Dennis Dixon did not play against the Vikings after completing 6 of 15 passes for 79 yards against the Bills. He showed his athleticism by running for 54 yards and a touchdown on 2 carries.

RB: Willie Parker has been quiet. He rushed for 22 yards on 15 carries and caught 3 passes for 6 yards combined. The key is that he has missed no time at all due to injury. Rashard Mendenhall has been inconsistent. He rushed for 109 yards on 26 carries combined getting into the endzone versus the Bills. Unfortunately he fumbled twice in Minnesota. Mewelde Moore has looked decent enough in the passing game catching a combined 4 balls for 26 yards. Gary Russell managed to gain only 11 yards on 7 carries. He was stuffed for 1 yard on 4 carries against the Vikings.

WR: Santonio Holmes caught a 40 yard touchdown in Toronto. Hines Ward combined for 4 catches and 54 yards. They are set. Nate Washington has looked fine and will start the year as the third receiver. He had 3 catches for 41 yards in the 2 games. Limas Sweed has been inconsistent as you might expect from a rookie wideout that missed significant time in his senior season. Sweed totaled 5 receptions for 37 yards. Willie Reid and Dallas Baker are likely fighting for a single roster spot although there is an outside chance that 6 receivers could be kept on the roster. Both have looked pretty good. Reid busted out for 55 yards on 5 receptions against the Vikings after catching 3 balls for 21 yards versus the Bills. Baker had 6 catches for 80 yards in the 2 contests.

TE: The tight ends have not been a major part of the passing game so far in the preseason. That could be a legitimate concern given the talent at wide receiver and problems on the offensive line in pass protection. Matt Spaeth has 2 receptions for 23 yards in Toronto. Heath Miller had 3 catches for 30 in Minnesota. Both were shut out in the other game. Miller as a late pick as a borderline starting fantasy tight end may be more of a gamble than I first thought. The battle for third tight end has been clouded by injury. Jonathon Dekker is out for the year with a knee injury. Boyd was released after undergoing shoulder surgery. Rookie free agent Dezmond Sherrod caught 2 passes for 10 yards against the Vikings. Lee Vickers, originally signed by the Steelers as a rookie free agent defensive end in 2006, was brought back for a try at tight end after stints with the Eagles and most recently the Ravens.

K: Jeff Reed missed badly wide left from 42 yards against the Bills. He rebounded by making all 4 of his attempts versus the Vikings. Reed won the game with a 47 yarder with 4 seconds remaining for whatever that is worth.

D/ST: The defense looked bad against the Bills and good against the Vikings. Of course the Vikings were forced to start Gus Frerotte at quarterback and their top receiver on the field was Aundrae Allison. Adrian Peterson was held to 21 yards on 12 carries, although he did get into the endzone from 6 yards out. Special teams continue to be a thorn in the side of Head Coach Mike Tomlin. The difference in the Bills game was a 95 yard kick return for a touchdown by rookie first rounder Leodis McElvin. Top individual performers on defense were Aaron Smith and James Harrison. Hardly a surprise. They had sacks in both games. Lawrence Timmons and Lamar Woodley continued to impress. The linebacker corps appears strong. Ike Taylor pitched in against the Vikings with an interception.