Steelers linebacker Alonzo Jackson entered training camp 18 pounds lighter than his 272-pound playing weight of last year. He pulled off the feat by improving his diet and training in California this summer with strong safety Troy Polamalu, whom Jackson called a “maniac.” Polamalu uses unconventional workout methods like “pushing medicine balls, no weights and insanity,” Jackson said. Whether the training will enable Jackson, a second-round draft pick out of Florida State in ’02, to make the Steelers roster again remains to be seen. Jackson was de-activated for 11 of 18 games last season and the final 14 games of his rookie year. The outside linebacker has no career sacks and seven tackles, four on special teams. All eyes will be on Jackson the next month because starter Joey Porter is out with a knee injury. He can either flourish or flop. “I’m going to play hard and keep trying to get better,” Jackson said. “That’s what I’ve been doing since I got here.”

Although the Hines Ward holdout reached its 12th day Thursday, coach Bill Cowher chose not to address it. “I’d rather not discuss the issue,” Cowher said. The Steelers boss hasn’t spoken publicly about the issue since the second day of camp. WR Zamir Cobb, who opened eyes at training camp last season before suffering a broken leg, has not emerged thus far. He had a tough go of it yesterday, dropping a pass that zipped through two defenders and appeared to land right his hands. A couple plays later, he could not hold onto a pass thrown slightly behind him by QB Tommy Maddox. Free-agent TE Marco Battaglia is out for the season, having been placed on the reserve/injured list. His spot was filled by eight-year WR Chris Doering, who was on the Steelers’ roster for six games last season and for the entire ’03 season. Doering caught 18 passes in ’03, none last year. Three Steelers WRs (Antwaan Randle El, Walter Young and Lee Mays) missed practice yesterday with injuries, which could give Doering some opportunities while they’re on the mend. In time, coach Bill Cowher will learn the names of most of the players on his roster, but he asked for a mulligan yesterday when discussing some of his young linebackers. The subject of came up because the Steelers are looking for a player or two to emerge, particularly with LB Joey Porter out for at least month after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his left knee two days ago. When asked which young linebackers have stood out, Cowher said numbers, “45 and 46.” That would be rookie free agents Andre Frazier and Arnold Harrison. Frazier, whom the Steelers would like to “redshirt” this season so he can add some weight to his 6-foot-5, 234-pound frame, has shown an ability to beat blockers off the edge with his quickness. Harrison, who was part of a potent Georgia linebacking corps last season, has displayed quickness and is familiar with the 3-4 defense because the Bulldogs employed it. Frazier, a sack specialist at Cincinnati, was a defensive end in college. “Dedrick Roper (2004 practice-squad player) is another kid that will get a chance to play outside.” Cowher said he doesn’t plan to move any of the inside linebackers to the outside, in an effort to find any other potential backups to Porter or Clark Haggans. “I don’t want to switch too many people right now,” Cowher said. “They’ve worked hard, so we’ll give them a chance to go in there Monday night (in the exhibition opener) and play football.” Around camp THEY’RE BACK: RB Duce Staley and LB Joey Porter, both of whom underwent arthroscopic knee surgery this week, spent yesterday morning working in the weight room at St. Vincent College. Both will miss the preseason, but could be back for the opener Sept. 11 against Tennessee. Coach Bill Cowher said he expects Porter (loose cartilage) to recover more quickly than Staley (torn lateral meniscus). FOR KICKS: Jeff Reed has a firm foot on the kicking job, but that doesn’t mean Shaun Suisham plans to kick back and relax. The rookie free agent from Bowling Green smashed several long-distance field goals Thursday, including two that covered 48 yards. Suisham converted 14 of 20 field goals last season and set the NCAA record for extra points, connecting on 226 of 233. He converted 42 of 58 field-goal tries his final three years at Bowling Green. FAST FREDDIE: Fourth-round draft pick Fred Gibson might as well have been the Invisible Man the first week of camp, but he has come around in recent days, thanks in large part to injuries to wideouts Lee Mays (hamstring), Antwaan Randle El (ankle) and Walter Young (hamstring). Gibson has been running with the first team on occasion, and yesterday made several nice catches, including a finger-tip grab through traffic on a laser thrown from Ben Roethlisberger. “Feeling better everyday,” said Gibson, who beat rookie Bryant McFadden on a deep out-route late practice. “Things are slowing down for me.” ON THE MARK: QB Roethlisberger was crisp throughout the afternoon practice, flicking passes to his backs and finding Gibson and his new favorite target, Cedrick Wilson, on a number of occasions. Even TE Heath Miller got into the act. “I’m feeling more comfortable with Ben, with the offense,” Miller said. BIG DAY FOR BOOKENDS: Offensive tackles Barrett Brooks, Max Starks, Trai Essex and Marvel Smith had their way, for the most part, in one-on-one pass-blocking drills. LB Alonzo Jackson tried to speed rush Essex and Starks twice and Smith once, but was forced deep and driven out of the play each time. DE Casey Hampton, though, scored one for the defense when he briefly locked up with C Jeff Hartings, then ripped loose and straight to the backfield.

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