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Aug 21, 2013 By Jim Wexell for The 7 min read

From the notebook of a sportswriter who knows he must take caution in rip, rip, ripping indiscriminately, because, after all, it’s only a preseason game:

n But someone’s going to pay for a caution that’s forcing me to watch this mess twice.

n Why does Jon Gruden keep saying that Markus Wheaton has 4.3 speed? Officially a 4.44 at the combine.

n Too bad I can’t just rip announcers.

n I expected to see LaRod Stephens-Howling back for the opening kickoff — as if that means anything anymore — but we learned later that he was out with an MCL sprain. My guess is he suffered the injury earlier in camp, played with it in the preseason opener and is just being kept on the sideline because he proved himself to be a legitimate threat against the Giants.

n Also, Mike Tomlin’s trying to play catch-up on fifth-round pick Terry Hawthorne, a corner and return man who missed most of the spring and training camp with his own knee injury.

n Maurkice Pouncey is going to take some grief this week, but I liked the way he went right after London Fletcher on the first snap. Pouncey would eventually struggle with NT Barry Cofield, but his feistiness with middle linebackers has become part of my football enjoyment.

n As the O-line settles into a lousy performance, remember that this group hasn’t played one NFL game together. The same sportswriters who lean on the old chemistry cliche are the ones who are no doubt blasting this line today.

n And that’s the reason I was so pleasantly surprised by the O-line’s performance last week against the Giants.

n I’ll say this again, just for Gruden, who’s feeding off myths: Le’Veon Bell really didn’t turn heads at training camp. Bell wowed everyone in the spring with his speed and finesse because everyone already knew he had the power. His camp has been good, but nothing like the GREAT that’s being repeated.

n Speaking of myths, Jonathan Dwyer did not report to spring drills at 260. He had lost that extra weight from the regular season, bragged about being at his lowest ever for spring practice and then proceeded to balloon through June. He’s on one constant roller coaster and can’t be trusted after reaching his goals.

n I appreciate the fact that Tomlin has continued his meat-grinder mentality with the running attack in meaningless games.

But it might be causing the pass protection to atrophy.

n Shamarko Thomas was first down the field as a gunner on the first punt but missed the tackle that William Gay made. Tomlin commented after the game that gunners looking to make the team can’t just be happy to get down the field first, that they have to make the tackle. I know he wasn’t talking about Thomas. Hawthorne was probably on the coach’s mind again.

n The fan base wants so badly to blame Marcus Gilbert for Ryan Kerrigan’s pick six, but if there’s anyone to blame it’s Ben Roethlisberger. And, really, Kerrigan deserves credit for making a great play.

n Reggie Dunn is the most exciting camp rookie since Willie Parker. Every time he has the ball I think he’s going to break it. You just can’t cut a guy like that, even if kickoff returns won’t come into play until the ball freezes.

n Mike Adams was responsible for two penalties that brought back third-down conversions and I find myself looking for excuses because Adams is going to do this from time to time all season. He’s a Pro Bowl left tackle in the making. The growing pains will be frustrating.

n Jarvis Jones provided a shot of energy right away by blowing up an iso block on a run his way, then fending off a tight end’s block to tackle the runner on the second play. LaMarr Woodley got his sack on Jones’ third play while Jones was collapsing the other side of the pocket.

n Wheaton probably provides more comfort to coaches in his reliability in catching punts. While Dunn, who fumbled one in practice last week, will need to be flawless the rest of the way if Tomlin is to go with the more explosive return man.

n David DeCastro’s hold is another myth. He clearly punched Kedric Golston to the ground late in the first quarter.

n Will Johnson may have made the best block of the night. Kerrigan had the leverage on the fullback and was looking to make another big play when Johnson recovered to pancake Kerrigan. It allowed Roethlisberger time to find David Paulson 28 yards downfield.

n Down 7-0 with the first-teamers still playing, two Steelers first downs inside the Washington 5 were erased by O-line penalties. Both were deserved, but it shows how close the Steelers really were last night. Their second and third teams aren’t going to pull out any games this preseason.

n Jones really does have heavy hands. I can see why he was moved from instinctive ILB to pass-rushing OLB in college.

n On his second series, Jones took on the fullback and forced the tailback to fumble. This will be the root of so many Jones-must-start stories this week, but remember that he won’t play until he completely understands this TEAM defense.

n Dick LeBeau will rotate Jones into the action more than he would most rookies. That will have to satisfy his fans for now.

n Gilbert, driving a linebacker 20 yards down the field after Gruden called for his removal, is the classic example of how two bad plays can mar an otherwise encouraging performance by an offensive tackle.

n Tomlin’s plan was to insert Kelvin Beachum at center to work with the first line in the second quarter. He must’ve felt Pouncey needed the work instead.

n Bringing in game officials for practice this week is a logical solution to the 95 yards in penalties.

n Maybe my bias is showing, but I won’t excuse Gay for giving up a Rex Grossman touchdown pass. I’ll let the usual apologists come up with something.

n I wonder if Dunn is under strict orders not to return kickoffs that travel 8 yards or so deep in the end zone. I’d let him take it out, just like the rest of the top threats in the league do.

n Emmanuel Sanders deserves one of my gold medals for those great hands he showed in the second quarter. I’ll give another one to DeCastro and a third to Ramon Foster.

n I would like to give one to Roethlisberger as well, but that pick-six can’t be overlooked. Same with Dwyer and his fumble.

n On defense, the gold goes to Jones. Shamarko needs to do his damage in the first half to get anything more than a silver medal. Not that I’m doubting he could.

n Yes, we would all like to see some of the third-team offensive linemen who’ve yet to play this preseason. But that second O-line really — REALLY — needs the work.

n Sorry, but I just can’t watch that particular performance twice.