As training camp broke Wednesday, Steelers coach Bill Cowher announced that Amos Zereoue will start at running back and Jay Riemersma will start at tight end.

Cowher called his lineup-changing decisions a "gut feeling." Jerome Bettis, one of the league's best power backs and coming off his one of his best offseasons of conditioning, was expected to be the starter. Riemersma beat out Mark Bruener at tight end.

Bruener accepted a paycut from $2.05 million to $800,000 to remain with the team this season. During the offseason, Cowher said Zereoue and Bettis would compete for the starting job, which is indeed what unfolded during camp.

Zereoue, 26, is in his fifth season with the Steelers and made five starts, all during last season. He rushed for 762 yards on 193 carries and caught 42 passes for 341 yards.

Bettis, a five-time Pro Bowl selection beginning his 11th season, has rushed for 11,542 yards. He missed five games last year.

Riemersma was signed from the Bills during the offseason to give the Steelers more pass protection from the tight end position. The seven-year veteran has 204 career receptions for 2,304 yards, including a 53-catch 2001 season. Bruener is considered one of the league's best blocking tight ends but has missed 10 games over the past two seasons because of injury. His best season for receptions was 26 in 1995, his rookie season.

John Clayton is a senior writer for ESPN.com.