PITTSBURGH -- Here are five observations from the Steelers training camp:

1. Sure, it was only a preseason game on Thursday evening, but it's never too early to begin the scrutiny of the Pittsburgh Steelers un-special teams units. Heck, head coach Bill Cowher acknowledged before the game it was the thing he would watch closest. He could not have been very pleased. This season, the man on the hot seat is special teams mentor Kevin Spencer, the only new coach on the staff and a guy being counted on to clean up the kicking game snafus of a year ago. The first impressions, to be honest, were not particularly promising. Veteran kicker Todd Peterson, who has replaced the erratic Kris Brown, got the opening kickoff only to the 11-yard line and the New York Jets began their first offensive series at the 30-yard line. Peterson did knock home two field goals. Later in the first quarter, Pittsburgh had too many men on the field on a punt, and the oversight allowed the Jets to retain possession on a drive that culminated in a touchdown. In the second quarter, Troy Edwards was flagged for a personal foul facemask while making a tackle on a kickoff. Late in the first half, Jets first-round draft choice Bryan Thomas blocked a Josh Miller punt, even though Pittsburgh was called for holding on the play. The special teams units were an Achilles heel for Pittsburgh in 2001 and one could strongly suggest that a breakdown in punt coverage on a scoring return by Troy Brown, directly preceded by a costly kicking game penalty, was the key failure in the loss in the AFC championship game. But the special teams faux pas in the conference title game were simply the culmination of a miserable year. Brown missed a league-high 14 field goal attempts during the regular season. The club finished next-to-last in the AFC in average starting point for a drive after a kickoff, and permitted its kickoff coverage units were the fourth most generous in the conference. Pittsburgh got little out of its punt return game. The result: Former special teams coach Jay Hayes was fired right after the season. There is a popular perception that Cowher, who began his coaching career as a special teams assistant, is difficult on his kicking game aides because he knows the job so well. Whether that's true or not, Spencer had better improve on Hayes, or he's going to hear it from the fans here. Pittsburgh has a Super Bowl caliber roster, but if Thursday was any indication, special teams could again be their undoing.

	Kendrell Bell recorded nine sacks as a rookie last season for the Steelers.

2. It's hard to argue with any move superb Pittsburgh defensive coordinator Tim Lewis makes, even the dubious ones, but here's an intriguing linebacker switch to monitor once the games really count: The Steelers have moved weakside linebacker Joey Porter, who had nine sacks in 2001, out of his usual third-down pass rush position. The replacement is second-year veteran Kendrell Bell, the inside linebacker who won defensive rookie of the year honors in '01, and who Pittsburgh coaches feel will emerge as a pass rush star. "It's been a real (difficult thing) trying to block the guy," said offensive tackle Marvel Smith. "He's got great quickness, really, a tremendous first step." Maybe so, but Porter is proven as a pass rusher, having notched 19 ½ sacks in his two seasons as a starter. Porter also has tremendous explosiveness and "corners" really well when closing on a quarterback. He teamed with strongside linebacker Jason Gildon to post 21 sacks last season, so why mess with a productive situation? Porter will move to the "nickel" linebacker spot on third down and the Pittsburgh staff clearly feels he has the requisite coverage skills.

3. The Pittsburgh brass is considering sending some sort of present to former Steelers personnel chief Tom Donahoe, now the president/general manager of the Buffalo Bills. In the second round of this year's draft, Pittsburgh had planned to select Brigham Young defensive end Ryan Denney, a player scouts felt was in the mold of current Steelers starter Aaron Smith. But before the Steelers could secure Denney, with whom they were on the phone at the time, Donahoe traded up in the round, moving ahead of Pittsburgh and grabbed him. So why is this such a big deal? Because jilted in their Denney pursuit, the Steelers instead chose Indiana wide receiver Antwaan Randle El, and explained that he would be their slot receiver of the future. If the preseason opener was indicative of how the Steelers feel about Randle El, a onetime Hoosiers quarterback, then the future is now. He finished with four catches for 33 yards, gained 11 yards on an end-around, and returned a punt for seven yards. In short, he might be the new wind-up toy for innovative offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, who relishes the opportunity to use his versatile playmakers in diverse and creative manners. Mularkey, who moved wide receiver Hines Ward all over the field in 2001 and occasionally used him at quarterback, will probably go through a ream or two of paper doodling plays to take advantage of Randle El's skills. The plan was to break in Randle El slowly, to let veteran free agent acquisition Tarence Mathis groom him for the future. But the rookie may have moved ahead of Mathis on the depth chart already. Mathis also had a strong game, with five receptions for 87 yards. Pittsburgh typically keeps five wide receivers on the regular-season roster, but might be forced to retain six this year, because of its depth at the position.

4. The Pittsburgh running game struggled at times late last season when Jerome Bettis was sidelined by a groin injury. Bettis is said to be healthy again, and looked relatively trim (by his standards) on Thursday night, but had only eight yards on seven rushes. Let's face it, Bettis is 30 now, and he's got a lot of miles on his tires. Good thing, then, that the Steelers retained backup Amos Zereoue with a contract extension. The better news is that tight end Mark Bruener, who missed the final seven games of the '01 regular season with a shoulder injury, is back. Bruener has just 122 receptions in seven seasons, has never caught more than 26 balls in a year, but is an exceptionally selfless player and a terrific blocker. He is as good as anyone in the NFL at sealing off a defensive end or linebacker on the "stretch" play and, when motioned into the backfield, is a solid pass protector.

5. A linebacker quartet that rates among the best in the league, and is good enough that free-agent signee and former Jets starter James Farrior hasn't yet cracked the lineup, gets most of the ink for a franchise that has a great legacy at the position. But not to be ignored is the Steelers' three-man front of left end Aaron Smith, nose tackle Casey Hampton and right end Kimo von Oelhoffen. The team's first-round choice in the 2001 draft, Hampton doesn't make a lot of tackles (just 33 as a rookie), but will soon be recognized as a Pro Bowl caliber nose tackle. He does what all great nose tackles do, occupying two blockers on virtually every snap, and keeping blockers off the inside linebackers. Hampton actually is a little more active than people think and can at times get some penetration. Pittsburgh coaches also love Smith, who registered eight sacks in '01. "It's easy, because of all the great linebackers they have, to overlook their line," said New York offensive tackle Jason Fabini. "But those guys are brawlers."

Len Pasquarelli is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com.