One of the yardsticks we use to measure NFL head coach competence is judging how well he manipulates the roster when a starter goes down due to injury. But a coach has to have adequate, or hopefully more-than-adequate, players with which to work. I would venture to guess that many of the Steeler “substitutes” could start on most of the other NFL teams.

Tyrone Carter is no Troy Polamalu, and he has self-admittedly acknowledged that fact. However, Carter’s stellar performance at free safety, in place of the inactive Ryan Clark, has earned him AFC Defensive Player of the week honors. Two interceptions that included a 48-yard touchdown run, on top of reading Kyle Orton correctly and being in the right place at the right time all evening, helped lead the Pittsburgh Steeler Mythbusters trounce the Denver Broncos.

Aaron Smith, our unheralded, future Hall-of-Fame left defensive end, gone for the season with a shoulder injury. His back-up, Travis Kirschke, out with a calf injury. Disaster? Not quite. Nick Eason filled in admirably, and rookie Ziggy Hood’s pressure on Kyle Orton forced the 1st interception for a touchdown. Along with Bret Keisel’s two sacks in the first half, our back-up DE’s helped keep the Broncos run game to 27 yards on 14 carries.

Casey Hampton, the Steeler nose tackle, has not missed any games due to injury this year, but he is spelled on 3rd down and other certain situations by 9-year-veteran Chris Hoke. We don’t miss a beat when that happens.

One would never know our right inside linebacker, Lawrence Timmons, is out with an ankle Injury. Keyaron Fox, special teams demon, is the real-deal and has been absolutely solid. His pick for a TD last week was phenomenal, and he is quickly cushioning us from the loss of Larry Foote by being a super run-stuffer.

Even though the peeing-on-the-car incident has made him fall from favor recently, combined with the fact that Matt Spaeth could not block to save his life, has given 3rd-string rookie tight end David Johnson a chance to play. The kid can block, and has been used in the fullback position upon occasion.

Coaches should be acknowledged for putting the right players in place at the right time, but you have to have the right players to work with. Seems to me the Steelers should get an A+ in both departments.