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dangerous Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16. Kansas City is 5-1 against the Raiders under Reid

LATROBE, Pa. Cheap Jerseys USA . -- At 5-foot-7, LaRod Stephens-Howling doesnt feel out of place during some of the Pittsburgh Steelers more size-oriented training camp drills. The running back has held his own during short-yardage and goal-line exercises and has looked right at home in "backs-on-backers" protection drills. It has helped that playing for the Steelers has made Stephens-Howling feel like hes home -- even if he didnt join the team until just this past off-season. A western Pennsylvania native who played at Pitt, Stephens-Howling is awash in familiarity during his first season with Pittsburgh. His hometown of Johnstown is about 45 minutes from the training camp site at St. Vincent College, and Stephens-Howling shared a practice facility with the Steelers while in college at Pitt. Even his new home stadium, Heinz Field, also is his old home stadium. Pitt and the Steelers share the venue. "Its a great feeling -- a homecoming feeling," Stephens-Howling said between workouts Saturday. "But after all that excitement gets out of the way, were still at training camp and were working hard to get a job on the 53. It doesnt matter where youre at, thats it." Stephens-Howlings roster spot would appear to be safe, even in a crowded backfield. A fifth-year pro, he was brought in to compete for third-down back and kick returning roles. Both are tasks he showed a proficiency for over four season (57 career games) with the Arizona Cardinals. A seventh-round pick in 2009, Stephens-Howling has amassed 4,067 yards and three touchdowns in the kick return game over his career in addition to seven touchdowns off plays from scrimmage. "Hes definitely given us some versatility," said Isaac Redman, who broke last seasons camp as the starting running back. "He can catch, and hes pretty quick. When you get him out in space hes hard to tackle. Youre not going to catch him from behind." Speed has always been the hallmark for Stephens-Howling, who led Pitt in rushing his freshman and sophomore seasons but backed up future NFL All-Pro LeSean McCoy late in his college career. Pure speed is what has made him such an attractive option as a returner. On offence, while lack of size has shied NFL teams away from considering Stephens-Howling as an every-down runner, an ability to catch balls out of the backfield helps make him an ideal third-down back. Lacking prototypical options at both kick returner and third-down back after last years 8-8 season, the Steelers signed Stephens-Howling as a free agent in April. "When I visited the Steelers, they talked about the opportunities they had at third-down back stuff and in return," Stephens-Howling said. "It looked good for me to come here and have the opportunity to compete for those jobs. At the same time its closer to home; Ive been across the country for four years so its nice to be closer to home." Stephens-Howlings father took him to the Steelers annual training camp night practice at Greater Latrobe High School when he was a kid. While in college, Stephens-Howling remembers frequently watching the Steelers practice from a window in the practice facility Pitt and the Steelers share. Although he has yet to appear in a regular-season game at Heinz Field, his first preseason game as a professional was there in 2009. Just four years later, hes the player at his position on the Steelers with the most NFL tenure. "Hes brought a lot of experience and helps out a lot already," said Jonathan Dwyer, Pittsburghs leading rusher last season. "Hes having a great camp so far. He brings a lot of exciting things to the table in the passing game and the running game. "Dont let his size fool you; hes a tough guy. He doesnt shy away form contact. Hes not scared of anybody." Stephens-Howling proved that Saturday when he was given the ball during short-yardage and goal-line drills. During one goal-line play he absorbed one of the most vicious hits of the practice, protecting his quarterback and allowing a touchdown pass. During individual blocking drills earlier this week, coach Mike Tomlin audibly enjoyed how the 185-pound running back was frustrating linebackers who often had six inches or more and at least 50 pounds on Stephens-Howling. "Blockings something I work on, and I try to get better everyday," Stephens-Howling said. "Im definitely not satisfied with my blocking right now, but as the games go on Im going to get better." In order to ensure a role in the backfield on third downs, he knows hell have to prove he can block as much as he will need to show he can catch. A career-high 17 of Stephens-Howlings 56 career receptions came last season. Coaches have talked about getting him the ball in space to take advantage of his speed. "Hes fast and he can also run the ball up the middle," Redman said. "Mostly, though, hes a good guy -- a genuinely good person -- and thats what we needed in our running back room. Personality-wise, he clicks right with us." The hope is he will on the field, too. Notes: The Steelers signed veteran OT DAnthony Batiste on Saturday and placed OT Nik Embernate on the waived/injured list. The 31-year-old Batiste had 10 of his 14 career starts last season for the Cardinals. He has appeared in 37 games over seven NFL seasons for six teams. The 6-4, 314-pound Batiste opened last season as the Cardinals starting left tackle and adds to tackle group that lacked depth behind projected starters Mike Adams and Marcus Gilbert. Embernate is an undrafted guard from San Diego State who sustained a knee injury earlier this week. ... Among the myriad players who sat out Saturdays practice for injury or personal reasons were TE Matt Spaeth, DE Brett Keisel, LB Jarvis Jones, RB LeVeon Bell, CB Cortez Allen, CB DeMarcus Van Dyke, CB Terry Hawthorne, LB Jason Worilds and LB Lawrence Timmons. "Im not going to get into the details on (minor injuries)," Tomlin said. "Many of these guys will be working their way back here in the next 24-48 hours." ... Tomlin ran another physical practice, saying the abundance of youth on the offensive and defensive lines has necessitated a camp with more live tackling and contact. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . Malkin got tangled up with Detroits Luke Glendening early in the third period and his left skate took the brunt of collision with the boards behind Pittsburghs net. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. http://www.cheapjerseyschina.us/ . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Steelers spent a week letting their worst loss in 27 years fester. Catharsis came during a frenetic stretch in the first quarter Sunday night against the seemingly unprepared Kansas City Chiefs.Six offensive snaps. Three Ben Roethlisberger touchdowns passes. Two to Antonio Brown. One very important reminder of just how good Pittsburghs offense can look when all of its dynamic parts are moving in sync.Seven days after a 31-point meltdown in Philadelphia, the Steelers overwhelmed the Chiefs 43-14 behind five touchdowns passes from Roethlisberger and 178 yards of total offense from running back LeVeon Bell.I told the guys before the game, were driving a car and we dont have a rearview mirror right now, Roethlisberger said. Were not looking back. Were looking forward. Were moving on. We did a pretty good job moving on.Sure looked like it.Roethlisberger hit Brown -- wearing cleats featuring the profile of golf great and western Pennsylvania native Arnold Palmer -- for a pair of scores. Roethlisberger also found Markus Wheaton, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Jesse James for touchdowns on his way to finishing 22 of 27 for 300 yards.When youve got a Hall of Fame quarterback, it looks good like that, center Maurkice Pouncey said the Steelers improved to 3-1.It helps when the franchise running back is allowed to join in too. Bell returned from a torn MCL that cut short his 2015 season and a three-game suspension for violating the NFLs substance abuse policy and looked every bit as dangerous as he did when he was an All-Pro in 2014, which also happened to be the last time Bell, Brown and Roethlisberger started and finished a game together.I didnt really feel like I was rusty, Bell said. I was more anxious if anything.There was no need, not on a night Pittsburghs struggling defense repaid a pre-game pep talk by Hall of Fame linebacker Kevin Greene by throttling the Chiefs (2-2). The Steelers forced a pair of first-quarter turnovers that Roethlisberger promptly turned into touchdowns during a franchise-record 22-point deluge. Pittsburgh, which came in with just one sack on the season -- dead last in the league -- but getting to Kansas Citys Alex Smith four times and never allowing the Chiefs to get into a rhythm. China NFL Jerseys. We wanted to getem one dimensional and takeem to the deep end of the pool, Steelers linebacker Vince Williams said.Smith was 30 of 50 for 287 yards and two inconsequential fourth-quarter touchdowns after things were well out of hand. Spencer Ware ran for 82 yards but also fumbled in the first quarter that kick-started Pittsburghs record-setting run.NO EXCUSESKansas City coach Andy Reid hardly bothered to spin the worst loss of his three-plus years with the Chiefs.This is my responsibility, Reid said. We clearly didnt play well enough as a football team. We didnt coach well enough. I take full responsibility for it and make sure we make it right.The Chiefs run an offense similar to the one the Eagles used to roll up 34 points against Pittsburgh last week. Yet Kansas City was never in it over the final 45 minutes and trailed 36-0 going into the fourth quarter.You own this right now, you wear it, and it stinks, Smith said.CHARLES RETURNSKansas City running back Jamaal Charles ran one time for 6 yards in his first game since tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last October. It was perhaps the lone bright spot on an otherwise forgettable night.To get him back in the mix and get him worked in more and more, it will only help us, Smith said.INJURIESChiefs: Running back Knile Davis was evaluated for a concussionSteelers: Right tackle Marcus Gilbert went down with a left ankle injury late in the first half and did not return. Linebacker Anthony Chickillo (knee) and Jarvis Jones (ankle) and Heyward-Bey (shoulder) all left in the second half and did not return.UP NEXTChiefs: are off next week before traveling to take on the suddenly dangerous Oakland Raiders on Oct. 16. Kansas City is 5-1 against the Raiders under Reid.Steelers: Begin a three-game swing against AFC East teams next Sunday when they host the New York Jets. ' ' ' 
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