There are open competitions at center, right tackle and one inside linebacker. There will be new return men, a new No. 3 quarterback and a new left guard (Chris Kemoeatu) for the departed Alan Faneca and left outside linebacker (LaMarr Woodley) for Clark Haggans, who was allowed to leave as an unrestricted free agent.

How to put more pressure on the quarterback, better protect their own quarterback while developing more cohesiveness and better play on the offensive line, improve themselves in the secondary and find a way to keep an aging defensive line intact are the broader concerns.

"When you look back at seasons past, there are things that you didn't do well and want to improve on," Tomlin said. "The one thing that I am extremely conscious of is ... things that we did well last year doesn't ensure that we will do them well this year and things that we didn't do as well last year we can't anticipate being poor in those areas this year. It is really a clean slate if you will."

The obvious is reflected in the statistics -- Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 93 times the past two seasons, including 47 last year, second most in team history; and the sack total has dipped from 47 to 39 to 36 on defense.

Toward those ends, there could be three new starters in the offensive line and there likely will be two among the front seven on defense. Their top two draft picks in 2007 were linebackers and LaMarr Woodley showed as a rookie he can get to the quarterback with six sacks over 17 games in a limited role. Lawrence Timmons should unseat Larry Foote at inside linebacker and his quickness and speed should give Dick LeBeau's zone blitz another weapon.

"Those are two men who have worked extremely hard in the offseason and have shown that at this point they are going to be ready to make that jump," Tomlin said. "They have to do it with their actions and I think that they are in the right frame of mind to do that. I am excited about watching those roles grow and expand."

Four-time Pro Bowl strong safety Troy Polamalu played through injuries and did not produce the kinds of big plays that have been his trademark. Free safety Ryan Clark missed half of last season after losing his spleen. The Steelers need both of them back at full strength to stiffen a sagging secondary.

"Ryan Clark has probably been one of the stories of the offseason as far as I am concerned of watching somebody battle back from what he has battled back from," Tomlin said. "But what he has done to this point is just part of the battle. It is going to be exciting to watch him take the next step, which is carrying pads and play. He's got his weight back up to where it was a year ago. He is excited. He is a mentally and physically tough guy. It will be awesome to watch him take the next step."

CAMP CALENDAR: Players reported to Saint Vincent College in Latrobe Sunday and had their running test that day. Practices in the afternoon (3 p.m.) are open to the public, as are the two night practices -- at 7 p.m. Aug. 1 at Latrobe High School Stadium and at 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5 at Saint Vincent College. No scrimmages are scheduled. The last practice at camp is Aug. 17.

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