He called it "Steelers Football" but said it has disappeared over the past two seasons in favor of more passes and less conviction to use the ground game.

"I just don't think we should give up that quick," Parker said after practice yesterday. "We're the Pittsburgh Steelers , everyone knows we're going to run the ball -- or they used to think we'd run the ball.

"We pass the ball a lot now. We go away from Steelers Football, Steelers mentality."

The Steelers have run 373 times for 1,350 yards, a total that ranks 23rd in the NFL. If they remain there, it would be their second-lowest ranking since the team joined the AFC as part of the 1970 NFL merger.

They're not doing much better passing it because they rank just 20th there, and 26th overall as an offense. The Steelers have thrown 400 passes and their quarterbacks have been sacked another 41 times trying to pass.

Parker, who has missed five games because of two separate injuries, leads the team with 597 yards rushing. He topped 1,200 yards in each of the previous three seasons, making the past two Pro Bowls, and was leading the NFL in rushing last season when his leg was broken in the 15th game.

He said the philosophy has changed around their running game, that they don't believe in a lead blocker as the fullback any more and their two tight end offense has not produced on the ground.

"Yeah, it's definitely a concern," Parker said. "I definitely think about it all the time -- why can't we run the ball? What's the difference between now and two years ago? So it's definitely being a concern, me being a running back."

The Steelers, under new offensive coordinator Bruce Arians in 2007, de-emphasized the fullback, then let their longtime starter Dan Kreider go in free agency. They've tried it with two hybrid players -- Carey Davis, a halfback/fullback, and Sean McHugh, a tight end/fullback.

"We get into two tights now," Parker said, "it's like without a fullback, [defenses] definitely know what's coming and they know where it's going. I don't know what it is but it's not being effective."

Reminded that Kreider became available when the St. Louis Rams released him Nov 27, Parker said with a smile, "I'm going to stay away from that one," but said he prefers to play with a fullback.

"But we don't have a fullback right now," Parker said, then caught himself. "I mean we have a fullback, but we don't play him that much. I'm just a running back; you call a play and I'm going to show up. That's not my call, making all those decisions and stuff, I just do what I have to do."

Injuries have taken a toll on the running game as well. Parker has had a sprained MCL and a tear in his shoulder that might need postseason surgery. Rookie Rashard Mendenhall was knocked out for the season in the fourth game with a broken shoulder. Two offensive linemen have been shelved for most of the season with injuries.

Still, Parker thinks it's more philosophy that has grounded the running game.

"If you're going to run, keep trying to run the ball, establish the run until you can't run no more," he said. "Last game, we tried to establish the run, we just weren't getting any holes so we went to the passing game."

The Steelers ran 28 times for 70 yards in a 20-13 victory against the Dallas Cowboys. Ben Roethlisberger completed 17 of 33 passes for 204 yards in that game.

Parker said it's even more important to run the ball near the end of the season than in the beginning.

"It's real important. This is when you have to grind it out. These are the dog days. When you go into the playoffs, the team that can run the ball is going to win, if you ask me."

Then 'n' now

2008 offensive numbers compared to 2007:

22.2

Points per game, down from 24.6.

103.8

Rushing yards per game, down from 135.5

302.8

Total yards per game,down from 327.4

74.6

Yards per game for Willie Parker, off from 87.7