Parker's pedals complement the Steelers' inside mettle

As a running back at Clinton (N.C.) High, Willie Parker never liked to run between the tackles. He used his speed and quickness to run away from contact by heading for the corners. His aversion to tough yards up the middle earned him the nickname "The Clinton Bypass."

The Steelers call him "Fast Willie," and he's still one of the fastest players on the field (4.38 in the 40). After two NFL starts, in place of the injured Duce Staley and Jerome Bettis, Parker has risen to the top of the AFC rushing charts, with 272 yards on 47 carries. "He gives them speed that Staley and Bettis don't give them," says an AFC pro scout.

But, surprisingly, Parker also has been tough, powerful and explosive at the point of impact. He has gained a lot of his yards up the middle.

At 5-10, 209, Parker certainly is not the type of back the Steelers are accustomed to using in their power-oriented running game. But he is powerfully built for his size, a player who earned "Super Ram" status at North Carolina for his work in the weight room.

That Parker is running at all in the NFL is something of a surprise. He was an undrafted free agent in 2004 who started only three games in three seasons at Chapel Hill.

Parker has made defensive coordinators rethink how to defend the Steelers' running game. They no longer can prepare to plug the middle and force the play to the outside, which has been the traditional strategy against bigger, stronger backs such as Staley and Bettis.

Staley, who missed the entire preseason because of torn cartilage in his right knee, could be ready to play Sunday against the Patriots. And Bettis, who injured his calf in the third preseason game, likely will return for the Monday night game on October 10 in San Diego.

Parker, though, will remain the starter, a decision endorsed by Staley and Bettis.

"A guy like that, you have to get the ball in his hands any way possible," Steelers coach Bill Cowher says. "He's got a chance to turn a 20-yard gain into a 40-yard gain."

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