"The Steelers will enter the season without a designated short-yardage/goal-line back.

But a simple connecting of the dots makes it clear that Willie Parker will get most of the carries in those situations.

"I think we'll go with the guy that's in the ball game unless he's dead tired then we'll put a fresh body in," offensive coordinator Bruce Arians said Monday when asked who will be the goal-line back.

Parker is the starting running back and second-year man Rashard Mendenhall is No. 2 but the pair won't split carries. Coach Mike Tomlin said that last week and Arians reiterated it yesterday after practice.

"Willie's the man," Arians said.

Parker rushed for 11 touchdowns in 2006 but has just seven rushing touchdowns the last two seasons combined.

The two-time Pro Bowler will have a couple of new lead blockers this season.

Frank Summers will play the position Carey Davis held the previous two seasons. Fellow rookie David Johnson will serve as an H-back much like Sean McHugh did in 2008.

The Steelers don't have a traditional fullback on their roster but Arians didn't sound concerned about how the 5-10, 240-pound Summers, who played running back at UNLV, will do leading blocking in front of Parker."