LATROBE, Pa. – Some of Coach Bill Cowher’s problems, by his own estimation, are pleasant ones.

Such as what to do at the quarterback position behind starter Ben Roethlisberger? And what is the pecking order at wide receiver behind Hines Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson? Such as how the offense plans to utilize Willie Parker? And what’s to be done with Ike Taylor?

As the Steelers go through their final practice days before preseason game No. 2, which is at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday at Heinz Field against the Miami Dolphins, Cowher was asked some questions that as yet don’t have definitive answers. And that’s a good thing.

Let’s begin at quarterback, where the Steelers have two players with starting experience in the NFL – Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch – plus Brian St. Pierre who has two full years of experience in the team’s offensive system. In a league where a bunch of teams are thirsty for experienced quarterbacks, the Steelers have one more than they’re going to keep.

Last season, Cowher began with Maddox and Roethlisberger on the 53-man roster, and St. Pierre on the practice squad following Batch’s season-ending knee injury during training camp.

"You start to tinker around with the 53, and there are a lot of different combinations you can go to," said Cowher. "I think that Tommy has had a very good camp, he really has. I think you look at Charlie, and here’s a guy who hasn’t played football in almost two years. I thought in the (Eagles) game, he did a lot of good things. He made some really nice throws. I thought he got better as the game went on. Same thing with Brian. His comfort level this year, just based on the fact of being No. 2 (for a portion of) last year and going through that process for the first time, I think he’s matured tremendously. All of those guys are pushing each other right now. We’ve got to continue to look at it and evaluate it."

When Ward ended his holdout last Monday, a crowded situation at wide receiver became worse. Ward, Wilson and Randle El are the top three, but after that, even Cowher isn’t sure from one day to the next.

"Those three guys are clearly three good football players," said Cowher. "After that, we sit down and talk about it, every day you can throw it up and there’s a different order. Nate Washington right now has been the one guy who’s been the most consistent player. Lee Mays and Walter (Young) missed some practice time. And I think if there’s one guy who has seized this opportunity, it’s been Nate Washington. He’s been very, very consistent. He obviously had a good game the other day. He backed it up with a good practice yesterday. But we need to continue to see strides. We’ve got to continue to look at some of these other guys to get some good concrete information that we can make some decision on."

In Cowher’s mind, there appears to be little decision-making necessary regarding Parker. In this case the plan is simple: "Get the ball in his hands, somehow, some way," said Cowher. With Duce Staley out, Jerome Bettis is the starter, and Verron Haynes and Parker are in the mix competing for touches.

"We’ve got to keep on giving him a chance in the preseason, just like Verron," said Cowher.

As for Taylor, the third-year cornerback from Louisiana-Lafayette, Cowher almost doesn’t recognize him as the same player who was inactive for three of the first five games of 2004.

"I think Ike Taylor is a more focused, more mature player," said Cowher. "Willie (Williams) and Deshea (Townsend) have had very solid camps, but Ike Taylor is pushing. He’s played very well. I’d like to see him continue through this camp. At this point, it’s important that he’s gone to that next level and he stays there. That’s his challenge. I’ve seen what he can do, I like his mind-set and the way he’s approaching the game. I don’t want to see him go back. That’s the challenge of where he is in his career. He needs to stay up there."

INJURY REPORT: Pertaining to the Dolphins game, Cowher said Staley and Joey Porter are out, as are Sam Simmons and Vontez Duff. Fred Gibson, right now, is doubtful. Everybody else should be able to play. Bryant McFadden, Ricardo Colclough and Kimo von Oelhoffen were not going to practice on Thursday.