New cornerbacks ready to be tested by Steelers

That’s only the receivers the Tennessee Titans will face over the first half of the season with a secondary featuring two new cornerbacks. That’s why the likely starters — Andre Woolfolk and Tony Beckham — expect opponents to be throwing at them early and often starting Sunday in Pittsburgh.

“Everyone’s going to go at us,” Beckham said. “That’s every week somebody’s going to test us. … Every week someone’s going to want to go at us because we’re a young secondary.”

Coach Jeff Fisher said Friday the combination of Ward, Antwaan Randle El and Cedrick Wilson will provide a good test.

“They do a great job spreading the ball around, especially on third down, match and mix things up. You don’t necessarily know who’s doing what. Randle El and Hines are guys who can catch and run after the catch. In my opinion, Hines Ward is one of the best blocking receivers in the National Football League,” Fisher said.

The Titans cut veterans Samari Rolle and his costly salary in February and let Andre Dyson leave for more money elsewhere. Rolle now is in Baltimore and Dyson in Seattle, leaving a group of cornerbacks with a combined 12 starts.

The secondary isn’t entirely callow.

Strong safety Tank Williams, back after a torn left anterior cruciate ligament in 2004, had started each of the 41 games he was healthy for since his rookie season. Free safety Lamont Thompson started the last 13 games in 2004 after Lance Schulters was hurt, and this will be his fourth season.

The lack of experience at the cornerback slots is why the Titans used the sixth pick overall on Adam “Pacman” Jones. He held out until three days were left in camp and might not even be active for Sunday’s game.

Both the 6-foot-2 Woolfolk and 6-1 Beckham have good size. Woolfolk, who was converted from receiver at Oklahoma and was drafted 28th overall in 2003, will be making his fifth start. He has two interceptions and spent his first two seasons as the fifth defensive back on the field.

Beckham will be making his fourth start, and three of those came last December when he hurried back from his own torn ACL when Rolle was hurt. Beckham has one interception and 23 tackles and was the 115th pick overall in 2002.

First up are the Steelers.

“It’s going to be a true test of just how much we gelled all the way through the preseason,” Woolfolk said. “They’re well established in the NFL as far as being good and being physical. I think it’s going to be one of the biggest tests really of the whole year.”

Ward has fared well in his last four games against Tennessee with 33 catches for 425 yards, including a 10-catch, 168-yard performance with two touchdowns in a 31-23 loss on Nov. 17, 2002.

Pittsburgh coach Bill Cowher said he likes Woolfolk and believes he has developed into a solid cornerback.

“You look at all three of those guys. I know that Pacman is a guy who got into camp late. He is so talented. Beckham has played well, as well. I think those three guys are very solid players. Andre has played very solidly, from what I’ve seen,” Cowher said.

Only time will tell how good.