Willie Parker got no love in preseason drafts. Coming off a season-ending knee injury and with little chance of carrying the ball at the goal line, there was little to be optimistic about. His Week 1 performance, in which he had 25 carries for 138 yards and three touchdowns, was proof that history does not always repeat itself.

Parker scored just two touchdowns in the 2007 season, despite leading the NFL in rushing for much of the season and registering 321 carries. So, Parker slipped from a first round pick in ‘07 to a third rounder in ‘08 as skeptical fantasy owners passed him over for better scoring options. He made a bold statement in the Steelers’ 38-17 rout of the Houston Texans, finding the end zone from 7, 13 and 4 yards out.

While Parker isn’t likely to sustain a long scoring rampage, Sunday’s outburst certainly made it possible for him to crack double-digit touchdowns. The 27-year old has eclipsed 1,200 yards in each of the last three seasons, but his touchdown count has fluctuated from four in ‘05 to 13 in ‘06 to two in ‘07.

The pieces are in place this season for Parker to return to a more prominent scoring role — he has less competition for goal-line touches, his offensive line is playing much better football, and the Pittsburgh offense can move the ball at will.