These aren't the grind-it-out Steelers of days gone by

What in the name of Chuck Noll is going on in Pittsburgh?

Generations of Steelers fans were raised on two staples: Blitzing defenses and a ball-control running game. Suddenly, the second principle has been replaced by a quarterback who, believe it or not, leads the league in passing yards heading into Sunday's game against the Vikings at Heinz Field.

Ben Roethlisberger is no stranger to success. He is 55-22 with two Super Bowl titles at age 27. But he has never finished higher than eighth in yards passing because, well, he plays in the Land of Franco Harris and Rocky Bleier.

No Steelers quarterback has ever led the league in passing yards, not even Hall of Famer Terry Bradshaw, who won four Super Bowls in the 1970s. But that could change this season.

Steelers offensive coordinator Bruce Arians has opened up the offense. He is less dependent on the running game and allowing Roethlisberger more opportunities to pick from a set of plays while running a no-huddle attack.

"I don't necessarily see it as a change in philosophy for the franchise," Kevin Colbert, Pittsburgh's director of football operations, said by phone. "We just have a great, young quarterback who's getting better. We're growing as a franchise around his ability."

Roethlisberger has 1,887 yards passing, 77 more than Houston's Matt Schaub. The Colts' Peyton Manning is averaging a league-high 329.0 but has played one fewer game.

Roethlisberger, who had only seven 300-yard games before this season, is averaging 314.5 per game for the Steelers (4-2). He is coming off a 417-yard effort in a 27-14 victory over the Cleveland Browns.

"I've said it a thousand times and it might be making people upset, but we are not the Steelers of the '70s anymore," Roethlisberger said. "They were a running team and that's what worked for them. But we need to be more balanced and that's what I think we are doing."

The Steelers now face a Vikings team that is ranked 24th against the pass (248.3) and could be without injured Pro Bowl cornerback Antoine Winfield.

"We aren't worried about [running back] Willie Parker and their tailbacks," nose tackle Pat Williams said. "We're only worried about Ben Roethlisberger. He's throwing the ball real well right now."

Steelers receiver Hines Ward leads the NFL in receiving yards (599) and Heath Miller has 34 catches, second highest among NFL tight ends behind the Colts' Dallas Clark (35). Roethlisberger is completing 72.5 percent of his passes, and his 9.1 yards per attempt leads the league.

"They have a lot of weapons, but Ben is the driver of the car," Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams said. "We have got to get to him, disrupt him and hopefully disrupt that passing game."

Easier said than done considering Roethlisberger is 6-5, 241 pounds and fearless against even the strongest pass rush.

"He sits back there so long, you lick your chops," Kevin Williams said. "But guys can't get him down and he's making more plays with guys draped all over him than he is sitting in the pocket."

Vikings coaches are instructing players this week to tackle Roethlisberger's right arm first and worry about the rest of him later.

"If you can't get to that right arm," said Kevin Williams, "you're in trouble."