LATROBE, Pa. — Ben Roethlisberger Thursday pronounced himself fit for the Steelers' first preseason game and said coach Bill Cowher would have to "hold me back" from playing nine days from now in Arizona.

It was a departure from Roethlisberger's comment following Sunday's camp-opening practice that his playing is "always coach's call."

The turning point for Roethlisberger was Wednesday night's practice at a high-school stadium in downtown Latrobe. In front of a record crowd at Memorial Stadium, he looked like the Roethlisberger of old.

"Yeah, he's the same quarterback," said offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt after the impressive showing.

"To be in comeback form like he was last night, so soon after the accident, speaks volumes about who he is," receiver Hines Ward said. "He didn't lose a beat. He looked good."

Roethlisberger improved his arm strength and flashed the ability to throw on the run and across his body that marked his first two seasons in the league. Roethlisberger's most impressive pass came off a scramble when he zipped the ball to Ward on the sideline. He also feathered a deep pass between linebacker Larry Foote and Troy Polamalu into the arms of Quincy Morgan.

"Everything feels pretty good," Roethlisberger said. "My arm feels good. I feel like it's coming along well. It's better than it has been in previous camps."

Teammates in the spring had hoped that another year of experience would further the development of a quarterback with a 27-4 record in his two regular seasons in the league, but a June 12 motorcycle accident put those hopes on hold.

The Wednesday night performance eased any fears.

"He made some great throws," Whisenhunt said. "He made some strong throws down the field so it was exciting."

"The only thing now is if he gets hit. What happens then?" Ward said. "But Ben's a competitor, a warrior."

Cowher said his decision on the Aug. 12 starting quarterback won't be made until next week. Whisenhunt said if it was up to him, Roethlisberger would start.

"Everything is normal again, so I would expect him to play," Whisenhunt said. "He's the same quarterback. Obviously, not having worked out in four or five weeks dropped his conditioning back, so sometimes he gets tired in practice and with his throws he can't drive with his legs as much, but that's normal. That's not anything that's out of the ordinary with a quarterback."

And what of his development as a field general?

"He really had a good spring as far as recognizing things and understanding what was going on," Whisenhunt said. "(Wednesday) night was good for him. He's doing very well."

Notes:

A charge of disorderly conduct against rookie receiver Santonio Holmes was dropped Thursday.Prosecutors dismissed the charge against the Steelers' first-round draft pick, but he was ordered to donate $250 to the police officers assistance trust fund