Besides the obvious things (Fitz and Warner's decision-making ability), there are five other things about Whiz's offense that have me worried:
1) Their Tackles (Levi and Gandy) are better than average, which will help to neutralize Harrison and Woodley to some degree.
2) Trick plays, or lack thereof. Let me explain. Sometimes if you think they're going to run one and they don't, it can be just as effective because it can take some of the discipline out of a defense, and the Steeler defense is about as disciplined as you get.
3) Steve Breaston covered by a LB, although Larry Timmons is no slouch in coverage. Arizona will undoubtedly try to get a better matchup.
4) Screen passes to Hightower on 3rd and 6, 7, & 8 yards to go. Swing passes typically do not work against the Steeler defense because of their closing ability, but screen passes in the middle of the field do.
5) Jumping contests. While the Steeler DB's will knock your lights out if you run a crossing pattern against them, they will lose jumping contests against the Cardinal receivers. The best way to eliminate this problem is by generating a pass rush.
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Last edited by botankus on Jan 29th, 2009 at 01:24 PM
To go with #5 they better make sure to actually tackle Boldin, someone just trying to lay him out could easily find themselves on the ground and him still running.
That could have been a great game if it weren't for the god damned penalties.
I will say, though, The Steelers did much better on offense than i expected. I'm glad to see Ben play with such poise and skill. Maybe now, all of the na sayers in this city will shut up. I also thought the Cardinals offense did much better than most people expected. If it weren't for a few bad penalties this game could have went a different direction but no one can say the Cardinals lost and the Steelers won because of penalties. The Cardinals endured more compromising penalties than the Steelers but the Steelers too, took some very bad penalties.
Three 15 yard penalties in one drive...,Wisenhunt must be fukin pissed right about now. That last drive is the Steelers football im used to though. I hope that carries over next season, along with a good running back
__________________ "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything" -Twain
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Yea it was a great game but I really wish the refs were less involved. And then on the final play after the refs being part of every drive they dont review it? How do you not review a fumble in the superbowl with 10 seconds left?
After RefGate or whatever in XL, I was really hoping that there wouldn't be any controversial calls in this game...and there really weren't.
Actually, I was glad that the refs overturned the 1st Qtr Steelers TD because first off, it wasn't a touchdown, and secondly, I don't think I could handle the ensuing riots and people burning their bandwagons and sh!t. I even told my buddies that during the game and they were like "who cares?" and I said, "trust me, people will be getting their pantyhose in a bind if they allow this TD."
There were really only 4 questionable incidents that I can remember (until I watch it again) and that was the holding call on the safety, the non-holding calls on Gandy (pick any play in the game), the Warner fumble (but for anyone to say a potential Hail Mary "cost" them a game is laughable - I don't care how good Fitzgerald's hands are because Troy would have been on him in the end zone), and I also feel that Harrison should have been ejected.
Great game from my end. I hate to sound all melodramatic, but I was extremely proud of both teams and especially the Steelers. They earned that trophy this year. Case closed.
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Last edited by botankus on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 04:31 PM
I thought this was a fantastic game that was mired by some pretty horrible calls by the refs.
-Harrison definitely should have been ejected from the game after fighting like that.
-On Harrison's fantastic interception return, there was an illegal block in the back by Pittsburgh that should have stopped the play with 3 seconds left.
-The roughing the passer and holder penalties were bogus.
-Fitzgerald's fade TD catch should have been reviewed. I'm not entirely sure he caught it.
-Holmes' should have been penalized for his TD celebration at the end.
-I can't believe the final play wasn't reviewed. Even if it still would have ended with the same result, they've reviewed far less controversial calls. I know the announcers said the booth reviewed it, but for what, 15 seconds?
All in all, both teams played great, and either one deserved to win. I just wish it didn't have the controversy surrounding it.
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Last edited by celestialdemon on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 05:26 PM
dude, i agree. If you call the Steelers on an unsportsmanlike conduct for throwing a helmet after a touchdown that potentially wins the game(at the end of the game). You definitely have to review that fumble. The booth reviewed every other god damn play. I'm not sure if the Cardinals had a challenge left but the booth reviewed several plays that went unchallenged. I thought the challenges were implemented to hinder the booth from getting involved.
__________________ "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything" -Twain
(sig by Scythe)
While they were at it they could review Warner taking his helmet off on the field of play throughout the game. Or Fitzgerald going out of bounds when chasing down Harrison on that INT. I could be wrong on both, but I thought that was the case.
I've just got one little soapbox thing to say about complaining about officiating, and I think it's a product of the way our society has evolved. I'm 33, and when I was growing up (no I didn't walk 5 miles to school in bare feet), when there were penalties, spectators and fans usually got on the player, not the official. It was more like "Ah, that bum" or "son of a ***** holds every play." Now it's automatically the result of mentally **tarded officials, it seems.
Kind of reminds me of prissy parents nowadays. When the principal calls and says Little Johnny sprayed graffiti in the bathroom, the parents are quick to say that their precious little child would never do anything like that and the principal and teachers are liars and here comes the lawsuit. Ditto for youth soccer.
p.s. I know it's different, but my point is the "It's not my fault, it's your fault" mindset of people and how it's evolved. And I'm guilty on occasions too (like the beginning of this post).
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Last edited by botankus on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 07:45 PM
Well, the Steelers didn't make like altar-boys and get ****ed by Cardinals as planned, but at least it was a close game. The Cards didn't get trampled like everyone said they would, and I could've swore that that was a safety but I guess the zebras "saw" it differently.
I think the best play of the game was Fitzie's TD reception. He's so damn fast, its impossible to overthrow him.
To clarify I thought the refs made bad calls that went against both teams, however I will say Pitt got more of the breaks (and I am by no means a Cardinal fan).
That being said Arizona still lost the game. Warner still put the ball down after holding it for 6 seconds with only 15 seconds left knowing there was a defender behind him, he should have long gotten rid of that ball. Warner still threw a pick from the 2 that was a potential 14 point swing in a 4 point game. And Warner failed to even give Fitz a look until too late. And the entire defense failed to wrap up Big Ben about 100 different times when he should have been sacked and instead was allowed to convert 1st down after 1st down.
As far as Warner taking his helmet off no the field arguing the fumble no fumble on the last play that can be negated by Holmes getting away with using the ball as a prop. 15 yards on the kick off would have been nice for arizona.
As far as the refs go what taints this game for me is simply not reviewing the final play (it was prolly a fumble but still take 2 damn minutes and review it) And the Steelers drive late in the 3rd quarter.
The facemask call was bs, the WR and the defender both had a handfull of facemask, you either throw 2 flags and the down is replayed or you throw 0 flags.
The roughing the passer call was bs. First of all it wasnt roughing the passer the rusher was easing up did not lower his shoulder or helmet or anything he put his hands up to brace the impact and hit him as soft as humanly possible, hits like that occur in every game all year with no call. The second part here is it was intentional grounding. So instead of a loss of yards for pitt its another 15 yard automatic 1st down (thats 2 on the drive)
Then we have the legendary running over the holder. First of all WTF? That is a rule? Again I can see if the guy comes in and spears the holder or lowers his shoulder/helmet into him and flattens him, then fine flag him for unsportsmanlike conduct or running over the kicker or whatever. But once again the guy coming in at full speed tried to pull up as best as is humanly possible put his hands out and barely contacted him. A 5 year old would not have been hurt by that "hit". Maybe they called it correct according to the rule, if thats the case change the god damn rule (same as the ones protecting punters) But again another 1st down and half the distance.
And yes if your gonna call things like that and flag everything (18 penalties) how is Harrison not ejected?
Yes there were some bad calls that favored AZ also but none that measured up to handing them an entire drive and 6 cracks at the goal line. Or that forced pitt to blow challenges earlier.
Also as far as Fitz going out of bounds on that tackle (which he didn't make so it doesnt matter) I think because a steeler player hit a cardinal into him which forced him out (he had to run around half his bench to get back into it) he is allowed to still make the play once getting back on the field sense he did not go out of bounds on his own (not positive on that though).
Steelers are becoming quite the dynasty though. They now have what the youngest QB/Coach to win a superbowl. The longest play in a superbowl. The longest rush in a superbowl. The most superbowl wins. And likely some more I dont know about.
Oh also I did like Tomlin getting fired up in his little speech at the end.
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Last edited by forumcrew on Feb 2nd, 2009 at 10:18 PM
I agree, partner and i believe most people do as well. When the players complain that penalties take away from the physical aspect of the game you have a problem. I understand that high scoring games brings more interest to the game but i don't think cracking down on holding or implementing penalties to further protect the receivers is the best way to increase scoring. I'm not sure what happened to football but Mike ditka said it best when he said they should just put shorts on the players and have them play soccer. When a player gets fined $25,000 because he is wearing the wrong name brand shoe's and when the players cannot celebrate or taunt other players the game has become nothing more than one big advertisement. Also, to many rules makes a game to easy to fix
__________________ "If you tell the truth, you never have to remember anything" -Twain
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Jan 29th, 2009 02:23 AM
STEELERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Official pimp of Steverules 
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