Mitch
Crawled Through 5 FB Fields
1. I was very disappointed the Cardinals elected to defer after winning the coin toss. I just don't understand that decision. We'll never know what the game would have been like had the Cardinals taken the football first, obviously, but deferring is a passive decision and much of the coaching in that first half was just that: passive.
2. I was also very disappointed that they did not make any effort to get Fitz the ball in the first half even if it was on a motion quick out pass...it would have made the statement that Fitz was not going to be ignored...and I was even more disappointed that the play calling early in the game was far too conservative...like two one yard runnung plays on 1st and 20 after Gandy's first holding penalty...which left a 3rd and 18.
3. Disappointed too that as always the Cardinals left the tackles on islands...(without chipping the best tandem of edge rushers in the NFL). Harrison cannot be blocked one on one by anyone. Simple chips and releases all day from the slot WRs or the TE would have been ideal...but...apparently the Cardinal coaches don't agree).
4. The defense played about as well as they could (gaolline stands, safety, Dockett's stellar plays: HE WAS THE MAN) until the very last drive, where the coverage broke down signficantly and inexplicably...DRC should have been in Holmes' jock the whole last drive and instead was playing zone or too loose.
5. The first TD drive was a clutch repsonse to being down 10-0...highlighted by a great misdirection out pass to Boldin and Ben Patrick's TD.
6. The interception by Dansby off the tipped pass was HUGE...but too bad that Warner forced the first a goal with 18 seconds left...but too, it was a GREAT call by Dick LeBeau...who would have thought Harrison would have dropped into coverage in a sure passing situation? And the Cardinals' design on the play, Q coming off Fitz's tail, was excellent. It turned out to be Warner's one bad pass of the entire game...and it's still almost impossible to believe that Harrison was able to lumber 100 yards and get the ball over the goalline by a microfraction. (Talk about game of inches)
7. Having the ball after halftime did not turn out to be a great decision either as the offense sputtered for the whole third quarter...
8. But the Cardinal defense rose to the challenge time and time again (how about TWO goalline stands after AW's roughing the holder penalty!)and the offense in the 4th quarter caught lightning in a bottle, highlighted by great catches and runs by Arrington, Breatson and Fitz (the fade TD catch on 3rd and goal from the 1 was brilliant...and the last one was spectacular...Fitz looked like a motorboat bursting past two sailboats, as the ocean parted (credit my sister Margy for this analogy!)...it was a thing of sheer BEAUTY).
9. The last Steelers' drive was painful to watch...we've seen the prevent defense lose too many late games and this one certainly hurts the most. Santonio Holmes was OPEN virtually EVERY play...and he was running past flat-footed and/or slipping defenders. He was even open in the left corner of the endzone on the play before his TD. And the pass rush didn't get it done, as Dockett was the only pass rusher all day to get to Big Ben. Berry was taking far too wide an edge all day, which you can't do versus Big Ben...Smith was silent...LaBoy couldn't finish...and no Adrian Wilson as his number wasn't called nearly enough.
Note: some really iffy calls hurt...you can't have Big ben pumping the ball left and right and then get called for roughing the passer right after he releases a pass, as Dansby did...and the second of Gandy's holds was dubious...but the worst of all is that Harrison should have been ejected from the game after punching Francisco repeatedly and then steamrolling him backward as he was defenseless...punches call for ejections). But...the game did not come down to officiating...it came down to making one last stop and the Cardinals were tentative and the Steelers made some great plays.
Note too: that this is how the Eagles and their fans must have felt...taking the 4th quarter lead from behind and then watching their defense squander it. It happens.
10. All the same...the Cardinals made us all proud. They did their part to make this game one of the very best and most exciting in Super Bowl history. It's been an unreal ride this year.
Warner and Fitzgerald were about as good this post-season as any QB-WR combo has been in NFL history.
The defense took major steps forward...Dockett was clutch and DRC really made a name for himself.
And the special teams were solid and did not give up the big play.
My regards to everyone at ASFN...experiencing this ride with you made it extra special. GO CARDS IN 2009!!!
2. I was also very disappointed that they did not make any effort to get Fitz the ball in the first half even if it was on a motion quick out pass...it would have made the statement that Fitz was not going to be ignored...and I was even more disappointed that the play calling early in the game was far too conservative...like two one yard runnung plays on 1st and 20 after Gandy's first holding penalty...which left a 3rd and 18.
3. Disappointed too that as always the Cardinals left the tackles on islands...(without chipping the best tandem of edge rushers in the NFL). Harrison cannot be blocked one on one by anyone. Simple chips and releases all day from the slot WRs or the TE would have been ideal...but...apparently the Cardinal coaches don't agree).
4. The defense played about as well as they could (gaolline stands, safety, Dockett's stellar plays: HE WAS THE MAN) until the very last drive, where the coverage broke down signficantly and inexplicably...DRC should have been in Holmes' jock the whole last drive and instead was playing zone or too loose.
5. The first TD drive was a clutch repsonse to being down 10-0...highlighted by a great misdirection out pass to Boldin and Ben Patrick's TD.
6. The interception by Dansby off the tipped pass was HUGE...but too bad that Warner forced the first a goal with 18 seconds left...but too, it was a GREAT call by Dick LeBeau...who would have thought Harrison would have dropped into coverage in a sure passing situation? And the Cardinals' design on the play, Q coming off Fitz's tail, was excellent. It turned out to be Warner's one bad pass of the entire game...and it's still almost impossible to believe that Harrison was able to lumber 100 yards and get the ball over the goalline by a microfraction. (Talk about game of inches)
7. Having the ball after halftime did not turn out to be a great decision either as the offense sputtered for the whole third quarter...
8. But the Cardinal defense rose to the challenge time and time again (how about TWO goalline stands after AW's roughing the holder penalty!)and the offense in the 4th quarter caught lightning in a bottle, highlighted by great catches and runs by Arrington, Breatson and Fitz (the fade TD catch on 3rd and goal from the 1 was brilliant...and the last one was spectacular...Fitz looked like a motorboat bursting past two sailboats, as the ocean parted (credit my sister Margy for this analogy!)...it was a thing of sheer BEAUTY).
9. The last Steelers' drive was painful to watch...we've seen the prevent defense lose too many late games and this one certainly hurts the most. Santonio Holmes was OPEN virtually EVERY play...and he was running past flat-footed and/or slipping defenders. He was even open in the left corner of the endzone on the play before his TD. And the pass rush didn't get it done, as Dockett was the only pass rusher all day to get to Big Ben. Berry was taking far too wide an edge all day, which you can't do versus Big Ben...Smith was silent...LaBoy couldn't finish...and no Adrian Wilson as his number wasn't called nearly enough.
Note: some really iffy calls hurt...you can't have Big ben pumping the ball left and right and then get called for roughing the passer right after he releases a pass, as Dansby did...and the second of Gandy's holds was dubious...but the worst of all is that Harrison should have been ejected from the game after punching Francisco repeatedly and then steamrolling him backward as he was defenseless...punches call for ejections). But...the game did not come down to officiating...it came down to making one last stop and the Cardinals were tentative and the Steelers made some great plays.
Note too: that this is how the Eagles and their fans must have felt...taking the 4th quarter lead from behind and then watching their defense squander it. It happens.
10. All the same...the Cardinals made us all proud. They did their part to make this game one of the very best and most exciting in Super Bowl history. It's been an unreal ride this year.
Warner and Fitzgerald were about as good this post-season as any QB-WR combo has been in NFL history.
The defense took major steps forward...Dockett was clutch and DRC really made a name for himself.
And the special teams were solid and did not give up the big play.
My regards to everyone at ASFN...experiencing this ride with you made it extra special. GO CARDS IN 2009!!!
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