On paper, this Super Bowl should not be close. But I have trouble betting against Larry Fitzgerald. Can anyone cover him? If the Cardinals are going to win, they’re going to have to play excellent defense. If they can keep Pittsburgh to more field goals than touchdowns and they can protect Warner enough for him to complete some long passes, we could see an upset. I’m rooting for the Steelers, though, and hope they can take over the game with a punishing running game and a suffocating pass rush.
About The Author
BooMan
Martin Longman a contributing editor at the Washington Monthly. He is also the founder of Booman Tribune and Progress Pond. He has a degree in philosophy from Western Michigan University.
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Willie Parker is finally healthy. That should help the Steelers immensely, especially since if he has a big day it means less time on the field for the Cardinals offense.
I’m rooting for the Cardinals, but wouldn’t be too disappointed if the Steelers win. Mostly I’m just looking to enjoy the party.
If I were drawing up the Cardinals game plan, I’d have a lot of draws and screen passes. I’d also have a two tight-end package I’d use to pass the ball.
I agree. I also think the Cardinals could steal a page out of Pittsburgh’s playbook and run that bunch formation with 3 wide receivers starting clustered together then running crossing routes.
As a Cardinal play caller, I want to protect Warner first and foremost. I would limit the number of plays where I don’t have play-action or mass-protect formations.
If I want to go downfield to the wideouts, I think I would do it off play-action. But to sell that I’ve got to run out of the same formations early on.
I’d also run a jumbo package on short yardage (especially on second downs) and then pass either to the wideouts on fly patterns or the tight-ends on seam patterns.
The screens and draws are needed to slow down the blitzing pass rush.
That is what they’ll do to go downfield, is play action and maybe some trick plays like the flea flicker they’ve pulled out. But I still think you need some quick short hits to the receivers too, which is where that cluster formation is sweet. 3 step drop and a quick decision (Warner is good at this), with very little chance of taking a big hit.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see them pull a reverse or something like that out early in the game either, when Pittsburgh’s defense will be chomping at the bit and they might be able to get them to overpursue.
It’s hard for me to pick the Cardinals – after what the ownership did to us. I’m not really a football fan but I did used to follow the Big Red especially during their Cardiac Cardinals years. Which makes this an especially bitter experience. The Rams have never done a thing for me but it was exciting when Warner came out of nowhere to take them to the Superbowl and win.
I’ve always liked Warner – even though he’s a religious wacko and I have to put up with his religious television commercials on my teevee. So, I’m going with the Cards.
You mean this guy?
two names: whisenhunt, who’s got a big axe to grind against pittsburg after the shafting they gave him. he’s an agressive and very talented coach, with a highly motivated team… and he’s got fitzgerald.
l’m going with the cards, especially if they get up early, the steelers don’t do comebacks all that well.
impressive national anthem.
Prerecorded… Unlike Bruce
Good thing that the Cardinals deferred.
great decision to challenge the TD. I think Pittsburgh should forego conventional wisdom and go for it.
Yeah, the Steelers. But what do I know? What does anyone know? Two minutes to the half. Arizona showing some grit.
woo hoo! interception.
wow! That was an exciting interception and return.
BROOOOCE!
The perfect midgame entertainer. Especially after that breathtaking runback.
Whoo Hoo!
OMG they just showed Bill Bidwell. Let me control my intense feelings of wanting to throw something through the television.
Yeeeaah, I feel the same way when they show that fat creep, Art Modell, at the Ravens games.
It was only a matter of time before Larry Fitzgerald took over this game. Pittsburgh had better take care of business and score at least a FG here, or the Cardinals are going to win.
This is good. A hot Cardinals offense against the best defense in the league, for all the marbles. This drive should be fun.
A safety. Warner always has exciting super bowl games.
It’s official, Jesus really is in Kurt Warner’s corner.
I’m sure he believes that.
Or maybe Jesus has a sense of humor …
Clearly Jesus likes northern, old-school teams better.
I think this might be a test of how much Jesus really gives a s**t about football.
Jesus hates Bidwell.
Nice to know Jesus and I are on the same page.
Greatest Superbowl in history, IMHO. And all those jerkwater sports columnists who were telling us that this game was no big deal because it didn’t involve any of the teams that they have deemed worth watching can kiss my ass.
Your analysis was quite accurate but came up just a wee bit short. 🙂 Great game though.
i could not get it up for this game at all…jennifer hudson was fantastic….who won idol that year again?
bruce rocked….i was watching from my bed with my jersey girlfriend who lives in red bank and sees him all the time…..we ate steak and chocolate chex for dinner and washed it all down with pomegranate schnapps.
thats all i saw till the end…..steelers won….big surprise….was it a good game?
im drunk and have a tummy ache
yes, it was a very good game.
Roelisberger made up for that awful SB 40. He’s all right in my book.
And he has more rings than Peyton Manning, so that’s good, too.