View topic - New Article: Cards and the Sup Bowl -- The Initial Key to Beating the RedBirds (Part 1 of a series)

[Mrsteve Profile]

I get sucked into the weirdest arguments. I have no earthly idea why I am arguing about last years's Pats game.

I actually like the weird alignments we have been throwing out on third down. They remind of what the Pats were doing in 2003 and 2004.

I think the defense has a lot more flexibility this year than it did last year because of Timmons (who I am convinced is going to redefine the way LBs are used in pass coverage) and Troy's health. With Kiesel, Timmons, and Troy, we are incredibly diverse at all three levels now. For the last two years, we couldn't get off the field on third down. That has not been a problem this year.

[SteelerPower Profile]

Super Bowl 43 = Polamalu

[Teegre Profile]

Mill,

First off, as I mentioned in the first post in this thread, I agree that a 2 DEs, 2 OLBs, Timmons, and 6 DBs should be used early & often.
And, I hear (& heed) your points about last year's Patriots game.

But, I disagree that LeBeau will use a stagnated form of defense in the SuperBowl.
Wait...it is not that I disagree...it is that I am more hopeful (than you) that LeBeau will adapt/alter his defense as need be.

I know, I know: you are asking yourself: Why would anyone think that!?!
My reply: the game against the Ravens.

1) Look at the way the Steelers defended Flacco. Everyone in the world thought that the Steelers were going to rush and/or blitz the snot out of the young QB. Instead, the Steelers routinely only sent 3 or 4 rushers, and dropped everyone else back into coverage.
This is the exact same defense that the Patriots used against a your Ben Roethlisberger.

Maybe it was Tomlin that made this call...or maybe it was LeBeau. Regardless, someone altered the defense.

I know that you will retort that Casey was in there at the beginning of the Ravens game; ergo, the defense was not "actually" all that altered.
But, it was indeed altered (to some degree) from what everyone was expecting...which is a step in the right direction.

2) They pulled Foote for a lot of Lawrence Timmons. Foote had played for 17 games...and then, when the match-up favored Timmons, they made the appropriate switch. While this switch came a few weeks (or months) later than one would want, it was indeed made ...which is a step in the right direction.

3) On Troy's interception, Aaron Smith was the only D-lineman. [Note: I think Keisel might have been paying, but he was lined up at OLB.]
Regardless, NO Casey. Admittedly, I understand that this play came late in the game, but this formation was an alteration of the "normal" dime package...which is once again an example of the defense altering what it "normally" does.

My point is that there are indeed signs that the defense might/could/will adapt as need be.

Oh, and one more point that we have all missed:
After Warner was hit by the Eagles defenders, he demanded that they put two TEs in the game. This is why Anquan was screaming at the OC towards the end of the game (because they were only fielding 2 WRs...and he was not one of them).
The point: if Warner is hit early & often, the 3/4 WR sets will indeed disappear...
...in turn, rendering this discussion (about how to cover the 3/4 WR sets) moot.

[BenStiller Profile]

This has been an interesting discussion. Another site I visit a lot has a blog entry calling the Cards spread v. the Steelers D the most important match-up of the game. And it discusses the Steelers/Cards game from last year. (It's even got pictures and everything!) Judging from the photos it looks like LeBeau did pull Casey against the spread early in the second half in that game. But I have no recollection of the circumstances--i.e., whether Casey was even available or not.

http://www.postgameheroes.com/?p=5348

[steelcitymetal Profile]

Committing to some weird 1-4-6 defense or something when you are the #1 defense in the league is being unnecessarily desperate.

possibly... but i think it would be stupid and stubborn to assume that our base 3-4 would be just as effective against a talented passing team that it was against most everyone else.

i would like to think that the best defense in the league would be flexible enough to adapt to any formation.

[Mrsteve Profile]

Committing to some weird 1-4-6 defense or something when you are the #1 defense in the league is being unnecessarily desperate.

possibly... but i think it would be stupid and stubborn to assume that our base 3-4 would be just as effective against a talented passing team that it was against most everyone else.

i would like to think that the best defense in the league would be flexible enough to adapt to any formation.

In fairness, when have we ever exclusively been in a base 3-4 at all times? This argument has made it sound like we have Casey and 4 linebackers on the field on 3rd and 16.

As I've said repeatedly, the big difference between this defense and other ones under Lebeau is the flexibility. When was the last time we had someone like Timmons do play on passing downs? When was the last time we had three starting caliber corners? What team has a player like Kiesel? Is there anything a healthy Polamalu cannot do?

By week 10 or so last year, our defense was an empty shell due to injuries. It was still pretty good but it was incapable of doing anything but the most basic stuff thanks to its talent level.

[oldschoolhunkie Profile]

As I've said repeatedly, the big difference between this defense and other ones under Lebeau is the flexibility. When was the last time we had someone like Timmons do play on passing downs? When was the last time we had three starting caliber corners? What team has a player like Kiesel? Is there anything a healthy Polamalu cannot do?

Exatly. The attacks on Lebeau up here crack me up. He does a great job working with what he has. I have seen lots of signs that is felxible and will be a step ahead of other teams' offense. You can't just abandon what you do when you get tot he Super Bowl. He will be ready and force the cards to adjust, as suggested above... by adding a TE. Key is pressure to rattle Warner.

[StillMill Profile]

In fairness, when have we ever exclusively been in a base 3-4 at all times? This argument has made it sound like we have Casey and 4 linebackers on the field on 3rd and 16.

Sorry, Steve.....that was not the thesis behind my article and most folks' input. We all know that Tubbo Hampton sits on 3rd & long. The key for ANY offense is to AVOID 3rd & long, and facing the Steelers, ONE way to do that -- if you have the personnel to do it -- is to go 4 or 5 wide and shuck the running game on 1st/2nd downs. NE did this superbly last Dec. AZ has the talent, depth, and skill to do the same thing, if they choose to do so. If this does happen, the concern is Dick insisting on keeping Tubbo in the game, or pulling Tubbo OUT and getting a playmaker onto the field.