View topic - New Article: We're The CHAMPS !! Stillers-Cards Postgame Analysis & Grades

[StillMill Profile]

We're The CHAMPS !! Stillers-Cards Postgame Analysis & Grades has been posted by Still Mill at Stillers.com.

[adi Profile]

One thing I noticed on Holmes 40 yard dash on the final drive, I can't help but wonder if Heath Miller would have turned around to block the eventual Arizona tackler #47 Francisco if he would have scored on that play. Of course that would have left more time on the clock and we would have been denied one of the greatest catches in Super Bowl history. Just a thought...

I agree that Ben should have been co-mvp also...but I'm happy Holmes got it. He played like a man possessed all through the playoffs!

SUPER BOWL CHAMPS!!!

[Nittany Steel37 Profile]

Mill said Cromartie was gonna shut down Tone.

[El Nino Profile]

farrior got a B, i think that's a first

[ashpitt08 Profile]

Champions!!!! God, that sounds good!! Nice article Mill -- I almost choked on my beer when I saw how far the safeties were off on the TD play to Fitz. Still, Pittsburgh is now on top of the mountain an dI will be smiling and gloating all the way into next season!!

[pinpon Profile]

Bartender give me a 6 pack of Lombardis to go!!!
Mill is absolutely correct about Tomlin. Cowher doesn't look very good right now. Hopefully, Foote can go back to Det. and Timmons can take over.

[acewhiplash Profile]

great analysis! again, the Steelers show champion heart and desire when we the fans want them to show champion killer instinct.

Another point about that defense on the AZ go ahead td: not only were the safeties 22 yards off the ball, they were lined up way, way, way wide. the middle of the field was like the Great Plains

[zapunto Profile]

Agree with everything said, but want Mill's clarification on one thing:

I think Madden (correctly) deduced that the Steelers were neutralizing Fitzgerald by playing a "Cover 2 invert" against him -- Polamalu at the line to take away the shallow crosses, and Ike off the line playing the deep out route. When Dick called off the dogs and went to a more conventional but retarded cover 2, this put Ike back on Fitzgerald and that's when Fitz got hot.

I could be wrong, but I think Polamalu's grade needs to be a tad better and Ike's a tad worse.

-c-

[StillDodger Profile]

great analysis! again, the Steelers show champion heart and desire when we the fans want them to show champion killer instinct.

Another point about that defense on the AZ go ahead td: not only were the safeties 22 yards off the ball, they were lined up way, way, way wide. the middle of the field was like the Great Plains

The Stillers D went for broke, by design, because of the time remaining on the clock. Either they'd make a big play to maybe finish the game right there, or get burned but leave enough time on the clock to set up a possible game-tying or winning drive. This was playing to win, not playing "not to lose."

I really think had Cowher still been on the sidelines, in that same situation, we would have played "not to lose", let AZ march down the field with a bunch of short "underneath" plays, just like they did on the two previous drives, and maybe grab the lead with under 30 secs on the clock.

[StillMill Profile]

The Stillers D went for broke, by design, because of the time remaining on the clock. Either they'd make a big play to maybe finish the game right there, or get burned but leave enough time on the clock to set up a possible game-tying or winning drive. This was playing to win, not playing "not to lose."

I really think had Cowher still been on the sidelines, we would have played a "not to lose", let AZ march down the field with a bunch of short "underneath" plays, just like they did on the two previous drives, and grab the lead with under 30 secs on the clock.

Uh, hate to burst your bubble......but playing 22 fuking yards off the LOS against a QB who can barely throw the ball 45 yards downfield -- if he has a running start -- ain't playing to WIN. It was chickenshit football at its WORST. It was a chickenshit PREVENT that was as tentative as a 6th grader on his first date.

[rifraff Profile]

What a game, a little too exicting at the end for my liking but a beautiful final drive. The OC had it in the 1st Q and lost it in the entire 2nd half, no huddle = no OC .
Thank you Arz for basically only rushing 4 in that final drive, maybe at the start they tryed 5 once? Pick ur poison; blitz and the QB scrambles for big play or "prevent" and watch slow death. The blitz was the the best shot, hahaha.
The only upsetting thing was after Timmons made a play they kept showing him trotting off the field instead remaining on? And 2 deep safeties in next time zone.
Tomlin, come on, stop trying to dodge the bath in last 2 games man.
Were the CHAMPS!

[McLovin Profile]

McLovin agrees with Mill...Chicken shit not going for it from the 1 ft line instead of kicking field goal on first drive. Worst case Warner has to drop back into endzone and battle opening drive nerves with Harrison and Woodley coming at him. Field goal got pts on the board first, but ramming it in on 4th down would've sent them message early. Nitpicking though since Steelers held on for Super Bowl!

[Still Diesel Profile]

I have to fully agree with Mill on this one as this begged for a slant play. The middle of the field was WIDE OPEN and I'm sure the formation called for Polamalu and Clark to back pedal a couple of steps before reading the play. I would have been MUCH BETTER with this if Clark was the in centerfield and Troy was up in the box. Then if we get beat deep we can say we played to win.

Mill:
Polamalu had one of the best games ever in AFC championship history. I noticed in the 1st half that he had his helmet off on the sidelines and had a 'dazed and confused' look on his face. Did anyone else notice this?? I wondered if he stayed in because it was the superbowl and there was another head injury. I may be grasping at straws here but I remember them keying on him and he looked a little out of it.

[stillchest Profile]

If Ike knows he has no safety help, why does he allow Fitz to get inside on him???? It's probable that the Cards ran an option route based on our coverage. Our D has to know that Fitz is killer at those slants and drags?!

[steelmoney Profile]

I was at the game and had a poor view of the troy-gay play you mentioned...I just watched it last night on tivo

what the hell was troy doing there?

[Jeemie Profile]

McLovin agrees with Mill...Chicken shit not going for it from the 1 ft line instead of kicking field goal on first drive. Worst case Warner has to drop back into endzone and battle opening drive nerves with Harrison and Woodley coming at him. Field goal got pts on the board first, but ramming it in on 4th down would've sent them message early. Nitpicking though since Steelers held on for Super Bowl!

I was mad at this because Tomlin broke form.

All during the regular season if it was 4th-goal from the 1 or inside, Tomlin would go for it...and NOW he chooses to kick a FG?

What the FUCK?!?!?!? Don't change form in the biggest game of the season. That ain't good shit!

But it worked out, and I get the feeling Tomlin knows he wasn't at his best coaching-wise for this game. I think he knows scheme didn't win, but his star players did.

He actually looked uncomfortable on the podium, as if he wanted to get started on 2009, and working on improving himself right then and there.

One of the true pleasures of this season, on top of the championship, has been Tomlin's growth and maturation as a head coach. He's still got flaws, but he is LIGHT YEARS ahead of where he was when he signed off on Arians' boneheaded QB weep on 3rd-6 against Jacksonville.

He always wants to get better, and I think that bodes well for the future.

[PsychoWard Profile]

HC: Tomlin had his team mentally prepared, and the 1st quarter showed it. After that, Tomlin allowed both Arians and LeBeau to take their foot off the gas pedal, which allowed AZ to crawl back into the game. I would have preferred Tomlin had gone for it on the 4th & inches after Ben’s TD had been reversed. The team got the benefit of a long, freebie timeout during the replay review to discuss options to attack the Cards for a TD, but instead wussed out and settled for a cheesy little FG. Against a high octane attack like AZ, you cannot settle for cheesy 18-yard FGs; you have to go for the gusto and the 6 points.


Tomlin has now far surpassed Lord Billy Cowher. Anyone seen “The Mailman”, Billy Cowher, lately ?? Tomlin makes Cowhard look like the imbecilic, over-rated buffoon that he truly was. A-

I like Tomlin, he has shown himself to be a leader of men and a winner.

That said, how in the HELL, do you give him an A- after kicking a FG in the first quarter from the 4 inch line? Even if we are stuffed, Arizona's FIRST offensive play DURING THE FUCKING SUPER BOWL is from their own endzone. We have the "#1 defense" in the NFL.

That call was 100% COWARDICE. There is no other word for it. You would have absolutely skewered Cowher if he had made that same call. If Billo is coaching this game, you give him a D-. In any event, Bill WOULDN'T have kicked that FG.

WE ALL KNOW IT.

[dracula in cleats Profile]

I also like Tomlin...I am really glad he is our coach...he is a good leader...pretty cool in general, and seems to genuinely want to improve...

I was also perplexed by the NOT going for it...he has been more aggressive all year and feel he should have gone for it...he really has little faith in his line...even though they won the super bowl...

I was more worried about clock management at the end of the game...i was hoping he would not blow it and not maximize their potential to win...they did...of course...but they really should have been able to run a play without calling their last time out...

Great Victory though!

[Jeemie Profile]

I was more worried about clock management at the end of the game...i was hoping he would not blow it and not maximize their potential to win...they did...of course...but they really should have been able to run a play without calling their last time out.

That was Santonio's fault.

After he got the ball to the 6, he ran through the endzone to celebrate his feat....wasting time.

[dracula in cleats Profile]

I was more worried about clock management at the end of the game...i was hoping he would not blow it and not maximize their potential to win...they did...of course...but they really should have been able to run a play without calling their last time out.

That was Santonio's fault.

After he got the ball to the 6, he ran through the endzone to celebrate his feat....wasting time.

I did not get to see that part in the heat of watching the game with crazed steeler nation freaks in a garage...but it makes total sense...still a bit of a coaching/discipline problem in tight situations that you don't like to see...i guess ben and santionio made up for any premature celebrations...

I was glad to see more posturing by the cards after big plays than from the steelers...save the celebrations for the end of the game...

thanks for the word up Jeemie