Super Bowl Sunday!
February 6th 2011 12:11
All week, I've started and killed about 20 posts. I either ran out of time, or got distracted, or had to return to work, or something else popped up - often times I just decided that what I was writing wasn't interesting enough. So today is Super Bowl Sunday. I have thoughts.
It's great that the Super Bowl is pitting two historically relevant teams and all of that, with two of the strongest fan bases in the NFL. I think it adds a dimension to the game and to all the pre-game junk. I've really enjoyed the stories that went along those lines, why the Packers fans are so great and why Green Bay is such a special place for football, and how Steeler fans are insane zealots and why Pittsburgh has football running in its blood. Every team in the NFL has fans, obviously, but just like there are NFL franchises that are clearly set apart from others, the same is true of their fan bases. I would put these two up against any group in the nation and in my opinion - no matter what else is opined vocally or in writing - they are two of the best out there. Period. So tonight's game will be special from that perspective.
Are you looking for game storylines? There's only a million. McCarthy is from Pittsburgh and has Pittsburgh attributes. The two defensive coordinators in this game - Dick LeBeau and Dom Capers - were on Bill Cowher's staff in 1992 when the three of them (along with Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis) drew up the 3-4 schemes that, essentially, are the same things that will be used in tonight's game. Now that's history! There is an amazing contrast between Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, a fact that has gone reported upon about once a second for this week. The injury concerns both teams feel have been discussed. Frankly, there's no analysis left. Let's just go play the game.
There has been a lot of whining, especially by certain national journalists, about the location of this game. They are complaining about the weather, stating that Super Bowl week should be about a vacation, about getting away from crappy weather and enjoying the week. To those journalists I say this: shut up and deal with it. Pack kotex if you're going to be that way. Look, like him or hate him (and his city and team), Jerry Jones built a palace to the game of football. There's no reason the NFL should not play its biggest game in the game's biggest, newest and most impressive stadium. So to those who complain about the game because (god forbid) they have to wear jackets while going from bar to bar: SHUT UP!
The CBA. I think that everyone realistically expected nothing to happen on the labor front until after the Super Bowl. Will a new deal be done? I don't know. What I believe is that if there is significant progress, and both sides feel like a deal can get hammered out - even if there are setbacks - then I don't think a lockout will happen. Conversely, if the owners or players dig in their heels and get stupid about this, then I can't foresee another option. I dearly wish that cooler heads would prevail, but I doubt that it will happen. That will make me very angry, but unless it impacts games there's not much to do except to follow the news and hope.
Finally, who do I think will win? Of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why? I think that Pittsburgh will open the game with a ball-control offense, trying to keep Rodgers off the field, but more importantly to give their own offense a sense of rhythm and timing. I also think that Pittsburgh will be able to run the ball enough to keep the Packers guessing. I believe that this offensive start will put the team on the right footing and allow the defense to take charge. I know the Packers are going to get their yards - frankly, the Packers feature the kind of offense that instills fear into Steeler fans. It's too much like the Patriots' offense for comfort. But I just think - or hope, if you prefer - that in the end Pittsburgh will find a way to win it. Frankly, do you expect another answer? I do hope that it will be a great game. And I believe that it will, for the record. I expect it to be a barnburner, frankly.
GO STEELERS!
It's great that the Super Bowl is pitting two historically relevant teams and all of that, with two of the strongest fan bases in the NFL. I think it adds a dimension to the game and to all the pre-game junk. I've really enjoyed the stories that went along those lines, why the Packers fans are so great and why Green Bay is such a special place for football, and how Steeler fans are insane zealots and why Pittsburgh has football running in its blood. Every team in the NFL has fans, obviously, but just like there are NFL franchises that are clearly set apart from others, the same is true of their fan bases. I would put these two up against any group in the nation and in my opinion - no matter what else is opined vocally or in writing - they are two of the best out there. Period. So tonight's game will be special from that perspective.
Are you looking for game storylines? There's only a million. McCarthy is from Pittsburgh and has Pittsburgh attributes. The two defensive coordinators in this game - Dick LeBeau and Dom Capers - were on Bill Cowher's staff in 1992 when the three of them (along with Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis) drew up the 3-4 schemes that, essentially, are the same things that will be used in tonight's game. Now that's history! There is an amazing contrast between Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger, a fact that has gone reported upon about once a second for this week. The injury concerns both teams feel have been discussed. Frankly, there's no analysis left. Let's just go play the game.
There has been a lot of whining, especially by certain national journalists, about the location of this game. They are complaining about the weather, stating that Super Bowl week should be about a vacation, about getting away from crappy weather and enjoying the week. To those journalists I say this: shut up and deal with it. Pack kotex if you're going to be that way. Look, like him or hate him (and his city and team), Jerry Jones built a palace to the game of football. There's no reason the NFL should not play its biggest game in the game's biggest, newest and most impressive stadium. So to those who complain about the game because (god forbid) they have to wear jackets while going from bar to bar: SHUT UP!
The CBA. I think that everyone realistically expected nothing to happen on the labor front until after the Super Bowl. Will a new deal be done? I don't know. What I believe is that if there is significant progress, and both sides feel like a deal can get hammered out - even if there are setbacks - then I don't think a lockout will happen. Conversely, if the owners or players dig in their heels and get stupid about this, then I can't foresee another option. I dearly wish that cooler heads would prevail, but I doubt that it will happen. That will make me very angry, but unless it impacts games there's not much to do except to follow the news and hope.
Finally, who do I think will win? Of course, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Why? I think that Pittsburgh will open the game with a ball-control offense, trying to keep Rodgers off the field, but more importantly to give their own offense a sense of rhythm and timing. I also think that Pittsburgh will be able to run the ball enough to keep the Packers guessing. I believe that this offensive start will put the team on the right footing and allow the defense to take charge. I know the Packers are going to get their yards - frankly, the Packers feature the kind of offense that instills fear into Steeler fans. It's too much like the Patriots' offense for comfort. But I just think - or hope, if you prefer - that in the end Pittsburgh will find a way to win it. Frankly, do you expect another answer? I do hope that it will be a great game. And I believe that it will, for the record. I expect it to be a barnburner, frankly.
GO STEELERS!
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