the 4th star

Offence versus defence. It’s the biggest match-up of the Super Bowl. Which team wins that will win the game. So, how do the Pittsburgh Steelers best to prepare for the Arizona Cardinals offensive attack? Here’s what a certain Manitoba Bisons offensive coordinator had to say. His comments in italics.

I was thinking the Steelers might play with an extra defensive back and play some Cover 2 (noting they are not usually a Cover 2 team). This would help address Arizona’s success at attacking the seams in the pass game. The Steelers might even play some man cover under the Cover 2 shell to try and disrupt the timing of the receivers.

Agreed. I think the Steelers need to bump all the Cardinals’ receivers at the line and disrupt the timing of the patterns. That will make Kurt Warner adjust his reads, too, keeping him with the ball for an extra second or so. By that time, he could be on his back.

How might Arizona adjust? Well, playing Boldin and Fitzgerald on the same side would make paying Cover 2 more difficult (keeping them on opposite sides would be what the Steelers want if they are in a Cover 2 shell … enabling them to keep one safety deep over each of Boldin and Fitzgerald). If the Steelers over shift to the Boldin/Fitzgerald side, this might open up the short side of the field for the run game (one less player on that side) – which I think will be important if the Cardinals are to win.

That’s the biggest problem for the Steelers. If the Cards load up on one side, they have to follow suit, leaving the weak side open for big gains. And what do you do with Troy Polamalu? Do you throw him right on Fitzgerald and hope the other defenders can make plays? If the Cards do overload on one side, whoever the outside pressure is has to make sure they don’t over-pursue. That would be dangerous as Arizona tries to cut the flow back.

I think it will be suicide for the Steelers to try and blitz Warner. I think they should only rush three, drop off into coverage and force Warner to make perfect throws into areas which are tightly covered. He is arm is OK, but I don’t think he has the arm strength to get the ball into tight areas. Make him be patient. Force him to throw to underneath players. I think the Cards want to throw the ball down the field. I would not be scared of their run game, despite the small level of success they have had in the playoffs this far.

For the Cards to have any chance in the game, I think they need to come out and do to Pittsburgh what they did to Philadelphia in the NFC Championship. They marched it down the field early, and that gave them confidence. They’ll need to do that again. The Steelers wear teams down on both sides of the ball. Whether the Cards can match them blow for blow, and take advantage of their opportunities in the red zone, will be the difference. I don’t think they can.

I like Pittsburgh to win and cover the seven points. Once I’m logged out of the Bowmans account, then I’m cheering for Arizona. As preachy as all his God Squad talk is, Steelers fans (and the people who have jumped on their bus) are even more annoying. I would like to see Warner win again. After all, he’s a former New York Giants quarterback. Incidentally, the G-Men are still the champs for another day. Get out there and celebrate.

If past poetry hasn’t convinced you, let it be known that the 4th Star is a liberal blog and that sexuality is cool. If you want to date boys and marry them, go right ahead. We’ll celebrate with you and slow dance with your father at the wedding. David Beckham seems like a liberal guy, too. Certainly the gay community loves him, so why wouldn’t he give some of that affection back? Tough gig. Having both the male and female population in love with you. That’s why he’s up here today and that’s why I’m singing The Hold Steady right now.

But if you get tired of your boyfriend’s things, there’s always other boys, there’s always other boyfriends.
If you get tired of your football pranks, there’s always other boys, there’s always other boyfriends.
If you get tired of the car he drives, there’s always other boys, and you can make him like you.
If you get tired of the music he likes, there’s always other boys, and you can make him like you.