Super Bowl

[Glenn]

Rams vs. Patriots

Let's just go ahead and congratulate the Rams on their Super Bowl win. Of course the game has to be played, but I have no doubt like many people that the two best teams didn't make it, and hint one of the teams aren't the Patriots.

One word for how the Steelers played, and I'm being generous towards them...pathetic. They layed down. Hey Steelers fans, what's up with the special teams sucking so bad (hey, a long punt block return, and no blocks and no one trying to sprint and run them down?)? What's up with everyone dragging their a**es like it's practice? What's with the bus doing 9 carries for 8 yards (or something similar)? IMO, they sure played like they didn't want to be in the Super Bowl...

And my prediction...Rams by 21...at least.

[[NeoZeeD]]

even though my bears got there @ss kicked.

i want the rams to go all the way.

GO RAMS!!!!!!!

[Fubarian]

I'd like the Patriots to win but I really don't care, should be a good game by any means -- I'm just glad the Steelers aren't going, thats all that matters.

(Just think, you'd hear about -- blitzburg, the terrible towels, the bus, "here we go steelers, here we go" -- for the next year....I couldn't stand it)

[WebHead]

Well, in the spirit of 911,.. I'm going to cheer for the ol' red white and blue. Go Pat's!!

[Cobra]

[quote]Originally posted by Glenn:
<strong>One word for how the Steelers played, and I'm being generous towards them...pathetic. They layed down. Hey Steelers fans, what's up with the special teams sucking so bad (hey, a long punt block return, and no blocks and no one trying to sprint and run them down?)? What's up with everyone dragging their a**es like it's practice? What's with the bus doing 9 carries for 8 yards (or something similar)? IMO, they sure played like they didn't want to be in the Super Bowl...</strong><hr></blockquote>

What happened? They went out there and sucked a big *EDITTED BY SOWULO* that's what happened!

I'm gonna rant here as a Steelers fan. *THIS* was supposed to be it. *THIS* was supposed to be our season. *THIS* was supposed to be the year Kordell Stewart finally shut all of his critics up and proved that he can hang with the best in the league. But no. This was the year we got rolled by a team that shouldn't have even been there in the first place.

But I'm used to it by now. After all, as SportsCenter has been so kind as to remind me every hour on the hour, this is the 3rd time the Steelers have choked in an AFC Championship game at home inside of 8 years. But this was different...I didn't see the over confidence of the 95 Steelers. I didn't see the rookie lack of mental toughness in Kordell that he showed in 97. What I saw was a mean, ferocious defense that stomped the guts out of their opposition, and held them to 10 points. I saw an offense that even though severly crippled by the lack of any running game whatsoever, still nearly came back from an 18 point deficit late in the 3rd quarter.

And then I saw the lamest special teams squad I've ever laid eyes on give up 14 points. That, combined with a head coach who is nothing short of a defensive god make stupid decisions that put his offense and his QB in a bad situation early in the game.

I don't care how good Jerome Bettis looked or felt before or during pratice, he shouldn't have started that game. He had no timing, was unable to work out any rythm, and his lack of production also gave the Steeles terrible field position early on. I belive that Zereoue could've done better, but we'll never know because he was only given 4 carries. Fu probably could've gotten the job better than Bettis did.

All day at work, I had to put up with "What happened to your Steelers? Your boy Kordell didn't look too hot!" Well, they must've been watching a different game. Given the situation Kordell was in, I think he played a hell of a game. Sure, he had 3 picks, but those were in deep, long bomb situations, which, once again, he should've never been in to begin with. And yes, up until about the 6th game of the season, I was a bonafide Kordell hater. I was begging for Cowher to give Maddox the starting QB job - I figured at least he's proven that he can win games...even if it was in a league of second stringers. But Kordell has made a believer out of me. Along with Plax, Hines & Bobby Shaw, Stewart is dangerous, and I'm more than proud to call him my QB. Congratulations to Kordell & his receiving corps for one hell of a season.

Finally, there are two people who need to either be shown the door or at least knocked down a couple of pegs in Pittsburgh. First, Bill Cowher. Again, he's a genius on defense, but he's over-committed to the running game. Even when it's not there.

Second, Jerome Bettis. I'm sorry, I love the Bus, but his me-first attitude cost the team big time yesterday. I don't know if it was love of the game, or wanting to be the hero, but he had no business starting, knowing full well that he hadn't played in 8 weeks. Especially after Zereoue and Fu had proven themselves week in and week out without him. Yeah, I was glad to have the Bus around when he was 80% of the Steelers offense, and our QB line-up consisted of a shaky Kordell Stewart, Kent Graham, and an untested Tee Martin. And when Zereoue & Fu were unproven commidities. But now, everything's different. The team has a passing game, and now all of the sudden, Bettis doesn't fit in with the Steelers offense anymore. And I really do hate to say that. But I believe that Zereoue should be given the starting job & Bettis/Fu should be used on 3rd down. Zereoue adds even more speed to an already quick offense, and even when Bettis is there...he just doesn't have it, and he's not getting any younger.

Anway, that's it from me. It was a hell of a run. Regardless of what the final score was, I'll never forget the season that got them there.

[WebHead]

Whew! That's a relief. I thought OPERATION: Kill Kordell, might've been reactivated.

Too bad Bettis couldn't have made a big comeback like Bledsoe did. That could've been the theme of the game. Bledsoe vs. the Bus. But yeah,.. I've just had a bad feeling about the Patriots ever since around week 11 or so when they started creeping up to first place in their division without anyone noticing. Oh well, what can ya do? There's always next year. Go Niners!

[kato]

Cobra,

I'll second everything you posted, but quoting such a long post would take up too much space. Just know that I think you're right on the money with much of your analysis.

The most frustrating thing about the loss, was that through the course of the season, Cowher completely ignored the obvious deficiencies on special teams. I listened to the majority of his news conferences on tuesdays at work, and every time someone brought up poor special teams play, he emphasized that it WASN'T a trend and that it was not a major concern. He began to get irritated that it continued to be brought up by the media every week.

Well lets see, in the last four games The steelers played (Cincinatti, Cleveland, Baltimore, New England) the team allowed four special teams touchdowns and gave up large chunks of return yards in just about every game. The writing was clearly on the wall. And once again, Cowher ignored the facts. And here's the best part, Cowher WAS a special teams player in the NFL and started out as a special teams coach. I'm sure he could have done something.

Sunday and monday were sad days for me. I'm not sure I'm going to even watch the super bowl. I enjoy the Rams, but I can see another Chicago New England super bowl final score. A blowout of a team I could care less about, just won't keep my interest.

I'm definately behind Kordell. The offensive line and lack of a running game dictated those late interceptions. Sure they were bad tosses, but without any running game there's little options left but to try to force the ball downfield. No one is calling for Favre's head in green bay I'm sure.

It's a tough loss, but most of the team is still in place and aside from special teams, that's a good thing. Hopefully they'll can J. Hayes, and start to put some people on the coverage teams who aren't affraid of contact and have solid tackling skills.

I guess now I focus on the NHL penguins who've won 6 straight and Pitt Basketball which has come out of nowhere to be a lock for a tournament bid and 4 seed or better.

[Kymera]

I'm kinda rooting for the Pats myself. Hey, a win in the NorthEast is still a win in the NorthEast right. I almost said that I wasn't going to watch the Superbowl after the Eagles lost and the freakin' Ravens self-destructed. I like Drew Bledsoe, and hope that he does respectably against the Rams, who suck by the way.

[Cobra]

Kato, you are exactly right my friend. Special teams have been the Steelers Achilles heel all season, and it finally bit them in the *** . Everyone said "stop the run and force Stewar to pass. He can't win games" but Stewart did on several occasions. The only game they decisively lost was the season opener against the Jags. The first Baltimore game would have been a win, if not for the punt team giving up tons of yards to Jermaine Lewis...Cunningham and his boys couldn't move the ball against the Steelers defense. And then of course you had Kris Brown missing 4 out of 5 field goals.

Bottom line, the special teams play on Sunday was embarrassing. Cowher had better address this problem in the off season, or it'll be more of the same next year. What good is having an offense that can control the clock and move the ball so well and a defense that can force 3 and outs like no one's business if your punt team gives up 40-50 yards or a touchdown consistently?

[Glenn]

Cobra: I agree with you. Kordell & the receivers definitely was not the problem in that game, you and I both pretty well called it accurately. All I saw from Kordell was a super-human effort to overcome everything else the team was dealt due to the poor play in the other phases of the game, Jerome Bettis, and everyone not hustling on their blocks.

It's just that the QB is the most visible player on the team, and any glory and blame always falls on him. To wit, I remember a Denver playoff game where Terrell Davis pretty much takes over the game and all Elway did almost was hand the ball to him the whole game. Denver wins. In the 4th quarter, the f**kwit Denver fans start chanting Elway-Elway...like he did anything that game....Davis was the hero and Elway got the credit. Bad indeed.

[kato]

did anyone here Lee Flowers of the steelers yesterday.

[quote]<strong>"We're willing to do anything to help this team get to the Super Bowl," Flowers said. "If you got starters playing special teams, there's no need for back-ups, to be honest with you. That's my message.

"People can take that for whatever they want to. If you're not a special-teams player, and you're not a starter, then you're wasted space, as far as I'm concerned.

"I can use your locker for my shoes." </strong><hr></blockquote>
Right on Lee!!!
here's the article link:
<a href="http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/steelerslive/s_14685.html" target="_blank">http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/sports/steelerslive/s_14685.html</a>

[Wyckyd1]

Hey Steelers fans:
Just get on that BUS and GO HOME! HA
My bro is a big Steelers fan and this one hurt him. Through all the belly aching and making excuses I get in my cheap shots. That's what brothers are for.

[Gollo]

Pat's all the way!!!