Good morning. It is 47 degrees this morning at 6:32 with a windchill of 41 degrees. The high will be 65 today and this cool weather should last through Wednesday. Perhaps our last cold front of the season? Enjoy it.
Cardinal Defense versus Steeler Offense:
But for the Cardinals to have a chance, their defense needs turnovers.
The Cardinals defense is a unit subject to breakdowns, giving up 56, 48, 37, and 35 points during different games this past year. Meanwhile, the Steeler defense finished the year number one in the league, giving up 13.9 points per game and giving up over 21 points only four times all year. Only Tennessee managed to score more than 30 points (31) on this Steeler defense.
The Steelers clearly have the superior defense. Indeed they had the best defense in the league this year by far. However we see this Super Bowl has having two intangibles that could allow the Cardinals to upset the Steelers- the first is which defense for the Cardinals shows up? The one that produced 12 turnovers in 3 playoff games? Or the one which regularly got lit up during the regular season.
The second intangible is the Steelers suspect punting game, and we'll get to that next time.
Super bowl fact: ten teams have returned interceptions for touchdowns in the Super Bowl. Those teams are 10-0. Lesson learned: In the Super Bowl, it's much harder to rebound from a costly mistake on offense.
If the Cardinals defense can neutralize the inconsistent Steeler offense, then we have a game. If the Cardinal defense can get a turnover or two, we may have an upset. Look for the Steelers to try and establish their troubled running game. With a healthy WIllie Parker at the end of the season, the Steelers were able to run against the Browns in the last game of the season, and the Chargers in the divisional playoffs. The Ravens however, were able to shut the Steeler running game down. The Steeler running game looks like a favorable matchup against a Cardinals defense that is weak against the run.
Running the ball has two advantages for the Steelers on Sunday: one- time of possession keeps the ball out of the explosive Cardinals offense; two-running the ball reduces the likelihood of the type of turnover that the Cardinals have thrived on during the playoffs.
If the Steelers have to throw, they like to do it out of a spread set. The more pressure a defense tends to bring, the more the Steelers spread out their offense, exploiting the larger passing lanes the defense gives up when they blitz. The Cardinals will closely watch Hines Ward early to see how healthy he is. They will mostly double team Santonio Holmes, the Steelers WR breakaway threat. And that leaves Steeler wideout Nate Washington as the guy mostly like to break open the game that nobody is talking about. The Steelers like to run Washington deep several times a game and take a shot. That has worked out for them this year, and the Cardinals have a choice to make: shut down the Steeler running game and risk getting beat on the deep ball, or double both wideouts and try to contain Parker.
The advantage here goes to the Steelers. The Cardinals have been too inconsistent to pick their defense tomorrow. The Steeler QB has played fully up to his potential in the playoffs, avoiding turnovers and throwing the ball with a lot of zip. The Cardinals need their defense to show up to make a game of it. The Steelers just need to exploit whatever the Cardinals give them, and that's the better position to be in.
Tomorrow: Steeler defense versus the Cardinals offense.
One betting tip: As we have already told you, the coin flip will be tails. But what you don't know is that the Cardinals are just about guaranteed to get the ball first. If the Cardinals win the tip, they take the ball. If the Steelers win the tip, they defer to the second half, choosing to put their defense on the field first. If you want to bet the prop who scores first, the Cardinals look like the team to take; if you want to bet the prop which team gets the first turnover or sack, the Steelers are the team to take.
14 comments:
A previous post suggests Glick and Cynamon will both be a one term jurists. I concur, as to Glick, but reserve as to Cynamon. Cynamon has potential, she is intelligent, know the law, and consequently judicial boundaries. Above all, I perceive Cynamon as having a tempered ego or at least having her her ego in check. All qualities Glick has yet to master, although Glick might surprise us, as did William Thomas, who we have grown to respect and will sorely miss. As for Glick, many of us were warned of her potential propensities by those who had greater experience with her, and reason to know her character, but we ignored the alerts. In the close race between her and Garcia, I believe those who ignored the warnings by the learned ones made the difference. I for one will not repeat the error, but will endevor to make amends. Unfortunately, I recognize Glick will have several years to torment counsel and defendants alike, thus her tenure will be like the pebbels in a shoe, a constant remindered of the mission to come.
The determining factor in the Super Bowl is going to be how much pressure the Steelers pass rush can put on Kurt Warner. If you are going to beat the Steelers, you have to do so in the air. Taylor and McFadden are solid corners, but both--particularly Taylor--can get burned once in a while. In Fitzgerald, Boldin and Breaston, the Cards have the tools to break a few.
So the big issue--will the vaunted Steelers pass rush get to Warner, or will the Cards O-line give Warner some time. If it is the former, the Steelers will win by a comfortable margin. If Warner gets protection, the Cards have a strong chance of pulling off an upset.
Two other factors--will the Steelers O, namely Big Ben, turn the ball over and will the Steelers D come up with a few big plays.
I recently bumped into Phil R. in South Beach and he was with both of his boys. All 3 of them were wearing Cardinals jerseys. I could swear he used to be a Steeler fan. Do you think that Phil is getting soft now that he is a big family guy?
Unconfirmed, Jude Irving Cypen passed away this morning.
Glick has been a good addition to the bench so far. She is certainly an improvement to what had been the status quo in 3-4. I seriously doubt that whomever is commenting is basing the criticism on anything she's done since taking the bench.
My two sons ran into Phil R. on South Beach in full Cardinal regalia. He was perched in front of La Locanda in a bird suit with a red paper mache beak. He was cluckin for the Cardinals!!
It amazes me how quickly some of you judge others. Glick's been on the bench for what, five seconds? Give her time. She'll settle in and be a fine judge. She's got good judgment, can see the difference between, knows the law better than you might think and understands her role. She's also open to suggestions. Instead of publicly and anonymously criticizing her, go talk to her. She'll listen. You do no one any good by whining here. None of us are the lawyers we were when we started. None of the judges are the judges they were when they first took the bench (at least I hope these statements are true). Give her a chance.
BTDT
confirming 5:24 pm, the Miami Herald reports ...
Irving Cypen, the first Jewish attorney elected as a circuit judge in Miami-Dade, died Friday at Mt. Sinai Hospital. He was 90.
Cypen was the chairman of the board emeritus and honorary president of the Miami Jewish Home and Hospital.
It is perfectly clear that Rumpole is not a women. Your technical knowledge of football rivals that of a Chris Collinsworth...
We're talking about Glick and Cynamon being one-termers? Weren't we talking about Miller getting serious opposition too last time?
Please.
Go put labels on your direct mail pieces and shut up.
Mario Garcia you lost, now get over it already.
Electing Law Clerk Cynamon was ridiculous. She has no business serving as a trial judge, when her entire career was spent writing memos.
YES! CARDINALS COVER!! I'M GOING TO DISNEYWORLD!!!!!
When did this damn blog turn into the boring ass sports page? Can't we concentrate on LEGAL issues?
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