During their 2005 Super Bowl winning season, the Pittsburgh Steelers were head-manned by Coach Bill Cowher. His offensive co-ordinator was Ken Whisenhunt, and his defensive co-ordinator was Mike Tomlin. Soon thereafter, he retired, presumably giving way to either co-ordinator to fill his newly vacated position.
Pittsburgh has forever been known as a defensive team. Even in the days of prolific offensive players Terry Bradshaw and Franco Harris (both Hall of Famers), it was their defense who earned the nickname “The Steel Curtain”. Certainly, there are still elements of the Curtain in these Steelers of today. Because of this defensive mindset (among reasons), Tomlin was awarded the job of top boss.
Whisenhunt though, stayed put until he was offered the head coaching position of the lowly Arizona Cardinals. Arizona had lost 10+ games seven of the past eight years, and had failed to win their division since 1975. They own the second longest drought in professional sports of winning a title, trailing only the Chicago Cubs in Major League Baseball, which current drought measures at a gaudy 100 years. The Cardinals drought has lasted since 1947. Nevertheless, he accepted the offer.
Just after their Super Bowl victory in ‘05, who could’ve predicted that the two co-ordinators under Bill Cowher would be squaring off against one another for the Super Bowl?
But alas, they were, in Arizona’s first trip to the Super Bowl in franchise history.
The Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers last squared off in the desert last season. On Sept. 31 2007, Arizona edged Pittsburgh 21-14.
Last year, Brantford Brantford’s own, Nick Kaczur (above), suited up as a starting lineman for the New England Patriots, shielding Tom Brady in the Super Bowl. Last year, the New York Giants, a 14-point underdog, upset the Goliath Patriots to win. This year, there are no relevant connections to the city. The closest thing we have is a Canadian born player. Mitch Berger (right) suited up as punter for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last time a former co-ordinator faced his former team in the big game, Jon Gruden took his Tampa Bay Buccaneers to face the Oakland Raiders. In this game too, the underdog prevailed. Gruden, who like Whisenhunt, is facing his former team, won. This year, Whisenhunt’s Cardinals were underdogs, like Tampa was (Pittsburgh +7).
Dating back to 2004 to Jan. ’09, Arizona had lost 14 of 15 games in the Eastern Time zone. That is a problem considering the Super Bowl is in Tampa Bay.
Last time this; last time that... This is now.
The first colossal play was made with time dwindling in the first half. Arizona was pressing to take the lead into the locker room, with the ball on Pittsburgh’s one. Defensive Player of the Year James Harrison (right) picked off Kurt Warner’s pass and took it the length of the field on the longest play in Super Bowl history. This not only prevented the Cardinals from taking the lead, but gave Pittsburgh a cushion (not to mention, momentum) going into the half.
Second big play of the game came as Arizona led by a field goal with 25 seconds remaining. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was leading his Steelers on a 78-yard drive. It culminated with a breathtaking pass that was caught in the endzone by Santonio Holmes (below). Holmes acrobatically jumped up for the pass—which looked to only be thrown away by Roethlisberger—caught it, and somehow managed to land both feet down, in bounds, before momentum took him out.
35 seconds was not enough time for Kurt Warner and the Cardinals, as the Steeler defense held the fort. Big Ben was clutch; Holmes won MVP; and Steelers’ coach Mike Tomlin again reigns over Cardinals’ coach Ken Whisenhunt. This time it was for all the marbles, perhaps showing that, indeed, defense is what wins championships.
No comments:
Post a Comment