Granite Lady

I must declare that I am a Pittsburgh Steelers fan right away, without doing so would violate many financial ethics codes that have no bearing on my situation.

That said, yesI am a real Steelers fan. I own a terrible towel from the early 1990’s when they were not very good. Granted, they were a winning team for the most part but never really a Championship club. The 1995 Super Bowl team was good but didn’t deserve to win with that offense. Anyways, I have relatives in Pittsburgh and grew up as a Pittsburgh fan of any sport. I played hockey, so my hero was Mario Lemiuex (though he’s not a model citizen as I have come to find out, but who is?).

I am very excited about this because it’s a moment that you can really enjoy as a fan of the team about to win it all, hopefully. Don’t want to jinx or curse anything.

Last year, as the Giants we’re heading to the Super Bowl, I never verbally said their going to win and therefore never expressed the enthusiasm for that Super Bowl as I will for the upcoming. I was more excited to see the Patriots lose! Yes, I did not like New England that year because I felt they we’re running up the score even though that’s how the game is played. I just don’t like the Patriots.  Perhas, it’s because the Patriots have been killers in the Playoff against my black and gold (or white and gold).  Or I suppose it’s because I am a Yankees fan and don’t prefer the Red Sox. But I am definitely NOT they kind of person to heckle someone just because they have a red B on their hat.

My college roommate from Long Island, border of Queens, wore a Boston Hat all around the Bronx and Manhattan just to spite the dispicable New York attitude. He was a true Mets fan.

Back to the point.  I think this will be a great matchup in this years Super Bowl.  Though I was rooting for Philadelphia in the NFC Championship, hoping to see a Pennsylvania Bowl and possibly McNabb’s first Championship win, I have come to realize this is still a great game.

Of course the media will hype it up any way they can.  They will beat this thing like hell over the next week.  But I believe the matchup between the coaching staff’s is a real thriller.  I also believe the media has missed a real storyline here.

Bruce Ariens, the Steeler offensive coordinator who stepped up after Whisenhunt left for Arizona has significantly opened up the playbook compared to when Whisenhunt was in charge of offense.  Granted, Cowher was in charge and played a more conservative style of ball and once Whisenhunt was aloud to go crazy in the Super Bowl, he delivered.  But Ariens is a different coach and some media insiders would say a more creative offensive mind.  The Offense has played more of a spread formation in the last two year.  Combine that with the in-your-face rushing attack and you have the new hybrid Steelers.

I don’t know if this matchup is as much about the head coaches as it is about the Offense Coordinators versus Defensive Coordinators.  Dick Lebeau is in charge of that Steelers defense, like Bruce Ariens with the offense.  Mike Tomlin is a good coach.  He knows how to motivate, how to mediate and more importantly how to delegate.

You can see the only major Steelers weakness, the secondary, has stepped up play and is now a strength.  The solid offensive line of years past entered rebuilding phase at the begining of the year and is now the only major weakness.  The line is very young, with no player having played more than 9 seasons.  Very young for o-line, where you typically see lineman hitting their peak in their thirties and staying healthy well into their late thirties.

I don’t know much about the offensive and defensive coordinators on the Cardinals.  What I do know is that both are potential head coach candidates for the many vacant positions around the league.  While many coaches had successors in place (Colts, Seahawks and Bucs) we are likely to see these coaches atleast interview for poistion openings.  This will be intriguing because the motivation will be high for both teams, but different in nature.

I believe the Whisenhunt-Tomlin storyline is a little overplayed.  Simply because Whisenhunt left Pittsburgh.  Yes the Steelers didn’t make an immediate offer and Whisenhunt felt he needed to take the head coaching job while it was around.  I don’t believe there is any bad blood or revenge in this game.  Perhaps, vindication, but no hard feelings.

Dan Rooney made a good example of his NFL namesake The Rooney Rule by interviewing a black head coach.  It turned out he would end up hiring this coach, and it also turns out that Mike Tomlin was a pretty good coach.  I say pretty because he has a decade yet to prove himself in Steel Country.  I assume he will get that long because of the patience in that organization.

Actually, in my deepest football thoughts, I hope he sticks around for awhile and wins a few Super Bowls.  I really like his demeanor and his coaching style, from what I have gleaned from Peter King and associates.  Tomlin is a perfect fit because he is tough and soft, mixing the perfect combination when the situation is right.  Not too nice to so they go soft, but a friend they can trust and believe in.  Kind of the like the cool dad on the block that everyone likes because he’s fun, but he is still a responsible dad.  Bad example.

Anyways, Steeler are going to win in a great game.  This one won’t be a blowout and I believe will come down to the last drive.  The Pittsburgh defense will hold up on the last drive to stop the Cardinals.

Prediction: Steelers 31, Cardinals 24.