LaMarr Laying The Wood

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 9:38 AM EST Comment 38 comments

Because the posts have been and will continue to come fast and furious, I'm going to include links to previous ones in each post, so that one can jump around between them at ease.

Previous Breakdowns:

Fake Punt Attempt
Santonio Holmes' Punt Return
1st Half Review
2nd Half Review
Celebration Thread

****

The play ended with:

Why were they celebrating on a play that started out looking promising for San Diego a second after the snap?

Let's find out.

The arrows and numbers correspond with the two Chargers Woodley will take on during the play.

I included that arrow pointing to Chargers ~~RT Jeremy Clary (I believe)~~ Jacob Hester to highlight just how amazingly strong LaMarr Woodley is. As well as how he's also devastatingly fast. Look at that dude's balance in this image above. His knees are practically buckling and he's just about defenseless at this point against Woodley. That's pretty impressive, but Woodley wasn't done. (NOTE: Originally thought he was mauling an OT like that; less impressive when I realized its Hester; but nevertheless...)

When he sensed/saw Rivers trying to escape towards his right (he initially stepped up for a second only to see Brett Kiesel in his path), Woodley:

Above, we can see Woodley disengaging from the blocker..read: throwing him aside like a rag doll and heading for Rivers. The rest was the fun part:

Got him. Good night.

Painful just looking at it. And frankly, fortunate not to have drawn a flag.

'What's up Ignatius? My friends call me Wood.'

******

That was a huge play in the game. The Chargers had just gotten a goal line stand if you remember and completed a pass to Jacob Hester for 12 yards and some breathing room on 1st and 10 from the 1 foot line. The very next play, Woodley and Keisel put San Diego back on the goal line and in an unmangable situation. Unable to get a 1st down, the Chargers had to punt, the Steelers got it back in great field position, and the decision by Mike Tomlin to go for it on 4th and goal proved to be a good gamble.

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Comments

I thought that was a back that tried to block Woodley on this play. Maybe I’m wrong, though. I could be confusing it with his other sack.

Pittsburgh Lumber Co.
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by MBandi on Jan 12, 2009 9:57 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

ure right

im going to update it with more photos – starts on tackle, then takes on RB

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 10:09 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah, I just checked. One weird thing while looking at it, if I’m seeing this right, and I think I am…

63 of the chargers is lined up in the tackle spot. That’s their guard.
66 is lined up as a guard. That’s clary their tackle.

Anyone know what the hell the chargers were doing?

In any event, Keisel blows by their tackle lined up as a guard. Keisel sure looked healthy again.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yea he did

was key too. that batted ball plus endless energy was huge.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 10:16 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

That picture looks like rivers is about to unzip Woodley’s pants. Sorry, it had to be said.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:08 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

lol

yea definitely.comical shot. had to include it.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 10:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Should be the beneficiary of a naughty caption contest.

“I just want to see the WOOD”

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:21 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

LMFAO

When I say who dey, you say we dey.

by sn0wballz on Jan 12, 2009 10:25 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“Get down on your knees and tell me you love me.”

When I say who dey, you say we dey.

by sn0wballz on Jan 12, 2009 10:27 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“On your knees…”

“I love you!”

“YA GOTTA DO BETTER THAN THAT!”

(everybody in unison) “I love you!”

by Hines Ward on Jan 12, 2009 1:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Stupid throwing him down like that. That’s a killer play right there, and a penalty would have been crushing.

charity standing orders

by BadMaafala on Jan 12, 2009 10:39 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought this play was much more deserving of a penalty than the flag they threw on Polamalu for contact to the head. Seemed like Woodley had him wrapped up and added that body slam for no good reason.

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 12, 2009 10:40 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Rivers was pretty shaken up I thought – that’s a pretty good reason. A dick thing to do? Yeah. Deserving of a penalty? Yeah.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:43 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Touche

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 12, 2009 10:46 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i definately thought rivers was a little woozy after being slammed. the next play was a pass to his left that sailed over the sideline. i don’t think he was throwing it away, either.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Jan 12, 2009 10:48 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

So are you guys from the school of thought that says “Take the 15 yard penalty if we can hurt the opponent and knock them out of the game”?

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 12, 2009 10:55 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If we were we wouldn’t be saying it was a dick thing to do.

If you’d like some of that mentality you can head over to the ravens board.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Though I will say, as a steelers fan, it was awesome to watch.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 10:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Thems the breaks

It probably should have drawn a flag considering some of the other things that have drawn a flag this year. But then again I can remember three of four hits on Big Ben that were as bad or worse that did not draw a flag. And of course, the refs tried to make up for it by flagging Troy for a meaningless brush of the helmet.

The truth is that officiating is always a frustrating thing. I know we can point to about 12 non-calls (most of them holding of Harrison – who would have finished with 5 sacks if he was ~~tackled~~ blocked legally every play.

But that’s football. The best thing you can say is that the Refs were fairly even in their bad calls today with a couple going against each side – and no really questionable call changing the course of the game.

by SteelerBuddha on Jan 12, 2009 11:26 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

“Thems the breaks”? Did you feel the same way after the Browns powerslammed BB?

"When Bellotti attempted to shake the hand of Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson after the game, Robinson offered his left hand. His right was swollen and battered from the Ducks' defense."

by MarineCorpsDuck on Jan 12, 2009 11:53 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

We’ve been seeing Ben get abused for three solid years. Sorry if we’re a bit hard to get riled up about QB hits.

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 11:54 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ud be hardpressed

to find a comment here on BTSC about that play on Ben in the CLE game being dirty.

Only unfortunate for Ben.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 11:59 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Didn't see the hit in Cleveland

But like I said, Ben is a big, strong boy and I’ve seen him get absolutely HAMMERED over the past three seasons, and almost never get a flag thrown for it.

The truth is that it was a dangerous decision by wood, because it could have very easily drawn the flag. It didn’t and the Steelers probably benfitted from Rivers being shook up. I still think the Troy penalty was payback for the non-call.

by SteelerBuddha on Jan 12, 2009 5:45 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

no

i don’t want the steelers to try and hurt anyone. that’s bad sportsmanship. i want to see them play ferociously and with a controlled violence, but only because the game is violent, not because i want someone to get hurt.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Jan 12, 2009 7:27 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I'm posting my thoughts on this cause the comment's not gonna get enough reads.

To the tune of the classic children's song "This Old Man" (the part with nick nack patty whack)

Big Snack, Silverback, take the Dawg Pound's Bone, the Black and Gold sent the Brownies crying home.

by HighSchoolSteeler on Jan 12, 2009 3:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

The Slam

I think the flag was not thrown because the slamming was all part of the same motion and momentum of the tackle. If the twisting and motion would have slowed down, then Rivers gets picked up and slammed – he gets flagged for sure. I agree it was savage and Rivers was definitely stunned afterward.

I absolutely loved it and am thrilled that no penalty was called. This is football not basketball, not baseball, not ice dancing. The Polamalu penalty was probably a “give back” call – one of the worst tactics employed by officials. If it happened to Ben, I would be mad at him or the O Line more than the stripes.

I have no doubt that if the same thing happens next week to Flacco, the flag will be out. The officials will be reviewing tape and will no doubt be talking about that play and whether it was called correctly or not. The talk will be about protecting the QB and unnecessary roughness when the defender ’didn’t have to’ do this or that. If so, hopefully it will be called both ways.

"Franz" in NoCal

by franz on Jan 12, 2009 1:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

That hit was Hot.

by amandakt on Jan 12, 2009 1:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

on replay

the slam looks a little excessive, but at game speed and as it was happening, I think it was a good no call. Nor does Woodley have a reputation for excessive violence. Still, I wouldn’t have been shocked had it drawn the flag, and also would have thought it more likely to draw a flag than Troy’s roughing the passer blow to the head.
The nfl’s desires to protect qbs are sometimes misguided and/or inconsistent.

by vherub on Jan 12, 2009 2:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

maybe i should take this down :)

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 2:38 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Just change the title so no one notices:

“Lamarr setting Rivers down gently”

by steelguy99 on Jan 12, 2009 3:05 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Troy's hit ...

and Woodley’s are mutually exclusive. Don’t forget that all the while Woodley was trying to take Rivers down, Rivers was trying to stand up and escape-the whole physics of opposing forces thing. i can’t speak to what was in Woodley’s head or heart, but he was making a tackle and Rivers came out the loser. Troy’s was called “by rule”—touch the head and there is a flag, regardless of severity. Woodley’s is more of a timing thing and the timing was okay.

by tenthmtnman on Jan 12, 2009 3:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

absolutely correct

the timing and natural progression of the tackle saved him from the 15 yarder. Troy’s may have been by rule, but on replay it looked like he hit him high on the chest and shoulder – not actually the head…. Crap call that only exists in the NFL.

Speaking of “by rule”, this is an example of the NFL having the worst rules of any major sport, especially contact sports. High school and college rules are better overall, with the worst 5 rules in the NFL leading to a change in the game itself… for the worse IMHO…

"Franz" in NoCal

by franz on Jan 12, 2009 5:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

One other thought on the hit

I think Wood was trying for the safety. If the guy is on the two yard line and you pick him up and throw him three yards backwards……

Or maybe Wood just thought, for a moment, that he was James Harrison and that Philip Rivers was a browns fan.

by SteelerBuddha on Jan 12, 2009 5:54 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

HAHA

laugh everytime at it. so freaking hysterical.

look at that big dude in the back looking on about to bust out chuckling.

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 6:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

this definately gave us a clue

about deebo’s borderline insanity. such a weapon for a football player.

...die trying
http://www.agentorangerecords.blogspot.com

by agentorange on Jan 12, 2009 7:31 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

lol +1

not sure he quite knows what boundaries are when hes on a football field – thats just fine by me

by Blitzburgh on Jan 12, 2009 7:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Very Butkus-like

The fact that the guy is wearing those lovely orange panty hose makes it even better!

"Franz" in NoCal

by franz on Jan 13, 2009 11:20 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Woodley's slam

I thought he was going to get flagged…he has Rivers arm pinned to his side and his head bounced off the turf…

I have to admit, as a Steeler fan, I loved it!!!

Sportsmanship? It’s a violent game and the more physical (ie violent) team usually wins. I don’t condone cheap shots but I do fully support tenacity, aggressive, physical, down-right blood thirsty Steelers looking to “legally” knock the opposing players down and out.

Body slam for no good reason? A dick thing to do? I COMPLETELY DISAGREE…

These guys get paid millions of dollars to rush the QB, sack the QB, and put a hurting on the QB, they spend all week studying tape, getting mentally ready, physically ready, go before 60,000 fans who are screaming at the top of their lungs, then they have to get passed Olineman, TE’s, RB’s, who often hold them, grab them, choke them, and often the QB gets rid of the ball just before they get there (and of course can’t touch them now, noooo…don’t even think of touching them now b/c you’ll get flagged for 15 big ones) or they’ll scramble away from you at the last possible second and then slide down or run out of bounds, at the last possible second, so you can’t hit them…no, don’t hit them…and when Woodley FINALLY gets to Rivers…you expect him to hold him upright so he doesn’t get his powder blue uniform dirty????

No, my friends, he is going to slam him as hard as he possibly can and so would I…and given the situation, you probably would to.

That’s the reality…As Steve Tasker said when Ben got hurt “it’s football not tennis”…

by SteelerMike on Jan 12, 2009 10:23 PM EST reply actions 0 recs