Pittsburgh's Key to Victory

by NoCal-SteelCity on Jan 29, 2009 6:59 PM EST

PHYSICALLITY. This will be, in my opinion, the determining factor for Pittsburgh on Sunday. Not containing any offensive weapons, not establishing the run, or protecting Ben. It will be out hitting the Cardinals like we did against the Ravens. It will be pushing around the Cardinals like we did against the Chargers. That is our key...because that is our style of football.

We are not a finesse team. We are no longer a "trick play" team. We are a physical, violent, impossing team on BOTH sides of the ball.

Fitzgerald, Boldin, Breaston...all will pose a problem for any secondary. However, lets see how effective Fitz is after Lawerence Timmons blows him up on a crossing route over the middle. Or how well Boldin will play after Ryan Clark cracks him right between the numbers. How comfortable Warner is in the pocket after Woodley and Deebo get their hands on him. Or how well DRC plays in man coverage after Hines Ward (bum knee and all) blindsides him downfield.

Against the Ravens, we set the tone early....very early...as in, on the opening kickoff. Carey Davis destroyed the Ravens gunner on the opening kickoff (can't find any video footage), and the guy had to be helped off the field. That let the Ravens know RIGHT AWAY, that they could not and would not out-physical, or be more violent than the Steelers. And that tone rang loud all day long....(see Limas Sweed and Ryan Clark). This is exactly what we need to do to the Cardinals. Right now, the Cardinals are flying high, with all the momentum and motivation in the world. The best way to bring them down to Earth, is to drop the hammer early and often. There's no better way to take a player out of his game than to be more physical than him. And no one does it better than the Black n Gold.

Now, of course, I'm not saying that we should injure someone or play dirty, but we need to be the enforcers on the field. We need to set the standard. As they say in boxing and MMA: "Everyone has a game plan til they get hit in the mouth." The Cardinals are going to come out on Sunday thinking the world is against them (when actually, its quite the opposite), thinking they can play with the Steelers, that they belong in the same league as the Steelers. One solid crack in the mouth, and their gameplan will turn from aggressive to timid in a heartbeat, which will, in turn, throw their gameplan right out the window.

In my eyes, its this simple: Physicallity will allow us to contain Warner/Fitz/Boldin/James. Physicallity will allow us to run the football effectively. And, physicallity will provide protection for Ben which will allow us to open up the field.

Hit 'em early, hit 'em hard, and hit 'em often.

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Comments

that’s the big difference that I see in this game vs the Cards playing the Eagles. It was a rough day for the Eagles’ corners who were trying to cover a much taller Fitzgerald all game. Ike has a serious advantage in that he’s comparable in size and has more than enough speed to keep up with Fitzy for the entire 60 minutes. Add some seriously physical safety help shaded his direction along with punishing ILBs and Troy waiting for him through the middle and that minimizes the effectiveness of all of their receivers, not just Fitzy. I’m still crazy nervous, but if the Steelers play physical, it’s their game to lose.

Brandona

by PrimantisStillersNAt on Jan 29, 2009 8:42 PM EST reply actions

+1

Great Post ! This has been my thought all week. They can’t match our physicality.

Let's Go!

by jacksteel on Jan 29, 2009 9:01 PM EST reply actions

I agree. If we come after them and dont let up it will be like the past 2 play off games.

by joeyD on Jan 29, 2009 9:27 PM EST reply actions

At risk of jinxing us-

i truly don’t believe the AZ Cards are on the same level of play as this Steelers team. This PIT team has most of the same guys in the key position that it had in the last SB, but this defense is noticeably better, more explosive and more talented. For whatever reason, the media seems to refuse to accept what this Steeler team has accomplished already, and they kid themselves about AZ being able to “dominate” this Steeelers team in the biggest game of the year.

SB or no- i believe Pittsburgh is the better team, and has continually proved to us, the media and themselves that they are able to win virtually every game they play. Three of their four losses came early in this season. The fourth was surely a blowout, hands down. But we see where Tennessee is now, huh?

The NFL and media NEED a storyline. I understand that they simply can not just say “Oh, the Steelers will kill ’em”. But they should be giving a Steelers team that is appearing in it’s second SB in four years SOME respect. My gawd- the media couldn’t suck up to NE enougfh last year, and this year they say AZ should beat us?? WTF?

I think the extra week before the SB will get to the Cards. And, i think the extra-long SB halftime will get to them even more. Being a rhythm passing team, AZ might have some trouble staying on track after 45 minutes-hour SB half. Plus, 37 years old is pretty old to keep warm, loose and ready in that game. Warner is good, great even. But he has a LOT of work cut out for him. I almost wish AZ had made it some other year, so i could root for Warner, Whiz, Russ, Fitz etc. But i can’t. And i won’t. It won’t be any kind of easy, but the Stillers will handle the Cardinals. Word to yo momma.

Bottom line is: despite the media and popular opinion, this Steelers team is on the brink of greatness and most likely will win this game.

by tobiathan on Jan 30, 2009 12:08 AM EST reply actions