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On the surface, Super Bowl XLIII has been touted as the Cardinals offense vs. the Steelers defense. The Cards had the NFL’s 4th best offense (in total yards) and the Steelers had the NFL’s top defense (fewest yards allowed). But there are so many other storylines and, of course, sports writers and fans have spent the past two weeks dissecting all the possibilities.

Certainly, I believe strength against strength is the most intriguing of tonight’s matchups. But, a few others quickly come to mind. I think the Cardinals are a completely different football team when they get off to a quick start (meaning getting an early lead). And they need to have a balanced attack — running the football with Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower to compliment their high-octane passing game that features the NFL’s two best receivers, Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, as well as Steve Breaston. I think both teams will have some trick plays up their sleeves. And I wonder about the familiarity of the Cardinals coaches (Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm) with the Steelers defensive personnel — if that will have any affect on the outcome of this game. Those are all things to examine when the game is over. But I believe this Super Bowl boils down to turnovers. And that may sound very obvious, but keep in mind this game is no different than any other NFL game in that regard. If you win the turnover battle, there’s a good chance you’ll win the football game. To say the Cardinals have been an opportunistic defense during this postseason would be a severe understatement. They are an incredible +9 in turnover ratio in three playoff games. They will need to remain disciplined in their assigned responsibilities while trying to force Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger into making mistakes. The Steelers, on the other hand, will focus on forcing Cards QB Kurt Warner into turnovers. Kurt has been known to put the ball on the ground in the face of a frenzied pass rush. Kurt has been outstanding in these playoffs, but you know the Steelers understand his weaknesses and tendencies and will attack them accordingly.

I want to say that defense wins championships — which would lead me to pick the Steelers tonight — but something about Arizona tells me that destiny beats defense. I would be crazy to pick the Cardinals, but…..

STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES — Steelers seek unprecedented sixth Super Bowl title; they won championships after 1974, ’75, ’78, ’79 and 2005 seasons … Steelers lost once in Super Bowl, after 1995 season to Dallas … Before Super Bowl era, they never made a championship game … Mike Tomlin is only third Steelers coach since 1969. Chuck Noll won four Super Bowls before being replaced in 1992 by Bill Cowher, who won one title … Eleven starters remain from 2005 champion, including Super Bowl MVP WR Hines Ward … Latest version of Steel Curtain, led by Defensive Player of Year LB James Harrison, allowed fewest points in league (223), to go with high rankings in yards allowed … Pittsburgh swept Baltimore in three games this season, including AFC championship, to get to Super Bowl … RB Willie Parker has rushed for two touchdowns and 193 yards in two playoff games. His 75-yard run in 21-10 win over Seattle three years ago is longest in Super Bowl history … Cardinals are in first Super Bowl. Their last title was in 1947 while representing Chicago. Their three postseason wins this year surpass previous total for playoffs (2) … Cardinals coach Ken Whisenhunt was offensive coordinator for Pittsburgh’s 2005 title team. He was passed over for head coaching job when Cowher retired two years ago for Tomlin, and is 1-0 vs. Steelers since … QB Kurt Warner won Super Bowl with Rams and was MVP of game after 1999 season. He was league MVP in ’99 and 2001 and lost Super Bowl to New England in February 2002 … RB Edgerrin James has been reborn in playoffs after losing starting job to rookie Tim Hightower during season. James has 203 yards rushing in playoffs … All-Pro WR Larry Fitzgerald already has set playoff record for yards receiving (419) and has five TD receptions.

Source: NFL Media

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Super Bowl XLIII Preview

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The Steelers practiced sans pads for about two hours at the University of South Florida this afternoon. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and running back Willie Parker looked sharp. Ben threw several long, tight spirals, including one bullet to receiver Santonio Holmes through the wind. And Willie ran fast and confidently. Head coach Mike Tomlin was pleased but not satisfied:

“It was a good start to our week. We practiced fast, and I thought we practiced aggressively. But it’s like I say to the team after every Wednesday practice: It’s a good start, but we’ve got to be better tomorrow.”

As for hobbled receiver Hines Ward — the only Steelers player on today’s injury report — he walked through some plays with the first-team offense just before practice began at 1:30. Then, at the start of practice, he jogged through a few pass-routes with the regular offense before working out on his own for the next 55 minutes. Hines caught balls from a Juggs machine. Then four cones were laid out in a 10-yard square and he ran 10-yard-incut pass-routes at about half-speed and caught passes. Then he ran sideline-to-sideline at slightly better than half-speed before icing his knee for about 30 minutes. From the looks of how he ran today, Hines won’t be 100 percent Sunday, but there’s little doubt he’ll be in the starting lineup.

Thanks to fellow PFWA member Peter King for today’s pool report.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Steelers Wednesday Practice Report

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Pittsburgh Steelers running back Willie Parker is kind of prophetic. Last week, he stated the obvious. And in the process he gave a glimpse at the Steelers’ game plan for today’s AFC Divisional Playoff game against the San Diego Chargers — run the football. It sounded pretty simple, especially considering the source, but things haven’t been that cut and dry for the Steelers’ ground game this season. They finished 23rd in the league with just over 100 ypg:

“If I was on the defensive side of the ball, I wouldn’t respect the running game because we haven’t been that successful this year. So we’ve just got to take our respect.”

And take that respect he did. In a 34-23 win over the Chargers, Willie carried the ball 27 times (the most carries he’s had since back in Week 2) for 146 yards and two touchdowns. It was Willie’s first time over 100 yards in a playoff game. That is Steelers football. That is certainly Steelers football in January. Considering what Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson did to Baltimore before he was injured yesterday, the Ravens should be taking notes for next weekend’s AFC Championship game. When the Steelers run the football successfully, they will also kill you with their play-action passing game. As the Steelers running game goes, so goes the Steelers. Therefore, to get to Super Bowl XLIII, Pittsburgh will need a healthy and productive Willie Parker.

Sources: NFL.com, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Photo: Newscom

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Willie Parker Takes Respect

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I guess Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger didn’t want to answer any questions about his “separated” shoulder last night after the Steelers beat the Cleveland Browns 10-6 in a Sunday Night Football wind storm. According to the Steelers, the injury is actually a sprain. According to me, I don’t think reporters should be allowed to talk to players and coaches on the field. Bugging their helmet is one thing. Asking dumb questions is another. Oh, check out running back Willie Parker in the still frame. Classic.

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Ben Roethlisberger Postgame ‘Interview’

Jacksonville Jags RB Fred Taylor has been added to the 2008 Pro Bowl roster for the first time, replacing Willie Parker of the Pittsburgh Steelers. It will mark Fred’s first Pro Bowl appearance in his 10-year career. He is the first Jags offensive player to make the Pro Bowl since Jimmy Smith was named a starter in 2001. Fred is the club’s career, single-season and single-game rushing leader. He ranked fifth in the AFC in rushing in 2007 with 1,202 yards on 223 carries and led the AFC with a 5.4 average per rush. He tied for first in the NFL with four rushes of 50-plus yards and finished with two of the four longest rushes in the NFL this season.

Fred rushed for 100-plus yards in five consecutive games to close out the regular season, the only NFL player to record five straight 100-plus rushing games. He rushed for a season-high 147 yards on 25 carries at Pittsburgh on 12/16, his most since he had 165 on 10/30/05 at St. Louis.

Fred had several highlights in 2007 including:

• Became the 21st player in NFL history to reach 10,000 career rushing yards as he accomplished the feat on 11/11 at Tennessee.
• Surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the season at Pittsburgh on 12/16, his seventh career season with 1,000 rushing yards. The seven are tied for the ninth-most in NFL history.
• Broke free for a team-record 80-yard touchdown run against Carolina on 12/9 in the fourth quarter. Had a 76-yard run against Houston on 10/14.
• Tied Jimmy Smith for the most touchdowns in team history with 69.
• Set franchise record for yards from scrimmage against San Diego on 11/18, surpassing Jimmy Smith (12,285), and surpassed him for the most all-purpose yards in team history on 12/23 vs. Oakland.
• Rushed for 1,202 yards in 2007, the sixth-most by a player at age 31 or older since 2000.
• Rushed for 147 yards against Pittsburgh, the most rushing yards by an opposing back in Heinz Field history. Fred also owns the Three Rivers Stadium record with 234 rushing yards on 11/19/00.

And if that wasn’t enough convincing, Fred ranks among the best in NFL history in a bunch of categories, including:

• 17th with 10,715 rushing yards
• 8th in rushing yards per game (84.4)
• 10th in yards from scrimmage per game (102.2) and 36th in NFL history with a team-record 12,978 yards from scrimmage
• 5th with 311 rushes of 10-plus yards
• 4th with 13 rushes of 50-plus yards
• Tied with the third-best yards per carry average (4.7) among the top 25 rushers in NFL history
• One of only 28 players with 2,000-plus carries

Finally. Fred Taylor is headed to Hawaii. This should’ve happened a long time ago. Fred deserves better than alternate status, but at least it’s something. And as they say, better late than never.

Post from: Every Morning Quarterback

Justice is Served: Jacksonville Jaguars RB Fred Taylor Makes AFC Pro Bowl Roster

The New England Patriots and San Diego Chargers lead the AFC’s 2008 Pro Bowl squad with a conference-high eight players each. New England’s eight All-Stars equals a franchise high set by the 1985 Pats. The AFC roster includes 18 first-time All-Stars, including Cincinnati WR T.J. Houshmanzadeh, who leads the NFL with 101 receptions.

Among a group of talented AFC quarterbacks, four-time All-Star Tom Brady of New England, who leads the NFL in passing yards (4,235), TDs (45) and passer rating (119.7), will be the starting QB in his fourth Pro Bowl. Tom is one of seven Patriots that will start for this year’s AFC squad. Joining him to aid the AFC passing attack will be Indianapolis QB Peyton Manning, who will make his eighth Pro Bowl appearance, and first-time selection Ben Roethlisberger of Pittsburgh, who ranks third in the NFL with 29 TD passes.

San Diego’s duo of running back LaDainian Tomlinson and fullback Lorenzo Neal have been named starters for a second year in a row. Earning his fifth Pro Bowl honor, L.T. ranks second in the NFL with 1,311 rushing yards this season and has passed the 1,200-yard rushing mark for the seventh consecutive year. Lorenzo, in his 15th NFL season, has been selected to his fourth Pro Bowl and third as a Charger. Adding to the AFC’s explosive backfield will be Pittsburgh’s Willie Parker and Joseph Addai of Indy. This is the second consecutive Pro Bowl trip for Fast Willie, who leads the NFL with 1,317 rushing yards. In his second NFL season, Joseph Addai ranks second in the AFC with 11 rushing TDs and will make his first Pro Bowl trip. Once again, Jacksonville’s Fred Taylor has been snubbed despite averaging a gaudy 5.1 ypc. He’ll need to lead the league in rushing to get consideration.

Four receivers are named to each All-Star squad. And it has to be nearly impossible to come up with just four. Chosen for the AFC’s 2008 team are New England’s Randy Moss, the NFL’s receiving yardage (1,343) and TD (19) leader. Randy records his first Pro Bowl appearance since 2004 (because he was lost in the black hole for several years) and sixth overall. Lined up across from Randy will be Reggie Wayne of Indianapolis, who will make his second All-Star game in consecutive seasons. Two first-time selections from clubs in Ohio will round out the AFC All-Star receiving foursome — Cleveland wide receiver Braylon Edwards, whose 13 TD receptions ranks second in the AFC, and the aforementioned T.J. Houshmandzadeh of Cincinnati. I know this is a very elite list of receivers and it’s incredibly hard to pick just four, but I could make a case for Wes Welker (Pats), Chad Johnson (Cincy) or even Brandon Marshall (Denver) in this group.

Representing the AFC at tight end will be nine-time all-star Tony Gonzalez (big surprise) of the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Diego’s Antonio Gates, who will play in his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl and start for the second year in a row.

Pittsburgh’s 10-year veteran guard Alan Faneca will make his seventh consecutive Pro Bowl trip and will be joined at the other starting guard position by first-time All-Star Logan Mankins of New England, who has helped pave the way for the league’s top-ranked offense. San Diego’s Kris Dielman, a former undrafted free agent who has been a mainstay for the Chargers offensive line this year, will make his All-Star debut.

AFC starting center Jeff Saturday will book his trip to Hawaii for his third consecutive Pro Bowl. First-time AFC All-Star Dan Koppen of New England will back him up.

Assigned to keep the pocket clean against a talented group of NFC edge rushers are a group of AFC All-Star tackles — New England’s two-time Pro Bowler Matt Light and first-time Pro Bowl selection Jason Peters of Buffalo. Jonathan Ogden of Baltimore will play in his 11th consecutive Pro Bowl in his 12th NFL season.

Lining up in the middle for the AFC defensive front are starting interior linemen Albert Haynesworth of Tennessee and New England’s Vince Wilfork. Both linemen will make their first appearances in the All-Star game. Accompanying Vince and Albert will be San Diego’s Jamal Williams, who has secured his third consecutive Pro Bowl berth.

Ranked second in the AFC with 11.5 sacks, Kansas City defensive end Jared Allen will make his Pro Bowl debut as a starter and will be joined by Tennessee defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch, who will play in his second Pro Bowl in three seasons with the Titans and his first as a starter. Miami’s Jason Taylor will cap off this trio with the sixth Pro Bowl of his career.

Two first-time All-Stars — Mike Vrabel of New England and Pittsburgh’s James Harrison — will start at outside linebacker for the AFC. Mike has tied his career-high with 9.5 sacks and James leads the league’s top-ranked defense with 8.5 sacks. Joining them at outside linebacker is Shawne Merriman of San Diego, who tops NFL linebackers with 11.5 sacks. Shawne will make his third consecutive All-Star game appearance.

Roaming the middle of the AFC defense will be middle linebackers Ray Lewis of Baltimore and DeMeco Ryans of Houston. DeMeco, the 2006 NFL Defensive Rookie of Year, will start in his first Pro Bowl, while Ray-Ray, a 12-year veteran, will record his eighth appearance in Hawaii.

Interceptions are plentiful for the trio of AFC All-Star cornerbacks. Starter Champ Bailey of Denver has earned his eighth consecutive Pro Bowl selection and will be teamed up with two first-time All-Stars. New England’s Asante Samuel will start opposite Champ and Antonio Cromartie of San Diego, who leads the league with 10 INTs, will make his All-Star debut in his second season.

Indianapolis strong safety Bob Sanders earns his second consecutive AFC All-Star berth and Ravens ball-hawking free safety Ed Reed is a four-time Pro Bowl choice in six NFL seasons. Four-time Pro Bowl selection Troy Polamalu of Pittsburgh will join them as a reserve.

The AFC special teams unit is comprised of four players, including two first-time Pro Bowl honorees. Cleveland kick returner Joshua Cribbs is making his first trip to Hawaii. Joshua leads the NFL with a 30.9-yard average and is tied for second in the league with two scores. Tennessee kicker Rob Bironas, who leads the NFL with 31 field goals and set the NFL record for most field goals in a game earlier this season, will make his All-Star debut. San Diego wide receiver Kassim Osgood, who will serve as the AFC’s special teamer, makes his second consecutive trip to Hawaii. Concluding the special teams group will be Oakland’s veteran punter Shane Lechler (third Pro Bowl). Shane leads the NFL with a 49.0 average and has placed 21 of his 63 punts inside the opponents’ 20-yard line.

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Patriots, Chargers Lead AFC All-Star Squad, 18 First-Time Selections Named