Thoughts Super Bowl XL

[dlgood]

First off, Maryland played NC State before the game, which I think is the tenth time they’ve played on Super Bowl Sunday. I could be wrong about the exact number. Maryland lost, as expected, but played well which was unexpected.

Anyway, the thoughts:

1. Neither of these teams are great teams


2. Pittsburgh won, because they made the plays they needed to make.


3. Bettis remained both a nice story and a non-factor. Roethlisberger was a better running back last night. Although, I still don’t think he got in on that third down play.


4. I thought the MacGuyver Mastercard Ad was the best. Loved the last shot with him in the convenience store buying those socks.


5. It’s too much to say that Mike Holmgren should be fired, but he definitely needs a stern talking to. Because he did a terrible job of coaching. Too many mistakes for a veteran team, and an inability to overcome them, which IMHO is reflective of coaching. Awful clock management at the end of both halves. And giving up too soon on the short-intermediate passing game that had neutralized the Pittsburgh Defense. I wonder if they would have been better off coached by Seperated-At-Birth Martin Mull.


6. Seattle ’s special teams were atrocious. Tom Rouen failing to pin Pittsburgh on four mid-field punts and giving up two long returns. Committing penalties to take away two long returns. I don’t blame the kicker for missing two 50+ field goals.


7. I think Jerramy Stevens is going to have get cut. Talk about picking the absolute wrong time to get the dropsies. I thought Seattle’s receiving corps had outgrown that. Guess not…


8. Antwaan Randle-El was the best quarterback on the field. Roethlisberger had an awful game, while Hasselbeck was decent but unspectacular.


9. The officiating was abysmal. And really hurt Seattle. The phantom holding call and “block below the waist” call on Hasselbeck’s tackle may have been the worst flag I’ve ever seen in a big game. The Seahawks should have gotten past it, and didn’t. Poor coaching.


10. Next time, the Super Bowl is in Detroit, they should try to get a local act to do that halftime show. I love the Stones, but there’s too much deeply significant and truly great music out of Detroit (and SE Michigan) to go with a British Band. Would have much rather had something like Iggy Pop, the White Stripes, or any number of stars out of the Motown Stable…

Comments

[ann1962]

The Stones didn't even stay in Detroit. They rented two floors of the casino hotel in Windsor across the river. I just wonder if they joined Ben Afleck (sp?) at the strip club down the street from the casino he rented out for the entire night. Poor Jen LOL.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

The Stones didn't even stay in Detroit.

Very few people do, as far as I could tell. Detroit doesn't really have a lot of good hotels in the city. People stay in Windsor or the suburbs. Plus, Windsor = Classy!

[ann1962]

Plus, Windsor = Classy!

LOLOLOLOL

Well, maybe it used to be. LOL

[stars91.livejournal.com]

The only reason I was interested in the SB at all last night was because of Randle-El. I watched him for four years at Indiana, if the guy had had any sort of support whatsoever while there, they could have gone to a bowl easy. He's just *that* awesome!!!

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

He's just *that* awesome!!!

He is. They guy finished 6th in the Heisman voting, despite splitting his time playing AB and WR for a terrible team. I expect the Redskins to throw truckloads of money at him this offseason.

[stars91.livejournal.com]

He wasn't able to play WR much his Senior year because the back-up QB was so terrible, they didn't have a choice but to put him back at that position. If I'm not mistaken he set the record for most all purpose yards(?) by a QB in NCAA history, or something like that. And did it with a terrible team.

He was also on the basketball team for a season before deciding he really wanted to concentrate on football!

I'll root for him where ever he plays. I just really enjoy watching him.

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

I believe, he also briefly played Minor League baseball. I know he was drafted by the Cubs.

[stars91.livejournal.com]

Huh...I didn't know that! Learn something new every day! *g*

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

Yeah, in high school he was drafted as an outfielder in one of the late rounds. But it's not entirely astonishing. A lot of the guys who are pro-level athletes were multi-sport stars in high school. Rarer in college - and you can count on one hand the guys who were good enough to play on the Pro-level in more than one sport. But I always find that sort of thing really neat to look up.

XL

[cjlasky.livejournal.com]

Notes on your notes:

I do think Roethlisberger got in. On one of the replays, I could swear I saw the edge of ball hit the goal line while he was in the air and before he got crunched. At any rate, not enough evidence to overturn the call.

Otherwise? Seahawks got robbed by the refs. The pass interference call and the Hasselback crackback (WTF?) were marginal at best, outright incompetent officiating at worst.

But the 'Hawks can't blame the officials for everything. The Stevens whoopsiness, the Hasselback pickoff. And how does Jackson catch the ball in the front corner of the end zone and NOT BE AWARE that he has to keep both feet in bounds? He stepped out so CASUALLY. What, did he think this was a pre-season game or something?

Agree that Detroit music should have been the halftime show. Diana Ross, the Four Tops, Smokey Robinson, not to mention Iggy--they are alive, you know!

Favorite Ad? ESPN Mobile's Sports Heaven. Just beautifully shot, and it's the only one that made me curious about the product.

Re: XL

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

At any rate, not enough evidence to overturn the call.

Certainly. Then again, there wasn't enough evidence for the offical on the field to make the Touchdown call in the first place. His hand barely grazed the line, and the ball was behind that. I don't know how the official could have ever seen the ball cross the line, and it takes some balls to call a TD if you are only guessing...

On the Line

[cjlasky.livejournal.com]

That linesman seemed damn sure there was a touchdown. Raced up and gave the signal. But if they interview him in the next couple of days, and he shrugs his shoulders and laughs that he wasn't absolutely sure, a lot of Seattle fans are going to be awfully pissed.

Oh my God. Did Holmgren go to the Herm Edwards Time Management School in the offseason? That was atrocious.

Re: On the Line

[dlgood.livejournal.com]

That linesman seemed damn sure there was a touchdown. Raced up and gave the signal.

He didn't to me. He ran up and went like he was going to spot it first, and then raised his arms. Wilbon ripped it this morning, and in his post chat. My guess is, today's PTI is going to be 20% Steelers Praise, and 60% ripping Seattle and 20% ripping the officiating.

As to Holmgren's time management. It's funny because that's exactly how Seattle lost to the Redskins in Week 4. Tie score, ball on the Redskins side of the field, over a minute left. Holmgren dithered around and settled for a 49-yarder that doinked off the uprights. Skins scored in overtime...

Antwaan (woot woot)

[cjlasky.livejournal.com]

Randle El's pass was amazing. Looked like the Seattle DB had caught up to Hines Ward, but it zipped away from the defense and right into Ward's wheelhouse. Incredible throw from a guy who throws the ball once every 12 games. Better than Little Ben, that's for sure.

Ward deserves the MVP for coming back on the ball and bailing Roethlisberger out after BR's mad scramble, tightrope walk and (surprise!) bad pass.