Merlin's Magic: Post Haley Edition

"Final note, once again the number one defensive team won the Super Bowl. This makes eleven out of twelve times the number one defensive ranked team, without a number one offense, has won the Super Bowl. Folks, in statistics, eleven out of twelve is a trend, not a coin flip."

How is that a trend? A trend would be, "The last 11 of 12 Super Bowl Champs, has had the number one defense". In the last 10 years, how many times did the number one defense make it to the super bowl? That's a better question.

The Steelers didn't win because of their Defense. They won because of the Card's mistakes.

My statement stands, unamended.........Defense, my ass.

IT wasn't some kind of defensive steel cage match either, Double D.

At the end of the game, neither defense could stop the opposition's offense. For the Cardinals, it was because they were exhausted. Whisenhunt choosing to defer played a big part in that. For the Steelers, they just couldn't stop the Cards once they went to no huddle and started playing Fitz to the outside.

I don't care how good you think the Steelers' D is, they won that game because of Big Ben and Santonio Holmes. The Ravens or Titans would not have made that drive. The Giants, sans Plaxico, would not have made that drive. The Steelers' offense won the game in the end, and the Cards' O would have won if they had just about 30 more seconds.

I don't see anybody can ignore the following facts and still claim that defense was not the biggest factor in the Super Bowl.

1. Neither team could establish the run.
2. Both teams were forced to throw the ball under constant pressure.
3. Both teams experienced major momentum swings as a result of big defensive plays. End of first half - Int leads to AZ getting the ball on Pitt's 34, which was then quickly followed up by Pitt's pick six at the goal line. Second half - AZ safety that was set up by a perfect punt (punting is considered an aspect of defense btw) in the 4th quarter brought the margin to within 4 and put the ball back into AZ hands late in the game; Pitt's fumble recovery with half a minute left ended the game in Pitt's favor.
4. Less than 5 minutes of clock were used to score 16 of AZ's 23 points. Aside from late game heriocs, AZ's vaunted offense was virtually non-existent for more than 3 quarters.
5. Nearly 14 minutes of possession time consumed by Pittsburgh's offense resulted in only 6 points (2 field goals).

Non sequitor alert - just because big chunks of yardage were gained primarily through the air at the end of the game in no way infers this was some kind of offensive tennis match. It was anything but.

Adam,

I wasn't clear, I want to stay at three and get Curry if we get Haynesworth. If not trade down and grab Raji.

Santonio Holmes does not play defense. Game winning play ? Santonio Holmes catch in the end zone late in the fourth quarter. Defense my ass.

I'll chime in here,

First off Adam i have to say i side with you on a lot of your points here.

Haynesworth is a hell of a player but i agree it might not be the best move to sign him (even though we do have the money to do so). I just think on the defensive line we need to get a DE to complement Hali if anything and i agree with you that because we have Dorsey and what not we can wait at DT.

I also definately agree with you that we need work on offense as well. DOES ANYBODY REMEMBER THE TITANS GAME? DEAR GOD OUR OFFENSE WAS TERRIBLE. Sure late in the year we picked it up, Bradley showed up, Thigpen showed up, Gonzo went crazy in the spread but don't overlook the early part of the year we could use a lot of help on offense. We need line help, we need another WR, and we might need a RB since LJ is on the way out.

If we stay at #3 in the draft i want Curry, or Crabtree. I would like to see us make some moves in FA, and of course all this depends on whether Tony stays and whether we are going to shoot for the big game within 2 years.

102win,

No, I'm just one of the few who isn't too big of a homer to be honest. We are not going to pay the salary that Haynesworth would command. No way. Not after we just drafted three DTs in the first three rounds the past two years. Not when Clark Hunt is willing to spend, but not a spendthrift. Not when Pioli is the guy who drafted all those stud DTs the Pats have.

No way that happens. And how can we draft Raji and Curry?

And, no, Thigpen is not the answer.

I do like Suggs and Scott, but we only get one of them if that. I also like Crowder.

We are still going to spend wisely and everybody else, including their old team, will be after these guys, too.

Crowder*

Adam,

Even if we miss Haynesworth, we can sign Suggs,Scott an MLB like Chowder. Draft 1st DT BJ Raji, 2nd LB Sintim. This would be rank about 10th in 2009,and top 5 defense in 2010. If you do sign Haynesworth,then stay at #3 take Curry,2nd round OL.

Not to be argumentative,BUT you have to be one of few who wouldn't sign Haynesworth. In a 4-3 defense,success always starts at DT. It may be wishful thinking but Hali,Haynesworth,Dorsey,Suggs with Aaron Curry,DJ,Bart Scott at LB. And this would make our secondary look like 4 pro-bowlers.

As for offense, I agree we are closer than it appears. Need a RT,C,RB, and a Wr. Thigpen is good to go, lets see what he can do on a better team! I want WR Barden in the draft, who we can get in the 3-4 round, he could be a great find. As for Crabtree, I say no way.

Well...we do have more than a year or two....and thats what it takes to build a TEAM....complete....both sides of the ball...

Then we will be mediocre offensively and mediocre defensively. Not many of those teams in the Big Game.

Let's get this straight, because some of you no comprendo. I'll spell it out for you:

I want our above average offense to become a top five one. I want our sh**ball defense to go from 31st to about 15, 16. We can accomplish this.

Anyone who thinks that we can do much better than that defensively in a year or two needs to see a shrink!

So....to get a BALANCED team we should put attention to the D....Lest we return to the Vermeil era where scoring 40 points is not enough to win games because our defense is too awful. I dont care how much we have already invested in it....not enough...

We must have watched a different game. :)

It's all about the benjamins. I'm not saying it was fixed. But the zebras made some really bad calls. Game changing calls. You just don't call 'running over the kicker in that situation' and they didn't even review the last play of the game. I think Pittsburgh was outplayed by Arizona. Blatant clipping on the 100 yard run back should have nullified the only outstanding play the #1 ranked defense had all night. So in my opinion the Cards got a raw deal. Sorry. I usually never blame the refs unless it's an NBA game.

?????Dorsey and Haynesworth wouldn't be amazing? Not many would agree with that!!!! I'm saying if other options aren't there (Suggs), it would be great--hell I would like Haynesworth,Suggs and Scott. That would instantly make a top 5-10 defense.

As far as Oakland, if you don't think Al Davis would trade up to get Crabtree then you haven't been watching Qakland. (Fitz-SB????)

I didn't say they were a non-factor, smart ass :)

What I said was at the end of the game they were getting completely dismantled. It was getting embarrassing. Without the Steelers offense bailing them out, they would have lost. The Wizard up there was acting like the Steelers defense dominated and single-handedly won the game for Pittsburgh. Not true at all.

That win is a bit controversial if you ask a lot of people. The Steelers weren't just better on defense, there were a lot of other factors.

So the Steelers defense wasn't part of the reasone they won? They had a 100 yd pick six and forced two fumbles on sacks, one that ended the game. You are right, they were a nonfactor.

Merlin,

The funny thing about the whole Steelers No. 1 defense thing is that their defense was finished. The Cardinals were getting ready to score again. It was their quarterback and mainly their speedy receiver which bailed them out. It was their offense. Both defenses were done.

The other thing is that I expect Haley and Pioli to bring is somebody better than Clancy freakin' Pendergast as our D.C. Bad name, worse game

Now what I agree about. Herm coddled the players. Players too tend to tune coaches out. Going the other way is a good change, i.e. Vermeil after Gunther.

I also liked that he didn't seem to be in too much of a celebratory mood. He knows his work has just started.

Oh, you can have passion (fire) and substance. That's how I'd describe us here at AA :)

Anyway, Haley apparently has plenty of both.

Spending that kind of money on Haynesworth when we just drafted all of those defensive tackles, especially Glenn Dorsey, would be negligent. And Oakland won't trade down with us. Only a team wanting Staffor or Sanchez will as teams only trade inside the top five for quarterbacks (Eli, Vick).

I am beginning to worry about FA. Suggs who should be most wish lists could get franchised, then Scott would probably resign there as well. We HAVE to sign to two impact defensive players and a RT. Hopefully, we can send LJ packing and get a 2-3 rounder. I hope we trade down to say Oakland and pick up another 2nd rounder- we have so many needs. I would throw the bank at Haynesworth, if Suggs gets franchised.

merlin,
wise as always my man. agree with you on the former HC as coordinators. thats why i hoping for romeo for the D cord. he'll be the ice to haley's fire and as for the experience in play calling i'm not that worried. when he did start calling plays their O took off. i think if we keep chan our O will be more productive with the Haley Gailey combo. remember herm the hand cuff wouldn't let chan step on the throat of any team. hailey loves to go for the throat the whole game. Chan should be smiling right now. The fact that Haley can get up in a players face and hold them accountable is the biggest plus. he won't hold any hands, he'll chop them off. no more , "thats ok." or "we tried" or "scoring 30, thats not even a football game." we have a young pitbull coach thats has emotions (finally). As for D, romeo is a proven D cord and he is a handful when he has to be. remember in cleveland the GM wouldn't let him pick any asst. coaches, which led to his down fall. plus he knows how to deal with young players. Keep up the good work Merlin and keep the articles coming.

I am excited to see the coaching staff come together. Can't wait for draft day. Haley and Pioli both have scouting and talent eval in their background, maybe this draft can be as good as last year?

I also hope the offensively, Haley will use Charles more than we did last season...He and Franklin need to get more reps.

Nice Read, and I think it puts more emphasis on what the team needs to really focus on this offseason....defense...dealing LJ/TG, or at least LJ would give another pick, I think the chiefs can find OL talent in the mid rounds, see Nicks...I believe the best move is a LB in the first, or trade back and take a LB, then in the 2nd...BPA obviously however I believe he needs to be another LB, a DE or, to shock people, a running back who fell.