Super Bowl XLIII
Key Match Ups: Arizona Cardinals vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
by Andrew602 on Jan 27, 2009 10:38 AM MST
in Super Bowl XLIII
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In this Sunday's game, the big match ups will be plentiful. This is the most important game of the year that will feature the two best teams in the league. Not only do the players match up well, but the teams do too. The number one power house defense versus a high flying offense. It's an ideal match up for a Super Bowl and hopefully, it will live up to the hype.Seeing as it's the Super Bowl, there will be a extended list of key match ups. Here's some of the key match ups of Super Bowl 43:
- Kurt Warner vs. James Harrison - What else can you say. Harrison will be hunting for Warner, and Warner will be trying to beat the blitz. Warner is tough as nails and will likely take several big hits from Harrison. If he can get the ball out quickly and not have to run on his feet, Warner will have much success.
- Dominique Rogers-Cromartie vs. Santonio Holmes - Holmes is a tall, quick, explosive receiver. DRC is a fast, tall corner, who can make up ground quickly and make a play on the ball. This will be one of the more exciting match ups of the game. Both players will be trying to make a big play and whoever succeeds, could be the difference maker.
- Larry Fitzgerald vs. Ike Taylor - Larry is going to be in the key match ups no matter which game it is. There will be no doubt that Ike will have his hands full. He will have focus on jamming Larry off the line and shadowing his every move. Fitz is going to be especially key to this game because he will be a frequent target for Warner.
- Karlos Dansby vs. Heath Miller - This is a very underrated match up for the game. Both players are considered the best at their positions and will likely be grinding it out at the line of scrimmage. Dansby is the best coverage line backer on the Cardinals and looks for the ball when its in the air. Heath usually goes unnoticed when talking about the NFL's top tight ends. He is a good blocker and an even better receiver. If Dansby can silence Miller and take him out of the game, it will give big Ben even less options to pass to.
- Edgerrin James vs. James Farrior/Larry Foote - Edge will have one of the more difficult match ups with the league's number one defense. It's important for the Cardinals to establish some kind of running game, even if that means 3 or 4 yard runs. If Edge is able to produce something, it will only open up the passing game even more then it already is.
- Cardinals Offense vs. Troy Polamalu - Troy is regarded as the best safety in the NFL and it's really hard to argue with that. He makes plays all the time and really makes the Steelers defense go. Warner and Co. will have to always keep an eye out for him and make sure they don't put the ball anywhere near him. Whether it be a 3rd and short or a deep jump ball, the Cardinals need be on top of their game and not turn the ball over, otherwise Troy will make a play.
- Cardinals Defense vs. Ben Roethlisberger - Perhaps the most pivotal match up of the game will be this one. It's pretty simple...if the Cardinals can force turnovers, get sacks, or hurry Ben, it could be the difference between a win or loss.
Obviously there are a lot of huge match ups in this game and one alone won't decide who wins. Every game features a star and it's only up to the rest of the team if they are going to step up as well. If everybody does their job and plays their best game, then expect to see the Cardinals win convincingly. The reality is that the Steelers won't go away easy and will win some of these match ups. If the Cardinals don't give up and close out the game, they will be Champions of the world.
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Arizona Cardinals Defense Prepares for Ben Roethlisberger
by Hawkwind on Jan 27, 2009 7:33 AM MST
in Super Bowl XLIII
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It's not often that a defense faces a quarterback who is 6'5, 241, but that's what
Darnell Docket, Karlos Dansby, Adrian Wilson and company will be facing this Sunday. The Arizona Cardinals defense has been playing inspired football in the post season but they'll have another huge test this Sunday when they meet the Ben Roethlisberger-led Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers haven't been a prolific offense this season but Roethlisberger has a knack for keeping the game close and making just enough plays in the fourth quarter to pull out a victory. Five times this season he led drives late in the fourth quarter or overtime to take the lead or tie, including three scoring drives in the final two minutes.
Roethlisberger also has a knack for holding onto the ball though and scrambling around in the pocket looking for the big play down field. While at times that leads to big plays (ala his TD pass to Santonio Holmes last week), it also leads to him taking quite a bit of sacks. He was sacked 46 times during the regular season and another five times during their two post season games. Ben's a big, tough guy though and most of the time he bounces right back, but there have been games when the punishment got to him and affected his play. Five times this season Big Ben was sacked four or more times and those five games resulted in three losses and the offense averaging just 13 points per game. In fact here are some alarming stats for Ben's production and his effect on the Steelers when they can't protect him:
- Steelers record is 2-3 when Roethlisberger is sacked four or more times but a spectacular 10-1 when he's sacked three times or fewer.
- Roethlisberger has thrown just four touchdowns and turned the ball over 12 times (7 ints and 5 fumbles) in the games when he's been sacked four or more times.
So the moral of the story is simple, get after Ben Roethlisberger. But how?
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Super Bowl Preview: Four Downs with Arizona Cardinals Blogs
by Hawkwind on Jan 26, 2009 9:00 AM MST
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With the Super Bowl inching closer and closer, we talk with a couple of other blogs that cover the Arizona Cardinals about what this post season has meant, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin and Kurt Warner's Hall of Fame chances. The other two blogs who participated in the Q&A were Fanster, which covers all sports in the Pheonix area, and Raising Zona, another great blog dedicated to all things Cardinals. We should have another installment later this week but for now, here's what we came up with:1st Down:
What exactly does the Cardinals' Super Bowl run mean to you?
Fanster.com's Greg Esposito: Vindication. That is what this Super Bowl means to me as a Cardinals fan. After years of being the doormat of the NFL, it is an amazing feeling to finally know how the other half lives. It's even better that no one expected this of the Cardinals and they were able to shock the world. Nothing like success as the underdog. It's still hard to fathom, but I think I'm starting to get used to the idea.
Revenge of the Birds: Simply historic. I've been trying to put my thoughts together into semi-coherent sentences since Sunday afternoon, but I just can't do it justice. I can't get my head wrapped around the idea that the our very own Arizona Cardinals are playing on Super Sunday. Every time I turn on ESPN or NFL Network and see "Arizona Cardinals in the Super Bowl" I just get a little more giddy and the same teenage girl-type giggling starts.
Raising Zona: Being a fan from day one, and more than most know, it is quite gratifying, yet still amazingly surreal to me that this is happening. I was a ballboy with the team for training camp in 1989 and 1990, seasons 2 and 3. I stuck with them even when ridiculed because they were my hometown team. I'm a native of Phoenix and to see this day come is something quite special to me.
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Super Bowl XLIII Prop Bets: Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
by Hawkwind on Jan 23, 2009 12:35 PM MST
in Super Bowl XLIII
4 comments
I get emailed these from time to time and most of the time they get quickly shuffled to the trash bin, but since we're talking about the Super Bowl I couldn't resist. It's not often that we, as Arizona Cardinals fans, can peruse some intersting betting lines on just about everything from the coin toss to how many times John Madden will reference food during the telecast (yes there is a line on that). Take a look and tell us the easiest betting line....
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Super Bowl XLIII Injury Report: Steelers vs. Arizona Cardinals
by Hawkwind on Jan 23, 2009 8:17 AM MST
in Super Bowl XLIII
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For the Arizona Cardinals, the injury report is looking very promising. Travis LaBoy was able to get on the practice field on a limited basis yesterday and the only player to miss the entire session was J.J. Arrington. Antonio Smith and Ben Graham were still limited and Boldin is still listed on the injury report despite not being limited.
The Steelers still have a laundry list of guys sitting out including Hines Ward, Max Starks, Justin Hartwig, Lawrence Timmons and Patrick Bailey. Willie Parker and Aaron Smith returned to practice and were removed from the list.
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