I was so underwhelmed by the Super Bowl that I didn't craft a timely response. Too bad, huh?
The Captain wrote in today to ask, "Man, that game was freaking ugly. Did either team actually deserve to win?"
And this was the response I wrote him before I decided to kill two birds and post it here:
Absolutely not! Neither team looked ready for the game Sunday in what was easily the most disappointing 'Bowl I've seen in some time. I don't think I've ever seen both teams look so unprepared; I'm afraid of how many times I will hear that credited to parity, which I don't really believe in, over the coming months.
First, the officiating was awful, not unlike the Rose Bowl. I couldn't believe it. I don't want to say it caused Seattle to lose, because it didn't, but some of those calls were incredibly bogus-especially the phantom holding followed by Matt Hasselbeck's "illegal" tackle on the interception return. Definitely a momentum-changer. While I was obviously rooting for Seattle (and with surprising passion, considering it was only because I hate the Steelers), it's really more just that we all got robbed of what could have been an awesome Super Bowl. I thought the Darrell Jackson offensive pass interference call and Ben Roethlisberger "touchdown" call were understandable, though I don't like having to make excuses for the refs. Jackson shouldn't have pushed off right in front of an official and probably didn't need to. The Roethlisberger touchdown, to me, almost certainly didn't go in. If he's holding the ball behind his forearm and the back of his forearm doesn't break the plane, then by the law of physics that no two objects can occupy the same space he didn't get the ball in. But the "indisputable visual evidence" standard makes that a tough one-obviously, it was one of those calls where the first call, whatever it was, was going to stand. I hate those. Again, though, unless the refs had a sniper in the crowd and told Jerramy Stevens he'd be killed if he caught a pass, they didn't decide the game.
Roethlisberger's numbers were a lot worse than the game he seemed to be having, but I kind of felt the same way about Hasselbeck, who got screwed by his pass-catchers. Kelly Herndon sure would have been useful in the AFC title game this year, wouldn't you say? Willie Parker is good. The Seahawks should draft a running back and give Shaun Alexander's money to a receiver who will catch the ball, or at least go to Joe Jurevicius more (I always thought he was overrated, but he played tough Sunday, like a mini-McCaffrey). I don't care what the usual guidelines are, Peter Warrick needs to field that punt. Hines Ward has officially reached the level of overrated and insufferable and I think he has no business meriting Hall of Fame discussion. (Seriously, very good blocker who isn't quite a topflight receiver but plays on a consistently good team-in other words, we're looking at Rod Smith, but with fewer yards-per-catch and half as many thousand-yard seasons.) Or, for that matter, Super Bowl MVP, considering he dropped that open-as-they-come touchdown pass. And finally, who needs the money the worst-Tim Allen, Harrison Ford, or late entry Joe Montana?
Keep those questions coming, people!
The Captain wrote in today to ask, "Man, that game was freaking ugly. Did either team actually deserve to win?"
And this was the response I wrote him before I decided to kill two birds and post it here:
Absolutely not! Neither team looked ready for the game Sunday in what was easily the most disappointing 'Bowl I've seen in some time. I don't think I've ever seen both teams look so unprepared; I'm afraid of how many times I will hear that credited to parity, which I don't really believe in, over the coming months.
First, the officiating was awful, not unlike the Rose Bowl. I couldn't believe it. I don't want to say it caused Seattle to lose, because it didn't, but some of those calls were incredibly bogus-especially the phantom holding followed by Matt Hasselbeck's "illegal" tackle on the interception return. Definitely a momentum-changer. While I was obviously rooting for Seattle (and with surprising passion, considering it was only because I hate the Steelers), it's really more just that we all got robbed of what could have been an awesome Super Bowl. I thought the Darrell Jackson offensive pass interference call and Ben Roethlisberger "touchdown" call were understandable, though I don't like having to make excuses for the refs. Jackson shouldn't have pushed off right in front of an official and probably didn't need to. The Roethlisberger touchdown, to me, almost certainly didn't go in. If he's holding the ball behind his forearm and the back of his forearm doesn't break the plane, then by the law of physics that no two objects can occupy the same space he didn't get the ball in. But the "indisputable visual evidence" standard makes that a tough one-obviously, it was one of those calls where the first call, whatever it was, was going to stand. I hate those. Again, though, unless the refs had a sniper in the crowd and told Jerramy Stevens he'd be killed if he caught a pass, they didn't decide the game.
Roethlisberger's numbers were a lot worse than the game he seemed to be having, but I kind of felt the same way about Hasselbeck, who got screwed by his pass-catchers. Kelly Herndon sure would have been useful in the AFC title game this year, wouldn't you say? Willie Parker is good. The Seahawks should draft a running back and give Shaun Alexander's money to a receiver who will catch the ball, or at least go to Joe Jurevicius more (I always thought he was overrated, but he played tough Sunday, like a mini-McCaffrey). I don't care what the usual guidelines are, Peter Warrick needs to field that punt. Hines Ward has officially reached the level of overrated and insufferable and I think he has no business meriting Hall of Fame discussion. (Seriously, very good blocker who isn't quite a topflight receiver but plays on a consistently good team-in other words, we're looking at Rod Smith, but with fewer yards-per-catch and half as many thousand-yard seasons.) Or, for that matter, Super Bowl MVP, considering he dropped that open-as-they-come touchdown pass. And finally, who needs the money the worst-Tim Allen, Harrison Ford, or late entry Joe Montana?
Keep those questions coming, people!
Comments
Point number 2: Shaun Alexander did have reasonable number, but seemed to be left out of the offense in place of Matt and his hand's team.
Point number 3: Clock management, especially at the end of the first half was abysmal. Another 10-15 yards, and I think Josh Brown could have easily made the field goal at the end of the half and swing momentum in Seattle's favor.
Final Point: it was pretty spiffy seeing some of the greats before the game--John, Terrell, Joe Namath and especially Bart Starr--but Joe Montana, what a jerk
PS Mike, you were wrong
I thought the pregame MVP parade was cool, too.
David, I completely can not understand why not being called immediately negates the touchdown. Why would you say that? I am annoyed when refs take their time-but the idea that he's got some kind of time limit before one of the options evaporates is ludicrous.
I did not mean to criticize Alexander, who had a good postseason. It's not his fault he didn't get more carries. One thing that did confuse me was that Mack Strong was often the only running back in on third downs. I didn't watch enough Seahawks games-or really any-to know if that was a season-long thing, but if it was, it's another big argument against Alexander's MVP award.
i was a fan of the monkey commercial where they were partying to the graph turned the wrong way.
some of the bud light commercials were entertaining.
and hell yes heinz ward is overrated, so is short bus. short bus was never a phenomenal talent, nor a running back you had to plan to defend... you knew he'd get his miserable two yards a carry... and then they'd put him down for a breather after he got winded (after one carry)
denver could've handled seattle... shame
does denver have a legitimate shot at TO?
if so, how many superbowls do the broncos win, 10, 15 in a row?
I think Denver has a fantastic shot at T.O. Think about it, he needs to go somewhere he can rehab his image-in other words, a good-but-not-great team he might put over the top, sort of like Karl Malone and Gary Payton going to the Lakers a few years ago. We fit this description perfectly. I hope Owens is smarter than to pick Miami.
Having said that, does he really guarantee even a Super Bowl appearance? We'd still have Jake Plummer ignoring wide-open receivers to throw into double coverage, and we'd still play in a conference with Brady, Palmer, Roethlisberger and Boller and have no pass rush.
After the story ran that we were talking to Owens, the Denver Post supposedly got a bunch of mail from people who don't want him on our team. Who are these people? Of course, if he's on the team for a few years it's bound to blow up in our faces, but isn't it worth a shot at a ring?
Yes, we were a home playoff game from the Super Bowl-but we can't assume we're starting from there next year. New England could be a lot better, Pittsburgh will be defending champions, and while Indy and Cincy have no defense, Indy has, sadly, owned us in the recent playoffs.
Of course, T.O.'s good enough to have a small domino effect that helps the defense, too-I just can't agree with switching off the TV because a Super Bowl win's a foregone conclusion. I love T.O., but he hasn't won any yet. And are we in a better position before adding him than, say, the '03 Eagles were?
this is nothing against mr. smith, as i think he's been so good for/to the franchise. but it really is hard for me to imagine just how much it will open the offense having a TO caliber-type WR in our quiver. very interesting to consider. while we are on the subject of offense....
how does kubiak leaving affect the broncos mike?
I don't Kubiak's loss will affect us much.
The changes: We brought in Mike Heimerdinger from the Jets as assistant head coach (he coached here earlier in the Shanahan era). And we promoted Rick Dennison from offensive line coach to offensive coordinator.
So our philosophy shouldn't change at all, and considering the relative lack of turnover on our staff over the years, I don't expect much to change on the field, either.
I am curious why Dennison got the promotion. He started as special-teams coach, then was promoted to offensive line coach to replace Alex Gibbs. I think it's fair to say he did a worse job there than Gibbs, but anyone would have. I would have liked to see running backs coach Bobby Turner get a shot, as he has clearly mastered his current responsibilities, but I guess for fans it's not going to make much of a difference.
one might wonder about his credentials, no?