FanSection Blog

Erin McDowell, an ardent Steelers fans, has contributed a guest blog about what the team she’s so passionate about will need to do in order to win Super Bowl XLIII this Sunday.  More of her blogs can be found on her MySpace page and FanSection’s Pittsburgh Steelers Fans blog.

Since 2006, the Steelers have fought hard to get back to the Super Bowl.

Battles for the opportunity to see Dan Rooney with his 6th Lombardi Trophy–to be called the NFL’s Best Franchise.  A trophy shared by the fans in the heart of Pittsburgh and the Steeler Nation.  And although a trip to the Super Bowl is less a novelty in Pittsburgh than say Arizona, the ride here has not been any less improbable.

Whether the trip, the journey to Tampa Bay, took 3 years or 61 years is of little importance. What matters is how this team responds on Sunday and does what needs to be done to be champions once again.

[For the Steelers to Win Super Bowl 43] This Has Gotta Happen:

1. Tackle. The trio of Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston is a hard crew to cover. Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, Polamalu, Clark and a mixture of Townsend and William Gay have given the Steelers the best coverage unit they have had in a decade.  They are good at making it difficult for QBs to dump the ball off before they are dumped for a sack.  Yet the Cardinals receivers are good and they will get open at some point. When they do, the Steelers must not let them get yards after the catch.  Fitzgerald is tough to get a handle on in those crossing routes and Boldin and Breaston have a lot of speed.  All three excel in yards after the catch. Taylor and McFadden in particular will need to secure the tackle on the out routes—or at the very least hold on until help can arrive. The Steelers cannot afford to give up touchdowns due to missed tackles.

With Polamalu back watching Warner, the linebackers and d-line must contain Edgerrin James and Tim Hightower preventing the ground game from helping Warner avoid sacks.  Tenth Year Veteran Aaron Smith is the best run stuffer you have never heard of.  He will need to make some noise on Sunday.

2. Time For Ben.  We have listened all week as Ben Roethlisberger has spoke on his growth at QB but it is the development of his line that may be more of an impact on Sunday.  The Steelers motley o-line has steadily improved over the course of the season and in the playoffs.  Ben will need them to recognize and react to the blitz so he can make plays downfield.  And the Steelers must move the ball to keep the Cards offense off the field.

They might not be playing the Ravens but the Cardinals pass rush—fueled by the suggestion that they are not worthy of being in the playoffs–has exploded with 7 sacks in post season—3 by defensive backs. And since Ben’s #1 weapon may be somewhat limited, Mr. 1st Down Hines Ward, he will need an additional “crutch” in 3rd down situations. TE Heath Miller is the most likely candidate. He turned into Ben’s 3rd down target once Hines was injured against the Ravens. Miller knows how to get open and how to hang on to the ball. And the Steelers certainly saw the film of the Cardinals giving up 83 yards and 2 TDs to backup Philly TE Brent Celek (Univ of Cincy).  Whisenhunt knows how good Miller so he will be matched up in obvious passing downs but Miller will fight to move the chains.

3. Don’t Give Up Points. The only piece more consistent than Terrell Davis patting his own back during media week has been the mantra of “if don’t turn the ball over, and you can win”. Both teams are preaching it and we are all at home shaking our heads in agreement. The turnover battle has played a big part in the Cardinals playoff wins.  They have nabbed 12 turnovers in the postseason– six per Jake Delhomme (5 ints and 1 sack for good measure), and three a piece against Philly and Carolina. The Cards also turned it over once in each of those contests. The Steelers beat the Ravens in large part due to the 4 turnovers they created and they forced the Chargers into coughing it up twice.

The Steelers do not want to turn it over and give Warner & Co. a short field, or miss on any chances to finish off their own drives with points.   Don’t let the turnover tale be the story of this Super Bowl.