mesaSteeler
02-05-2012, 08:40 AM
Starkey: Harrison's pick six tops Steelers' best Super Bowl plays
By Joe Starkey
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Eight is enough.
I mean, we could haggle over the Steelers' best 50 Super Bowl plays and still have room for 50 more. We could spend all day just debating Lynn Swann's top 50.
But let's stick with eight, matching the franchise number of Super Bowl appearances. Let's divert our attention -- if only for a moment -- from the dark possibility of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady celebrating on our television sets sometime this evening.
There was no specific criterion for choosing these plays. I took a thoughtfully nonrhythmic approach, mixing factors such as athleticism, execution, importance and symbolism. Sometimes, I simply considered a given play and counted the goose bumps it still could raise ...
8. Super Bowl XL: Fast Willie goes 75
The longest touchdown run in Super Bowl history came on a classic smash-mouth Steelers play called "Counter 34-Pike." The blocking was exquisite, notably left guard Alan Faneca pulling right and burying LeRoy Hill. I remember sitting down with then-offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and dissecting the video. I brought up the previous record Super Bowl run, 74 yards by Marcus Allen. "But that was a busted play," Whisenhunt said. "This was a designed play that worked exactly the way it was designed." (A well designed running play. Well now that the Airhead is gone maybe we will see more of that again. To tell the truth I was on the verge of giving up my 48 year long allegiance to the Steelers because of the Airhead. - mesa)
7. Super Bowl XXX: Bill Cowher calls for "Surprise onside"
The Steelers trailed, 20-10, with 11:20 left when Cowher made one of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history. It paid off. Norm Johnson's low line drive bounced to Deon Figures in full stride. Talk about goose bumps. Listen hard enough, and you probably still can hear the reaction in your household. You can probably still feel it. So, don't let anyone talk about Saints coach Sean Payton's onside-kick call in Super Bowl XLIV without bringing up the original.
6. Super Bowl X: Jack Lambert body slams Cliff Harris
Technically, it wasn't a "play." But it changed the game. And any self-respecting Steelers die-hard will tell you it's an all-time favorite moment. Harris mockingly patted Steelers kicker Roy Gerela on the helmet after a field-goal miss. Lambert went insane. Trailing, 10-7, the Steelers went on to win, 21-17. Lambert was threatened with ejection for his act. If James Harrison ever did something similar, Roger Goodell would put him in front of a firing squad.
5. Super Bowl XIV: John Stallworth hauls in the goods
The game's go-ahead play was beautiful in its understated athletic brilliance -- and for the fittingly understated call from Pat Summerall: "Deep for Stallworth. Touchdown for the Steelers." A 73-yard touchdown, to be exact, on third-and-8 early in the fourth quarter. Stallworth caught the tight, 45-yard spiral over the wrong shoulder with a hand in his face. (I was in the stadium for this one and I'll never forget it. It broke the back of the LA Lambs. - mesa)
4. Super Bowl X: Lynn Swann reels in mighty catch
The miracle of this 53-yard, bobbling reception is that even after seeing it for the 4,796th time, it's still not old. The Sports Illustrated cover depicted Swann in mid-fall -- has any human ever stumbled so gracefully? -- and poor Mark Washington lying flat on his back. The Cowboys were ahead, 10-7, late in the second quarter with the Steelers third-and-6 on their 10. So, this wasn't just an act of artistry. It was a momentum-changer.
3. Super Bowl X: Terry Bradshaw makes knockout throw
Could easily be No. 1 based on importance (gave the Steelers a 21-10 lead in the fourth quarter) and Bradshaw's magnificence and toughness. He was knocked unconscious by Larry Cole upon releasing the ball, yet managed to deliver a perfect spiral that traveled 66 yards in the air and hit Swann in stride for a 64-yard TD. This play, along with many others, serves as evidence that Bradshaw was the best clutch long-ball passer in NFL history.
2. Super Bowl XLIII: Ben Roethlisberger completes epic drive
NFL Network recently ran its top-10 Super Bowl plays, and this wasn't one of them. Are they kidding? The only debate here is which was more unreal -- Roethlisberger's throw or Holmes' toe-tapping catch. I later asked Bruce Arians to review the play in detail. It was called "62 Scat Flasher Z Level," and Holmes was the third read. Roethlisberger fired a bullet over three Cardinals defenders. "Probably the best throw I've ever seen," Arians said.
1. Super Bowl XLIII: James Harrison travels 100 yards with Kurt Warner's pass
We all know the particulars by now. Harrison was supposed to blitz but didn't; longest play in Super Bowl history, etc. Yet, like Swann's catch, it never gets old. Who could forget Harrison tight-roping the right sideline and taking a monstrous hit at the end? He couldn't even stand up. "I had a kink in my neck," he said. "And I was tired as a dog."
No, we didn't talk about Antwaan Randle El's pass, Dwight White's safety, Jack Lambert's interception or Reggie Harrison's blocked punt. We easily could have. Those and plenty more.
But eight was enough.
Joe Starkey can be reached at jraystarkey@gmail.com or .
Read more: Starkey: Harrison's pick six tops Steelers' best Super Bowl plays - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_780106.html#ixzz1lWBA87Ld
By Joe Starkey
PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW
Sunday, February 5, 2012
Eight is enough.
I mean, we could haggle over the Steelers' best 50 Super Bowl plays and still have room for 50 more. We could spend all day just debating Lynn Swann's top 50.
But let's stick with eight, matching the franchise number of Super Bowl appearances. Let's divert our attention -- if only for a moment -- from the dark possibility of Bill Belichick and Tom Brady celebrating on our television sets sometime this evening.
There was no specific criterion for choosing these plays. I took a thoughtfully nonrhythmic approach, mixing factors such as athleticism, execution, importance and symbolism. Sometimes, I simply considered a given play and counted the goose bumps it still could raise ...
8. Super Bowl XL: Fast Willie goes 75
The longest touchdown run in Super Bowl history came on a classic smash-mouth Steelers play called "Counter 34-Pike." The blocking was exquisite, notably left guard Alan Faneca pulling right and burying LeRoy Hill. I remember sitting down with then-offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt and dissecting the video. I brought up the previous record Super Bowl run, 74 yards by Marcus Allen. "But that was a busted play," Whisenhunt said. "This was a designed play that worked exactly the way it was designed." (A well designed running play. Well now that the Airhead is gone maybe we will see more of that again. To tell the truth I was on the verge of giving up my 48 year long allegiance to the Steelers because of the Airhead. - mesa)
7. Super Bowl XXX: Bill Cowher calls for "Surprise onside"
The Steelers trailed, 20-10, with 11:20 left when Cowher made one of the gutsiest calls in Super Bowl history. It paid off. Norm Johnson's low line drive bounced to Deon Figures in full stride. Talk about goose bumps. Listen hard enough, and you probably still can hear the reaction in your household. You can probably still feel it. So, don't let anyone talk about Saints coach Sean Payton's onside-kick call in Super Bowl XLIV without bringing up the original.
6. Super Bowl X: Jack Lambert body slams Cliff Harris
Technically, it wasn't a "play." But it changed the game. And any self-respecting Steelers die-hard will tell you it's an all-time favorite moment. Harris mockingly patted Steelers kicker Roy Gerela on the helmet after a field-goal miss. Lambert went insane. Trailing, 10-7, the Steelers went on to win, 21-17. Lambert was threatened with ejection for his act. If James Harrison ever did something similar, Roger Goodell would put him in front of a firing squad.
5. Super Bowl XIV: John Stallworth hauls in the goods
The game's go-ahead play was beautiful in its understated athletic brilliance -- and for the fittingly understated call from Pat Summerall: "Deep for Stallworth. Touchdown for the Steelers." A 73-yard touchdown, to be exact, on third-and-8 early in the fourth quarter. Stallworth caught the tight, 45-yard spiral over the wrong shoulder with a hand in his face. (I was in the stadium for this one and I'll never forget it. It broke the back of the LA Lambs. - mesa)
4. Super Bowl X: Lynn Swann reels in mighty catch
The miracle of this 53-yard, bobbling reception is that even after seeing it for the 4,796th time, it's still not old. The Sports Illustrated cover depicted Swann in mid-fall -- has any human ever stumbled so gracefully? -- and poor Mark Washington lying flat on his back. The Cowboys were ahead, 10-7, late in the second quarter with the Steelers third-and-6 on their 10. So, this wasn't just an act of artistry. It was a momentum-changer.
3. Super Bowl X: Terry Bradshaw makes knockout throw
Could easily be No. 1 based on importance (gave the Steelers a 21-10 lead in the fourth quarter) and Bradshaw's magnificence and toughness. He was knocked unconscious by Larry Cole upon releasing the ball, yet managed to deliver a perfect spiral that traveled 66 yards in the air and hit Swann in stride for a 64-yard TD. This play, along with many others, serves as evidence that Bradshaw was the best clutch long-ball passer in NFL history.
2. Super Bowl XLIII: Ben Roethlisberger completes epic drive
NFL Network recently ran its top-10 Super Bowl plays, and this wasn't one of them. Are they kidding? The only debate here is which was more unreal -- Roethlisberger's throw or Holmes' toe-tapping catch. I later asked Bruce Arians to review the play in detail. It was called "62 Scat Flasher Z Level," and Holmes was the third read. Roethlisberger fired a bullet over three Cardinals defenders. "Probably the best throw I've ever seen," Arians said.
1. Super Bowl XLIII: James Harrison travels 100 yards with Kurt Warner's pass
We all know the particulars by now. Harrison was supposed to blitz but didn't; longest play in Super Bowl history, etc. Yet, like Swann's catch, it never gets old. Who could forget Harrison tight-roping the right sideline and taking a monstrous hit at the end? He couldn't even stand up. "I had a kink in my neck," he said. "And I was tired as a dog."
No, we didn't talk about Antwaan Randle El's pass, Dwight White's safety, Jack Lambert's interception or Reggie Harrison's blocked punt. We easily could have. Those and plenty more.
But eight was enough.
Joe Starkey can be reached at jraystarkey@gmail.com or .
Read more: Starkey: Harrison's pick six tops Steelers' best Super Bowl plays - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/steelers/print_780106.html#ixzz1lWBA87Ld