NO PLACE TO RUN (01.21.05)
Bill Belichick has long been known as the NFL's top tactical coach, but the national media has really been laying it on thick since his Patriots dismantled Peyton Manning's "unstoppable" offense in the second round of the playoffs. Sean Salisbury said on ESPN that if Belichick had coached the Steelers of the '70s, they would have won 10 Super Bowls.
Yeah, and Belichick would have gotten credit for drawing up the Immaculate Reception and practicing it the week prior.
Belichick is a great coach. It's hard to picture Bill Cowher outcoaching him this coming Sunday.
But it's foolish to think that coaching will be the only factor that decides the AFC Championship Game, or even the primary factor.
If Joey Porter and Clark Haggans control the edges like they did when the Steelers lambasted the Patriots in Week 8, can Belichick scheme against that?
If the Steelers put together six-, seven-, or eight-minute drives, can Belichick scheme against that?
If Tom Brady falls apart like he did in Week 8 - or, for that matter, like he did before he got injured in the 2001 AFC final - can Belichick scheme against that?
Coaching has always been a big factor in football. Belichick has admittedly taken it to the next level. But leave it to the "experts" to find a way to overrate it.
While the "experts" - and New England fans - are basically counting on Ben Roethlisberger to implode, the Pats have some time bombs that are tick, tick, ticking as well. We've already covered some of Brady's problems, and don't forget his collapse at Miami in Week 16.
In 13 games against the Steelers with Cincinnati, Corey Dillon had just two 100-yard games. He's with a better team now, true. But Dillon is used to getting brought down for short gains by those black-and-gold unis.
The Patriots' secondary is incredibly depleted. I heard Earth, Wind & Fire is in their defensive backfield. Does Funkadelic enter the game in the dime package?
It's a shame Roethlisberger isn't in mid-season form. If he were, he'd tear New England's secondary apart. And if he were, the Steelers would be 6-point favorites, not 3-point underdogs.
Don't be shocked if Antwaan Randle El has a huge game. The Patriots managed to cover Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne last week, but Brandon Stokely was open all day. Manning usually couldn't get the ball to Stokely, and when he did, Stokely dropped it.
If, as expected, the Pats concentrate on Plaxico Burress and Hines Ward, Randle El should be the most open of Big Ben's targets. If Randle El gets the ball, he will make the Patriots suffer.
Steelers 28, Patriots 14. Belichick may have masterminded D-Day, invented the telephone and found a cure for male pattern baldness.
But what the Steelers do, he can't stop.
Personally, I think the Steelers will win, but I personally think this guy is a little over the top. Anything for ratings.
Randle El is good but he has to hold onto the ball.
Was that MARK Madden's column?
Yeh, Belichick is great but he still hasn't found Amelia Earhardt. I'll tell you one thing, if the Pats beat the Steelers on Sunday, we're never going to stop hearing about Belichick's incredible genius. So, let's put an end to that talk on Sunday around 6:30 p.m.
YOI!