Re: steeler vs az cardinals in the super bowel
Biggest intangible? The Cards coaching staff knows the Steelers as well as the Steelers coaching staff knows them. Whisenhunt and Grimm helped build this team. The one time they faced each other since Tomlin was made coach, the Cards beat them.
Demi's positional analysis:
QB: Slight edge to Warner. Roethlisberger is very good, but Warner has a quicker release and is more accurate. Big Ben's stats in the passing game are mediocre this year (17 TDs to 15 Ints), but he's a big game QB with great escability. If he only plays average, the edge clearly goes to Warner.
RB: Actually a push, though I know most people would favor the
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/page/PITSteelers If Meandenhall was healthy I'd give it to the Steelers, he could have been a big contributor this season, but Parker isn't an upgrade at this point over James/Hightower, and Arrington is a better 3rd down back than Moore.
WR: Edge to Cards. Big edge to Cards if Ward can't play. As much as I respect Ward, Fitz is having the best post season of all time, and I don't see the Steelers shutting him out if the Eagles couldn't. And Boldin/Breaston is a big edge over Holmes/Washington.
TE: Edge to Steelers. Spach is out, and while most haven't heard of him he was burying folks in the running game. Miller is the best of this bunch, Spaeth is good. Pope has great talent but is a head case.
OL - Push. In the regular season it was no contest, but Grimm has taken these guys up a notch in the postseason. This is a good but not great Steelers line; they've had better.
DL: Slight edge Steelers. Both lines are good against the run, but the Steelers line provides more pass rush.
LB: Big Edge to Steelers. Harrison, Farrior and Foote are fantastic, and Woodley is getting that way. The Cards LB is above average, with Dansby really showing up in the playoffs, but the Steelers LB are among the best ever as a unit.
S: Push. Polamalu is amazing, but then so is Adrian Wilson. The best pure cover guy is Cromartie. But the Steelers play better team defense in the secondary.
ST: Push. Neither team is really special here. Both have very good kickers, but everything else is pedestrian.
Coaching: Normally even, Tomlin is very good and LeBeau is an all-time great.. But this is a matchup that really favors the Cards, because not only are the Cards coaches familiar with the Steelers, they are familiar with them in that system with those player. Big edge Cards.
Should be a great game. I call it 27-24 Cards.