Reviewing the Super Bowl
Reviewing my picks
My record: 1-0
Here’s what impressed me
And what I wasn’t so impressed with
Other Super Notes
My record: 1-0
- Nailing the Super Bowl pick feels pretty cool. Sometimes it pays to go with your heart over your head.
Here’s what impressed me
- The Officiating: I hate that I have to start off a review of the Super Bowl with a bit about the referees, but since it is a such a hot topic of discussion, it is unfortunately necessary. My personal feeling on officiating is that is should never dictate the outcome of a game, and I really believe in my opinion that by not making the holding call on 4th and goal Jerome Boger and his crew actually saved themselves from being a huge outcome on the game. As for the call itself, Crabtree initiated the contact with Smith, and it was a 50/50 call. I have long said that the NFL needs to drop the whole “when in doubt throw the flag” mantra they have imposed on their refs, and that is exactly what happened here. This was the biggest moment of the NFL season and the officials had been “letting them play” all night. Surprisingly, I feel it was ESPN First Take’s commentator Stephen A, Smith who said it best, the officials decided they were going to let the players dictate who walked away with the trophy that night, not themselves. I would much prefer that then we look back on the Super Bowl and remember a questionable call.
- Joe Flacco: Obviously. It was reported that Flacco turned down a $16 Million a year offer before the season began, and at the end of the season it looked like Flacco would be lucky to ever see that kind of money. Well, the Super Bowl MVP bet on himself and he won, big. Flacco passed for 11 touchdowns and zero interceptions in the postseason and played at a lights out level on some of the biggest stages in sports. He deserves all the money coming to him now. One thing, with the departure of Ray Lewis, this now more than ever needs to become Flacco’s team. He needs to step up as a player and a leader going forward.
- Colin Kaepernick: Yes he had some shaky moments in the first half, but after the sketchy power outage in the second half he may have just been the best player on the field. Even during the first half CK was making throws that were just unbelievable. I have yet to watch a quarterback who makes me gasp in awe when he throws the ball like this guy does. I tweeted on Sunday that “Kaepernick throws it better than anybody in the league period.” And I caught flack for that. I am not saying he is the best QB in the league, but just as a thrower he does it better than anyone. Lets remember that was just his tenth start people. Think of what is to come for this kid! The 49ers are going to be contending for a long time with him behind center.
- Anquan Boldin and Jacoby Jones: These two made hug play after huge play. Teams clearly respect that Torrey Smith can shred them deep and that opens up a lot of single coverage for these two players. Boldin came alive in the playoffs and with his strength and hands he makes some amazing catches without getting much separation from defensive backs. Every young receiver should be made to watch Boldin’s playoff tape from this season so they can learn that if you are physical enough you can get by without outstanding speed or athleticism. As for Jones, he is incredibly fast and took a kick an incredible 108 yards back to the house. His reception may have been even more impressive as he adjusted to an underthrown ball, got up and just out ran two defenders laterally to score. With the Ravens in cap trouble, there is a chance these two could become cap casualties. That cannot be allowed to happen. The Ravens must retain these weapons for Flacco, because for the first time since they have been in existence, the Ravens have the makings of an elite passing game.
And what I wasn’t so impressed with
- Jim Harbaugh: Let me start off by saying I think it is very hard to make a case that right now there is any coach in the league, outside of the hooded one in New England, which you should take over Jim Harbaugh. He is an offensive guru and has done a flat out stellar job in San Francisco. However, his team seemed unprepared and frazzled on the big stage before the power went out. That is on the head coach to have his team prepared to play. Starting the game out with a penalty for an illegal formation with two weeks to prepare is frankly inexcusable. But what bothers me even more is the younger Harbaugh’s behavior. His sideline edict, or lack there of, is nothing short of an embarrassment. Whenever there is a call that does not go his way something ends up hitting the dirt. He throws his hat, throws down his clipboard or play sheet, and sometimes he will just straight roll on the ground. That act will wear thin after awhile, so he needs to get a grip. And after the game he essentially sounded like he wanted to say the officials cost his team the game. Hey Jim, how about you get your team to play sixty minutes? I am quite convinced if the power never went off, the Ravens win this thing in a blow out.
- Aldon and Justin Smith: Did either of these guys play Sunday? I won’t harp on Justin too much because he is still clearly not 100%, but Aldon hasn’t done a thing in over a month now. The thought of him being touted as a defensive player of the year candidate seems laughable at this point. For all his talent and all his incredible sack production thus far in his very young career, he needs to beat guys like Bryant McKinnie with some sort of consistency, especially in the Super Bowl. Justin Smith is 34 and it would not be shocking if he is going to continue to have health issues, Aldon cannot rely on him to free things up forever.
Other Super Notes
- That half time show was awesome. Beyoncé was absolutely fantastic in all ways. She was entertaining and put on a hell of a show, she was sang and danced well, and she looked sexy dong it. I will take that over any of the halftime shows we have seen in the last several years.
- The lights going out was a terrible embarrassment. It was a totally different game pre and post-power outage, and if the Niners had stolen a win from the Ravens it would have been a big black eye on the face of the NFL. Also, it would have been all anybody was talking about for a long time. New Orleans is fantastic city to host the Super Bowl in, but their stadium is clearly not up to par. Under the Super Dome gets a tune up the NFL should not award another Super Bowl to that city.
- Ray Lewis had a nondescript game, and frankly he proved once again he is a liability on the field, but none of that matters. Ray Lewis is one of my favorite players of my time and to see him go out on top was a real special treat. Congratulations Ray on a tremendous career and a very magical playoff run. The run the Ravens went on may have just been the most unbelievable of all time, and it is hard to say anything but #52 carried them there. Go ahead and succeed in any walk of life you take on after football.
- The 49ers lost this game, but it is hard to look around the NFL and see a complete roster that I would take over this one. With a stacked defense that is now complimented by a young and explosive offense, this team is set up to contend in the NFC for years to come. The fact that they are extremely well coached helps too. They need to add some depth, but I will not be surprised one bit if they are right back at this spot come next year.
- This Super Bowl freaking rocked. What an awesome game.