DETROIT – The Steelers, dating back to their Steel Curtain days, have always been built on their defense as a foundation to success.
Funny thing, though, entering last night’s 21-10 Super Bowl XL victory over the Seahawks, the most talked-about elements to this team were the second-year quarterback who has sandwiches named after him in Pittsburgh and a running back nicknamed the “Bus.”
Few talked about the Steeler defense.
The Steelers’ defense, though, delivered a pretty emphatic answer to being overlooked and not yet having a catchy nickname like its predecessors had in stifling a prolific Seahawk offense that had a quarterback in Matt Hasselbeck, who threw 24 TD passes this season and a running back in Shaun Alexander, who won the NFL rushing title and scored a league-record 28 TDs.
The Steelers held that offense to one TD last night.
“I’ve never had a happier night in my life,” Steelers defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau said after the game amid celebratory cigar smoke wafting everywhere.
LeBeau has been in the game for 38 years as a player and a coach and this is his first Super Bowl title. He played for the Lions and was head coach in Cincinnati before returning to the Steelers to run Bill Cowher’s defense.
“I’ve had a lot of at-bats, you know,” LeBeau joked. “Law of averages caught up.”
LeBeau is known as the father of the zone blitz, which every team in the league uses now, though none better than the Steelers, who befuddled the Seahawks with their disguised blitzes all night.
Asked if this were the best defense he’s ever been a part of, LeBeau said, “I’ve never been with a group that won the Super Bowl. We had great defenses in Pittsburgh, ones that went to the Super Bowl. But tonight we gave up only 10 points.”
Asked if he would have signed on before the game for 10 points allowed to this Seattle team, LeBeau said, “Tell me where I sign that contract. There’s no question we played our best football at the right time.”
Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel said, “This defense is, by far, the toughest defense I’ve ever been on.
“Our goal every week is to allow no more than 17 points,” Keisel went on. “If we hold a team to 17 points we figure we can win the game. To hold a team to 10 is big.”
The Steelers did allow 95 rushing yards to Alexander, but they were quiet yards. And, the keys were the big plays. The Seahawks were held to a mere 5-of-17 on third down conversions.
“I give due to Coach LeBeau,” Steeler linebacker James Farrior said. “All we had to do was execute and believe in what he had going in. This is the greatest feeling in the world.”