Don't Hit the Snooze Button on Defense!

The fact that I'm writing a blog post about this after not physically writing in this blog for almost two years says two things...
1. Grad school sucks.
2. I FEEL THIS PASSIONATE ABOUT THE SUBJECT.

If you thought the Super Bowl was boring this year, WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW (gotta watch it through YouTube because the NFL is super petty) THEN TRY AGAIN TO TELL ME OTHERWISE:


HO-LY SMOKES.

Many times, from a rugby perspective, I've thought defense in football is sloppy, lazy, and overall just stupid from how much more dangerous it is. I'm sure I'm preaching to the rugby choir right now, but trying to go into a tackle with your head or grabbing someone's arms/jersey...HOW DOES THAT SOUND EFFECTIVE?!?! Us rugby players have all found ourselves in that situation at one point or another, but usually it's from being tired and more of a last resort.

The defense in this Super Bowl, however, has brought back my faith and appreciation for football defense...and defense in general! Let's review just a few of the many defensive wonders from that game:

-  The very first play shown in the above YouTube video: McCourty's Touchdown Stoppage

I have extreme mixed feelings about Tony Romo as an announcer but BOY AM I GLAD that he mentioned Jason McCourty came from across the field to cover that play (wish they could've SHOWED IT). Not only was he not supposed to be there, but he HAULED ASS to cover it anyway because he saw it open and ended up getting there RIGHT at the perfect time to prevent the touchdown. Many times in sports, you can think very black and white about where you're supposed to be on the field and what you're supposed to be doing. It's a whole other level of skill to be able to recognize that you're needed somewhere that you're not naturally supposed to be and create that "heads up" play.

- Van Noy Brings Goff to His Knees [3:10 in video]

This one isn't as much tackling "skill"...because honestly, he hardly even tackled him at all.
...BUT BOY DID HE SCARE THE SHIT OUT OF HIM.
That's what aggression and firing up on defense does. Seeing someone charge at you like that is HORRIFYING [I've been horrified at flyhalf with someone charging at me and also seen someone horrified when I'm charging at them haha].

Last but not least for these highlights...
- GILMORE PRACTICALLY TURNS A GIGANTIC STIFF ARM TO THE FACE INTO A FUMBLE!!!!!!!! [0:53 in video]

OHHHHHH MYYYYYYYY GODDDDDDDD.
Being stiff armed in the face is humiliating, de-humanizing, and NOT FUN AT ALL. IT'S REALLY THE WORST. Usually when I've been stiff armed in the face...I've just kinda played dead...kinda hoped the ground would just swallow me whole.
But GILMORE is able to get stiff armed in the face, and in MID-AIR, PUNCH THE BALL OUT OF ANDERSON'S ARM...I'VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THAT IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
He basically made the huge stiff arm completely useless and stupid because Anderson thought it would be better to make a fancy stiff arm and hold the ball with one hand rather than keep it safe and secure with two.

I also can't write a post about Patriots defense without mentioning Hightower. Not only does he constantly make big plays on defense, but he elevates the entire defense with his energy and aggression. It's hard to choose just one play to highlight because he puts so much into every play.

Maybe many people thought the Super Bowl was boring because they went up to take a bathroom break or refill their food plate when the defense came on the field. I hope more people realize the passion, energy, and athleticism that goes into stopping a play and making a tackle. 

HOORAH DE-FENSE!

P.S. I know this small mention won't do justice, but I also HAVE to acknowledge the Rams defense, which was equally as terrifying and amazing. Overall a Super Bowl FINAL score of 13-3 is UNREAL. People probably weren't expecting that to happen because of how dominant both offenses have been throughout the season. But BOTH defenses really became the stars of the show!! And I am A-OK with that :)


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