http://www.usatoday.com/sports/football/nfl/steelers/2009-01-18-parker-sidebar_N.htm
<HR style="COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Parker on Steelers: 'Lucky we've got a defense'
By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Willie Parker hardly rushed into the Super Bowl.
"We tried to run. We tried to run all night. It just never happened," Parker said after the Steelers beat the Ravens 23-14 Sunday in the AFC title game to advance to the Super Bowl — despite Parker being held to a scant 47 rushing yards on 24 carries.
"Lucky we've got a defense," added Parker, whose long gain was seven yards. "You always rely on defense winning championships, and that's what happened tonight.
In six previous games against the Ravens, Parker had averaged 43.7 yards with a high of 63 yards. He got a little over his average Sunday, but he's still never rushed for a touchdown versus the Ravens.
"They made a point of stopping the run," said Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks.
"They had eight men in the box (bunched near the line of scrimmage) the entire night. …Jim Leonhard (Ravens safety) must have had 40 tackles. He was coming down (to the line) every single play."
Leonhard actually had just three tackles and an assist. But he was playing the run hard all game. Linebacker Ray Lewis and Bart Scott had six solo tackles each, and 345-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata had five solos.
"That boy (Ngata) is a beast, man, he's a load," said Parker. "I'm glad we don't have to face the Ravens' front every week."
Though Pittsburgh netted just 52 rushing yards as a team, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 255 yards.
"They were going to stop the run at all costs and I guess give Ben a lot more passing yards," said Starks.
In the first nine games of this season, Parker had missed five starts, four with a knee injury and one with a shoulder injury.
However, he had come on strong in Pittsburgh's two previous games, rushing for 116 yards in the Steelers' regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns and a season-high 146 yards (plus two touchdowns) in Pittsburgh's divisional round playoff victory last weekend against the San Diego Chargers.
After the battle with Baltimore, Parker removed black tape covering two deep scrapes on his upper right arm. That wasn't the result of the Ravens clawing at him. He said he sustained those cuts against San Diego.
But Baltimore knocked him around all game. "We all just couldn't do the things we needed to do to come up with more points," said Parker.
"We just need to do a better job running."
<HR style="COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=1><!-- / icon and title --><!-- message -->Parker on Steelers: 'Lucky we've got a defense'
By Gary Mihoces, USA TODAY
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Steelers and running back Willie Parker hardly rushed into the Super Bowl.
"We tried to run. We tried to run all night. It just never happened," Parker said after the Steelers beat the Ravens 23-14 Sunday in the AFC title game to advance to the Super Bowl — despite Parker being held to a scant 47 rushing yards on 24 carries.
"Lucky we've got a defense," added Parker, whose long gain was seven yards. "You always rely on defense winning championships, and that's what happened tonight.
In six previous games against the Ravens, Parker had averaged 43.7 yards with a high of 63 yards. He got a little over his average Sunday, but he's still never rushed for a touchdown versus the Ravens.
"They made a point of stopping the run," said Steelers offensive tackle Max Starks.
"They had eight men in the box (bunched near the line of scrimmage) the entire night. …Jim Leonhard (Ravens safety) must have had 40 tackles. He was coming down (to the line) every single play."
Leonhard actually had just three tackles and an assist. But he was playing the run hard all game. Linebacker Ray Lewis and Bart Scott had six solo tackles each, and 345-pound nose tackle Haloti Ngata had five solos.
"That boy (Ngata) is a beast, man, he's a load," said Parker. "I'm glad we don't have to face the Ravens' front every week."
Though Pittsburgh netted just 52 rushing yards as a team, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger threw for 255 yards.
"They were going to stop the run at all costs and I guess give Ben a lot more passing yards," said Starks.
In the first nine games of this season, Parker had missed five starts, four with a knee injury and one with a shoulder injury.
However, he had come on strong in Pittsburgh's two previous games, rushing for 116 yards in the Steelers' regular-season finale against the Cleveland Browns and a season-high 146 yards (plus two touchdowns) in Pittsburgh's divisional round playoff victory last weekend against the San Diego Chargers.
After the battle with Baltimore, Parker removed black tape covering two deep scrapes on his upper right arm. That wasn't the result of the Ravens clawing at him. He said he sustained those cuts against San Diego.
But Baltimore knocked him around all game. "We all just couldn't do the things we needed to do to come up with more points," said Parker.
"We just need to do a better job running."
