With three postseason games under his belt and one big one to come, Larry Fitzgerald has already broken Jerry Rice's single postseason receiving yardage record with a whopping 419 yards. Fitzgerald also became only the third receiver in NFL history to have three touchdown catches in an NFL championship game. Did I mention that he has five consecutive 100-yard receiving games dating back to week 16 of the regular season?
Can Fitzgerald be stopped? Yes.
In fact, Fitzgerald had nine games during the season that he was held under 100 yards, and he had less than 80 yards in eight of those games. So what's the secret?
Seven of the nine games that Fitzgerald was held under 100 yards came from defenses that finished the season ranked in the top 14 in the NFL. Four of the games that Fitzgerald was held under 100 yards came from teams that finished the season ranked third, fifth, sixth and eighth. See a trend?
The only headscratcher on the list was the St. Louis Rams. The Rams featured the NFL's 28th-ranked defense and 19th-ranked passing defense. The Rams held Fitzgerald under 100 yards twice this season and only allowed him to score one touchdown.
Tye Hill and Fakhir Brown contained him and only allowed him to catch 12 balls for 154 yards in the two meetings combined.
In the seven games that Fitzgerald piled up over 100 yards, five of the games came against defenses ranked 16, 25, 29, and 32 twice.
Fitzgerald only had 100-yard games against two teams with defenses ranked in the top 11 (109 yards against No. 7, Washington, and 101 yards against No. 11, New England).
So, yes, he can be stopped.
Justin Dunio
Altoona
Friend, foe mourns Wertz
It was sad to read about the passing of Bud Wertz. For many years, Bud and I were fierce coaching competitors but best of friends.
The battles between Park Furniture and 13th Ward when we were both involved were exciting. It was almost professional as we both tried to outguess the other. Competition between us in the AAABA League was just as great.
Off the field, we were good friends. We both worked for Conrail at similar jobs for a few years, Bud was on the first floor, and I was on the second. We would meet at various times during the week to pick each other's brain for upcoming games, either against each other or against other teams.
Like other coaches, neither of us got paid. But money was not our reason for being involved. Competing against each other was why we were there.
A good friend has gone from my past coaching days, but I will always remember how it was between my friend Bud Wertz and me.
John Austin
Altoona
Music was in bad taste
Am I the only person who thought it was tasteless for the Steeler media folks to continue playing loud rock music while Willis McGahee lay motionless on the field?
I thought it was incredibly insensitive. Please. Show some respect.
Bob Hample
New Cumberland, PA
