[RealRam]

It was a terrific tackle in the sense that Jones' positioning was sound and his fundamentals were perfect. -- General Counsel

Among many other examples used by coaches to either teach or improve their players on how to tacke (I'd say at any level), that TACKLE by Mike Jones has to be one of the best available to review ... over and over and over. Forever!

What a way to put the final note on an exciting Super Bowl!


Frankly, I cannot remember exactly what I thought during the live broacast of that final play. That is, whether Dyson had reached far enough or not. I suppose I bought into the immediate celebration too soon and didn't allow myself the possibility of doubt.

However, once the tackle is replayed, there is definite room and reason to ... at least "want" to see it a couple more times (each time) to sort of enjoy it further -- knowing of course that it will always be safe. :-)


Yes, it depends on the angle.

For a second, for a second's worth of Ramanguish, it does seem that the tip of the ball from the outstretched arm of Dyson **Gasp!** touches the plain of the end zone. Uh, oh ... 'are the refs going to review it?'

But Kevin was truly and fully tackled way before (in the trained eyes of the officials to notice): his knee, leg, rump, elbow, and shoulder -- in that order I think -- had clearly touched the turf before he attempted to get the pigskin over the line. Anyway, that's in 20/20 hindsight and, again, "after further review".

...Nonetheless, 'whew!'

_______________________________________

An article right after the game, about The Tackle:

St. Louis Post-Dispatch / Writer Stu Durando

"The first arm clutched Kevin Dyson's waist and slowed his movement. The second gripped his lower leg and locked him in place.

"As the Tennessee receiver eyed the end zone from two yards out, Rams linebacker Mike Jones dragged him to the ground. No amount of reaching for the goal line could negate the perfect tackle that saved Super Bowl XXXIV for the Rams.

"A converted running back, who made his name this season by scoring three touchdowns on fumble and interceptions returns, perfectly executed the defensive play of the game as time ran out."

:l


And in the words of LB Mike Jones himself (as told then to Vahe Gregorian NFL Insider).

Then came Super Bowl XXXIV, when Jones made national headlines with one of the most memorable defensive plays in NFL history. He preserved the Rams' 23-16 victory over Tennessee with a game-ending tackle of Kevin Dyson at the Rams' one-yard line.

For Jones, the moments that preceded that dramatic play are both vivid and happily blurred. We join him in progress, just before a 73-yard touchdown reception by Isaac Bruce put the Rams ahead with 1:54 to play.

"I was sitting on the bench trying to get rested when I saw the ball thrown up in the air and Isaac make the catch. My teammates must have thought I was crazy because they were jumping up and down and I just sat there and watched it like any other play.'

"I was already looking ahead, and I was thinking, 'I'd better get myself back together.' I didn't want to exert myself too much.'

"When our defense took the field, we had the Titans pinned inside their 20. I thought we would hold them three-and-out. All year, we stopped opponents that way on their last drive. But on third-and-seven, the Titans got a first down. After that, we'd do something good for a couple of plays, but then we'd get a penalty.'

"I was watching this happen and thinking, 'Man, isn't this game ever going to end?' On each snap, I kept thinking that we'd stop them. But they'd always seem to get a first down. It was like the Series from Hell.'

"No play was worse than the next-to-last one, when their quarterback, Steve McNair, scrambled around for what seemed like 25 seconds. We chased him all over the place, then he escaped.'

"I didn't really feel tired until after that play. Everyone felt it then. By this time, they were at our 10-yard line, and there were only five seconds left.'

"I knew there probably was time for only one more play. I was keying on the tight end, but when Dyson went in motion, we changed our call to what they probably wanted - man-for-man coverage. When Dyson motioned back out, we went back to the original call.'

"The tight end and Dyson both released upfield, with Dyson behind him in sort of a trail technique. They were hoping I'd follow the tight end, and they'd come back underneath with the wide receiver. But I saw him out of the corner of my eye. I didn't see the ball, but I saw his eyes get big so I knew the ball was coming.'

"At first, I thought I had him for a kill shot. I thought I had a better angle than I actually did. And I underestimated how fast he is. Running backs usually run that route, and they aren't as fast as receivers. But I think I surprised him, too. He didn't know how close I was. If he had seen me sooner, I think he would have changed his angle.'

"I knew as soon as I hit him that he wasn't going to get in, unless his upper body was six feet long. If it looked as if he was close to getting away, that was just because I hadn't brought my other arm around yet to wrap him up.'

"People have told me it was a textbook tackle. I don't know about that. But the one thing I've learned is you've got to get the guy down. First, you wrap. Second, you get him on the ground. After the play ended, I looked up and saw double zeroes on the clock.'

"I always thought I'd be turning back flips if my team won the Super Bowl. Instead, I acted more like a zombie. All I wanted to do was lie there and go to sleep.'

"When I got up, I felt like I was in a daze. It was like I closed my eyes one second, and when I opened them back up, everywhere I looked there was confetti falling to the ground."

Jones will always have a place among the greatest SB plays ever made. Ramrightly so! :bash:


The Tackle -- Thanks GC.