While watching NFL Network's Total Access show this past week, I ran across a key play made by Ravens Inside Linebacker Dannell Ellerbe. Host Amber Theoharris and analyst Brian Baldinger discussed Ellerbe's paly in depth, leading Baldinger to claim that it might have been a game saving play for the Ravens. The analysis was very interesting being that it was my first time hearing or reading about how well of a job Ellerbe had done in tackling Gore before a potential score to take the lead.
The situation was a 49ers 1st and 10 with 2:47 left in the 4th quarter and two timeouts available. The Baltimore Ravens still had their three timeouts left. Beginning at the 2:52 mark, you can see the 49ers handoff the ball to Gore from their Pistol formation. He is able to race down the left sideline until about the 8 yard line where Ellerbe shoves him out of bounds after escaping a tackle attempt by Ed Reed. The play ends at the 3:00 mark and if you take a closer look your able to notice that before making his great play, Ellerbe was held by Left Tackle Joe Staley near the line of scrimmage. After being bullied around for sometime, he was finally able to free himself and make it in time to prevent a touchdown. This play certainly made me gain a higher level of respect for Ellerbe's value to the team.
Some might say that the Ravens timeouts combined with the 2 minute warning, would have easily gave them back the lead but when considering the momentum built by the 49ers since the third quarter they should think otherwise. I myself didn't realize how important of a play Ellerbe had made until Brian's analysis. Stopping Gore led to the Ravens goal line stand which left 1:46 on the clock and became the signature moment of their victory. The series essentially took more time off the clock and gave momentum back to the Ravens after squandering a 28-6 lead. Even though they weren't able to score again on their next possession, Sam Koch took a safety in the endzone before punting to the 49ers with 4 seconds left on the clock. It had to be one of the more intelligent coaching decisions I have seen in a while.
As controversial as the non-call for the contact between Jimmy Smith and Michael Crabtree on the last play of the 49ers series has become, it will now forever be remembered in Super Bowl folklore as "4th and goal". After taking a closer look, denying Gore a touchdown wasn't just an obvious contribution by Ellerbe since his effort to make the tackle and it's role in the bigger picture will always make him an unsung MVP.
