Breaking Down the Defenses and Special Teams for Super Bowl XLV

According to most football scholars, offenses win games and defenses win championships.  If that’s the case, then it’s high time that we took a look at both the Steelers’ and Packers’ defenses going into Feb. 6th.  We’ll also take a look at the special teams in this article.

Super Bowl XLV

Where:  Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas 

When:  Feb. 6th, 2011

TV:  FOX

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Defensive Line

Green Bay

The Packers have a solid D-Line led by BJ Raji who recorded 6.5 sacks and 29 solo tackles this season.  Raji is probably licking his lips at the chance of taking on a depleted Pittsburgh offensive line.  Left end Ryan Pickett is a big dude and can take on two offensive linemen on almost every play.  The other end, Cullen Jenkins can get to the QB if the offensive line forgets about him.

Pittsburgh

Aaron Smith is out but Ziggy Hood has been tremendous when replacing him.  Along with nose tackle Casey Hampton, Hood has been the reason that the Steelers are allowing an incredible 62.8 yards per game on the ground.  That’s #1 in the NFL.  Brett Keisel recorded only 3 sacks during the season, but he’s quick enough to get into zone coverage on pass plays and can actually cover a running back and definitely a tight-end if need be. 

Edge:  Pittsburgh.  I don’t even think this one is close.  Yes, a lot of other writers are giving the edge to Green Bay, but Hood, Hampton and Keisel give up an incredible 62.8 yards per game on the ground and Keisel is good in zone pass coverage.  The man has defended against 7 passes in the last 7 games.

Linebackers

Green Bay

Rookie Clay Matthews terrorized NFC quarterbacks all season long when recording 17 sacks.  Unfortunately for Green Bay, both Desmond Bishop and A.J. Hawk aren’t nearly as capable of getting to the QB as Matthews meaning that the Packers will need to be very creative in their blitz packages to unleash the rookie wild man. 

Pittsburgh

There’s really no comparison.  Lawrence Timmons, James Farrior and James Harrison make up the best linebacking corps in the NFL.  Harrison recorded 10 ½ sacks and an incredible 70 solo tackles this season.  Timmons recorded 96 solo tackles and Farrior recorded 81 solo tackles and 6 sacks.   

Edge:  Pittsburgh.  Come on, really?  No, my friends, the Packers’ linebackers aren’t close to being as good as Pittsburgh’s.  Matthews recorded a ton of sacks but outside of Clay, neither Hawk nor Bishop would secure a starting position on Pittsburgh’s squad.  Timmons, Farrior and Harrison are awesome.

Secondary

Green Bay

The Packers’ secondary has turned into arguably the best in the NFL.  CB Tramon Williams is fantastic while CB Charles Woodson is equally adept at shutting down wide receivers.  The safeties, Sam Shields and Nick Collins, are very good at reading the quarterbacks’ eyes and jumping to the ball.  All four guys can tackle and, this is where GB’s secondary really shines, Williams and Woodson are good at rushing the QB.  Green Bay’s secondary is flat out, well, good.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s secondary has been maligned all season long.  It’s not horrible.  Safety Troy Polamalu might be one of the best to ever play the position and CB Ike Taylor is a decent cover corner, but CB Bryan McFadden and third CB William Gay could have a hard time keeping the Green Bay wide receivers from making spectacular plays.  The Pittsburgh secondary might be in for a long Sunday on Feb. 6th. 

Edge:  Green Bay.  The Packers’ secondary is actually the heart of their defense.  Matthews ability to get to Big Ben is going to be determined by how well the secondary shuts down Ward, Brown, Sanders and Wallace.

Special Teams

Green Bay

Mason Crosby is one of the better place-kickers in the NFL.  He can also send the ball long on kick-offs.  Punter Tim Masthay is terrific at getting the ball inside the opponent’s 20-yard line and gets the ball up high enough to force fair catches.  James Starks returns kick-offs for the Packers.  He’s really not that good at it.

Pittsburgh

Kicker Shaun Suisham was unemployed until getting the Pittsburgh job in Week 11 this season.  Suisham is a decent kicker but he’s no where near as good as Crosby.  Punter Jeremy Kapinos is the 32nd ranked (that’s last!) punter in the NFL based on per kick average.  Antonio Brown is a bright spot as a kick returner.  He can go the distance if a seam opens up for him. 

Edge:  Green Bay.  Yes, Antonio Brown is the better kick-off returner, but Crosby and Masthay are invaluable if the game becomes a defensive struggle, and you’re not going to find a Pittsburgh fan on this planet that wants the game to be in the hands(leg?) of Suisham in the 4th quarter.

Overall Edge:  Green Bay

The Pittsburgh defensive line and linebackers are better than Green Bay’s, but the Packers have such a superior secondary that I have to give them the edge on defense.  When it comes to special teams, it’s not even close.  Green Bay’s kickers are far, far superior to Pittsburgh’s.

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