Breaking Down the Offenses for Super Bowl XLV

It’s time to break down the offenses for Super Bowl XLV.  Yes, we are that close to the game!  With only a few days left, it’s high team to really get into who will have the best offense on the field come Super Bowl Sunday!

Super Bowl XLV

Where:  Cowboys Stadium, Arlington, Texas 
When:  Feb. 6th, 2011
TV:  FOX

Quarterback

Green Bay:  Aaron Rodgers

Rodgers proved to be one of the most efficient and electric quarterbacks of the season.  He threw for 3922 yards, 28 touchdowns to only 11 picks, a 65.7% completion percentage, and recorded a QB rating of 101.2.  Rodgers threw for 6 touchdowns and only 2 picks during the playoffs and is obviously the cog that gets the Packers’ offense going.

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Pittsburgh:  Ben Roethlisberger

Big Ben will be looking for his 3rd Super Bowl ring since 2005.  Pittsburgh’s most important player finished the season with only 17 touchdowns and 5 picks for a 97 QB rating.  Roethlisberger’s importance to the Steelers cannot be understated, however, as Ben’s sheer will power led to a Pittsburgh victory over Baltimore in the playoffs.  He’s one of the most efficient managing quarterbacks in the NFL and he has an uncanny knack for getting his team to play the hardest when the stakes are at their highest.

Edge: Pittsburgh Steelers.  Without a doubt, Aaron Rodgers is a terrific QB, but Big Ben is an amazing field general.  The man is 2 and 0 in Super Bowls for a reason.  He can single-handedly get both the offense and defense to play harder and everybody on Pittsburgh’s team, players and coaches, respond to his leadership.

Running Backs

Green Bay:  James Starks

Starks got the starting nod over RB Brandon Jackson in the NFC Wild Card Round game versus the Philadelphia Eagles.  He responded brilliantly with 123 yards off of 23 carries for a 5.3 average.  The problem for Starks is that he ran for a 2.6 average versus Atlanta and a 3.4 average versus Chicago.  Oh, yes, it doesn’t help that James faces the league’s best rush defense on Sunday.

Pittsburgh:  Rashard Mendenhall

Mendenhall carried Pittsburgh’s offense during Big Ben’s suspension to start the season.  He ended up rushing for 1273 yards and 13 touchdowns.  Although Rashard had a string of tough games leading up to the AFC Championship, where he averaged no more than 3.6 yards per carry, the Steelers’ gifted RB responded against the New York Jets famed defense when racking up 127 yards on 27 attempts for a 4.5 average and a TD. 

Edge:  Pittsburgh.  Starks is a rookie, people.  Sure, the Steelers’ O-Line is banged up, but Mendenhall is still the better back of the two.

Wide Receivers/Tight End

Green Bay

Green Bay’s receiving corp, led by Greg Jennings, who caught 76 passes for 1265 yards and 12 touchdowns, is as good as any in the league.  QB Aaron Rodgers can get the ball to Jennings, veteran Donald Driver, Jordy Nelson, or even the super quick James Jones.  Rodgers has faith in all four of those guys.  Coach Mike McCarthy creates plays for all four and there’s no doubt that if the Packers are going to win on Feb. 6th, it will have a lot to do with the success of the wide receiving unit.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh’s wide receiving corps is led by 34-year-old veteran Hines Ward. Ward hasn’t been very good in a while but there’s no player on Pittsburgh’s team that’s as much of a team player as Ward.  Pittsburgh actually creates plays designed around Ward’s blocking downfield.  WR Mike Wallace can really stretch the field and rookies Antonio Brown and Emanuel Sanders have come a long way.  Pittsburgh’s tight-end, Heath Miller, is a handful and will be counted upon to keep Green Bay’s linebackers honest on pass situations.

Edge:  Even.  Most sports writers are giving the edge to Green Bay’s wide receivers, and that’s understandable.  To me, Heath Miller’s ability to cause havoc in the middle of the field and Ward’s incredible ability to block puts the Steelers’ pass-catchers on par with Green Bay’s.

Offensive Line

Green Bay

The offensive line gelled quite well as the season wore on.  They truly protected QB Aaron Rodgers, but they’ve been unable to open wide enough running lanes for James Starks in the past two games.  Still, with Chad Clifton at left tackle, Green Bay should feel somewhat secure on Sunday.

Pittsburgh

The Steelers’ offensive line could be in a world of hurt come Super Bowl Sunday with center Maurkice Pouncey unlikely to play.  Without Pouncey, the Steelers will be down to four back-ups along the O-Line.  That’s not a good thing, but Pittsburgh has had offensive line trouble all season long and, yet, here they are.  Perhaps, it’s the system that means more than the players when it comes to the Steelers’ offensive line.

Edge:  Green Bay Packers.  The Packers’ O-line is intact while Pittsburgh’s isn’t.

Overall Edge:  Pittsburgh

Green Bay has the flashier offense, but Pittsburgh has a legitimate running game.  They can use that running game to open things up for Ward, whom I predict will have a huge game on Feb. 6th, and Wallace deep.  Also, I love Miller’s presence and ability to simply outwork strong safeties and linebackers.

Are you ready for Super Bowl XLV?  Log on and bet on this Sunday’s Super Bowl!

Sources:  espn.com, msnbc.com, covers.com