Gridiron Meanderings

It’s less than 24 hours until we kick-off Super Bowl XLV, and I find myself in a rather reflective frame of mind. I was tempted to write a blow-by-blow analysis of what I expect to take place between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Green Bay Packers, but there are enough of those floating around on the internet that I don’t feel particularly compelled to add to the din. So I think I’ll just take a page from the Peter King playbook and share some random thoughts. My apologies to Packers fans, as these thoughts are slanted towards my team.

• A number of folks are predicting a relatively high scoring game (upper 20s and higher). My personal prediction is the Steelers winning 27-20, and I think that might even be a bit high. Both defenses are that good. Then again, both defenses have the ability to score on defense, so perhaps that will be enough to push the score a bit higher. Short fields off turnovers will help too.

• I can’t remember the last time two teams with legitimate DPOY candidates in Clay Matthews and Troy Polamalu (the winner) facing each other in a Super Bowl. I wonder if the Steelers get the edge with a third-place candidate in James Harrison being on their side.

• People who have been dinging Ben Roethlisberger this week need to read a very insightful piece at The Hammer Speaks blog. He won the Chief award from the local Pittsburgh media this year after being notoriously aloof and sometimes hostile with them. He’s engaged now and the organization from the locker room up say he’s sincerely changes his ways. Ben deserves the benefit of the doubt right now, especially if he continues down the path of reform he is on right now.

• Rashard Mendenhall really lived up to my expectations this season, and I think the rest of the world finally noticed him in his dominant performance over the New York Jets in the AFC Championship game. He’s finally not dancing as much, and not spinning every other (a la Madden) carry like he did in his first two seasons. He’s a solid, versatile back who can get tough yards between the tackles and has the burst to break big plays. If the Steelers win the game, he probably will be in the MVP discussion.

• Aaron Rodgers intrigues me. While he’s more polished a passer than his mentor, he has a gun slinging style that reminds me of Brett Favre at times. He can be forced into making mistakes, which is something the Steelers’ defense excels at with its pass rush. How he handles that pressure will go a long way to determining the outcome of the game.

• James Starks has enjoyed an impressive run in the playoffs. I think he comes way back to earth tomorrow. He has not faced a run defense like the Steelers in his career. He had better hold onto the ball, or he could cost the Pack the game.

• Roethlisberger will need to minimize his mistakes, especially with Maurkice Pouncey on IR now.

• I expect the Steelers to really test the Packers with some play action early on, getting Mike Wallace to push Sam Shields early with double moves. They may even move Wallace into the slot on these plays to prevent the Packers from bumping him in coverage.

• I wonder if we’ll see another Antwaan Randle El option pass to Hines Ward for a touchdown. How awesome would that be! Or maybe it will be Ward to Randle El just to mix it up a bit. Remember, both were college quarterbacks. Oh, and I guess Seahawks fans may not find it to be very cool. They’re still touchy about Super Bowl XL in general.

• Dom Capers versus Dick LeBeau is one of the great defensive coordinator chess matches of all time. Both considered the best in their profession, LeBeau already considered one of the best ever.

• Polamalu has been very quiet in the playoffs thus far. If I am the Packers, that worries me. He wasn’t quite 100% then, but he is now from reports.

• This game has two of the most underrated wide receivers of the past decade: Hines Ward and Donald Driver. Both have also been very quiet for their teams in recent weeks in favor of younger talent. My suspicion is one or both players makes some noise tomorrow night.

• Speaking of Ward, if I am a Packers defensive back, my head is on a swivel all game long.

• If the Steelers win their 3rd title in 10 years, are they the dominant team (dynasty) of this decade or is it the Patriots?

• If the Packers win their first title since Favre, will Rodgers supplant him as the favorite son?

• And to end on a very random thought: it would be kinda freaky if the Steelers’ 7th title’s MVP was Roethlisberger, who wears number 7. Part of me thinks they’d have to make him MVP just because of that fact (and the fact he SHOULD have been the MVP in Super Bowl XLIII).