Steelers Today - A Pittsburgh Steelers blog

As if the Steelers and the Packers didn’t have enough points of contention leading up to Super Bowl XLV, the Associated Press has just added another.

The 50 media members who make up the AP’s panel of judges voted Troy Polamalu as the 2010 AP Defensive Player of the Year.  Polamalu beat out Packers’ linebacker Clay Matthews by 2 votes.  Steelers’ linebacker James Harrison was third in the voting.

DPOY Troy Polamalu

Prior to the announcement, many believed that Clay Matthews was certain to win the award.  I guess the favorite doesn’t always win.  By the way, Las Vegas oddsmakers have Green Bay as the favorite to win the Super Bowl on Sunday.  I just thought I’d mention that.

Frankly, I was surprised to learn that Troy had won the award.  I was afraid that he would be penalized for missing two games with an injury.  Fortunately, the voters recognized Troy’s value despite the missed games.

Troy’s 7 interceptions in 2010 tied his career high.  He was 2nd in the NFL in that category.  Ed Reed of the Baltimore Ravens had 8 interceptions.

Troy also had 63 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, and 18 passes defensed.

Congratulations, Troy.  The award couldn’t have gone to a nicer guy.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment by clicking on the square at the top right of this article. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking the bird doohicky below. Also consider following us on Facebook. Thanks.)

Subscribe in a reader

This is Part 5 of our 9-part Super Bowl XLV Preview series.  In this installment, we’re going to take a look at the running backs on both teams.

To read the other parts of this series, click the appropriate link below:

Part 1:  Super Bowl XLV Preview -  Team overviews

Part 2:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The quarterbacks

Part 3:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Offensive Lines

Part 4:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Receivers

Part 5:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Running Backs

Part 6:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Lines

Part 7:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Linebackers

Part 8:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Backs

Part 9:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - Putting it all together

Thus far, we’ve seen that the two teams are very evenly matched at most positions.  However, that’s not the case at running back.

The Packers have struggled all season to find a viable running threat.  Ryan Grant was the Packers’ most talented running back.   Unfortunately, Ryan got injured in week 1 of the season and had to be placed on injured reserve (IR).

Brandon Jackson carried the load for the rest of the regular season for the Packers.  He is a very average back who lacks breakaway speed.  He also doesn’t have very good hands, so he’d not much of a threat out of the backfield.  His shortcomings are a big part of the reason that the Packers were 24th in the NFL in rushing during the 2010 regular season.

Jackson rushed for 703 yards and 3 touchdowns during the regular season.  He averaged 43.9 yards per game.  That’s certainly not going to intimidate anyone.

Those rushing numbers definitely won’t intimidate the Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense.  The Steelers allowed only 62.8 yards per game on the ground.  That was the lowest average in the NFL.  The next lowest was the Chicago Bears, who allowed 90.1 yards per game.  Suffice it to say that the Packers have not faced a defense that is as stingy as the Steelers’.

During the playoffs, the Packers have discovered a new rushing threat.  James Starks has been the NFL’s top rusher during the playoffs.  He has gained 263 yards during the playoffs.  However, that’s only 87.7 yards per game, so his performance hasn’t been as impressive as it initially sounds.

Starks is a rookie running back out of the University of Buffalo.  He was drafted in the sixth round and started a grand total of zero games during the regular season.  He had only 101 yards during the regular season.  So the Packers are placing their hopes on a rookie who has run for less than 400 yards in his NFL career.  Yeah, good luck with that.

To make matter worse, the Packers 2nd leading rusher during the regular season and the playoffs has been Aaron Rodgers.  So they really don’t have a lot of quality depth in their backfield.

Their starting fullback is John Kuhn.  Steelers fans will remember him……from the practice squad.

The Steelers, on the other hand, feature Rashard Mendenhall.  Mendenhall is a former 1st round draft pick, and he was 7th in the NFL in rushing this year with 1,273 yards.  To put that into perspective, he was sandwiched right between Adrian Peterson (#6) and Steven Jackson (#8) among the NFL’s top rushers.  That’s pretty impressive company.

Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall

Anyone who watched the AFC Championship game knows exactly what Mendy can do.  He absolutely shredded the NY Jets’ defense.  And they were the #3 ranked defense against the run during the regular season.  Yet he ran through them like a knife through butter.  The Packers’ rushing defense ranked 18th in the NFL during the regular season, and is not in the same class as the Jets’ defense.

To complement Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers bring in either Isaac Redman or Mewelde Moore.  Neither gets a lot of carries, but both are very competent players.  So when they get on the field, the Packers shouldn’t take them lightly.

Redman, in particular, is even harder to bring down than Mendenhall.  He is the Steelers’ “go to” guy when they need to get the tough yards.  And Redman almost always delivers.

So if I could give one piece of advice to the Packers, it would be to use sound tackling technique and wrap up the Steelers’ runners.  They’re just as likely to try to run through you as they are to run around you.

I’ve tried to keep my position-by-position analysis as fair and unbiased as I possibly can.  However, in this case, I truly believe that the Steelers have a significant advantage over the Packers when it comes to their running backs.

The Steelers have also faced 7 teams who have better rushing defenses than the Packers have.  They’ve faced 10 if you count the fact that they played the Ravens 3 times and the Jets twice.  Contrarily, the Packers have yet to face a defense like the Steelers’.  So in the running game, I have to say that the Steelers have a decided advantage.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment by clicking on the square at the top right of this article. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking the bird doohicky below. Also consider following us on Facebook. Thanks.)

Subscribe in a reader

This is Part 4 of our 9-part Super Bowl XLV Preview series.  In this installment, we’re going to take a look at the receivers on both teams.

To read the other parts of this series, click the appropriate link below:

Part 1:  Super Bowl XLV Preview -  Team overviews

Part 2:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The quarterbacks

Part 3:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Offensive Lines

Part 4:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Receivers

Part 5:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Running Backs

Part 6:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Lines

Part 7:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Linebackers

Part 8:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Backs

Part 9:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - Putting it all together

As Super Bowl XLV approaches, everyone is going to be talking about how good the two quarterbacks are in this game.  And they’re right.  Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers are both outstanding quarterbacks.  But even the best quarterbacks can’t shine without quality receivers to catch their passes.  And these teams have some talented receivers.

Both teams have a speedy wide receiver who has emerged as the team’s top receiving weapon.  For the Green Bay Packers, that receiver is Greg Jennings.  The 5th year pro is one of the deadliest long-ball threats in the NFL.  From 2007 - 2009, Jennings had more catches of 40 yards or more than any other receiver in the NFL.  His 16.6 yards per catch average in 2010 is 9th in the NFL among players with 30 catches or more.

As impressive as Jennings achievements are, the Steelers’ Mike Wallace’s 21.0 yards per catch in 2010 is even more impressive.  Wallace’s 10 catches of 40 yards or more led the NFL.  Greg Jennings was 5th with 6 catches of 40+ yards.  As fast as Greg Jennings is, Mike Wallace is even faster.  He will challenge the Packers’ defensive backs even more than Jennings will challenge the Steelers’.

WR's Hines Ward & Mike Wallace

Another similarity between the two teams is that both teams feature the organization’s all-time leading receiver on the current roster.  For the Packers, that player is Donald Driver, and for the Steelers it’s Hines Ward.  Both players are highly respected among their teammates, and both can still catch the ball.  But neither is as productive as they once were, and each is nearing the end of their careers.

The Steelers have two young receivers, Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown, who have both played a significant role for the Steelers in the playoffs.  They provide Ben Roethlisber with enough quality receivers that it allows the Steelers to use 4-receiver or even 5-receiver sets.

The Packers are deep at wide receiver.  James Jones can be a feast or famine receiver, and Jordy Nelson is much the same.  Jones had 5o catches this year for 679 yards.  However, I’m sure that Packers fans wish that he were more sure-handed.  Nelson had 45 catches, but he hasn’t emerged as the threat that many thought he would be when he came out of Kansas State.  Unfortunately, the Steelers’ cornerbacks are probably their weakest unit, so they may make Jones and Nelson look like Jerry Rice and Terrell Owens.

The Steelers have a decided edge at tight end.  Heath Miller is among the best tight ends in the NFL.  Moreover, he is a dual threat.  He is an excellent blocker, and he has great hands.  Ben Roethlisberger doesn’t throw to him often, but when he does, good things usually happen.

The Packers will start rookie Andrew Quarless at tight end.  Some Steelers fans may be familiar with Quarless, since he played his college ball at Penn State.  Quarless holds the Penn State record for most receptions by a tight end in a single season and for a career.   Jermichael Finley started the season at tight end for the Packers, and he was Aaron Rodgers’ favorite target.  But he suffered an injury and is currently on IR.  So the Packers will have to rely on a rookie tight end who only started 3 games during the regular season.

Ordinarily, it would seem like the Steelers have a huge advantage at the receiver positions.  However, because of the Packers’ strength at defensive back relative to the Steelers, it may actually give the advantage to the Packers.

Aaron Rodgers doesn’t have much of a running game to rely on.  Moreover, running against the Steelers’ defense is going to be almost impossible.  So if the Packers are to have any hope of winning the Super Bowl, their receivers are going to have to win it for them.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment by clicking on the square at the top right of this article. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking the bird doohicky below. Also consider following us on Facebook. Thanks.)

Subscribe in a reader

This is Part 3 of our 9-part Super Bowl XLV Preview series.  In this installment, we’re going to take a look at the offensive lines of the two teams.

To read the other parts of this series, click the appropriate link below:

Part 1:  Super Bowl XLV Preview -  Team overviews

Part 2:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The quarterbacks

Part 3:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Offensive Lines

Part 4:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Receivers

Part 5:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Running Backs

Part 6:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Lines

Part 7:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Linebackers

Part 8:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Backs

Part 9:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - Putting it all together

The offensive line isn’t a tremendous strength for either team.  Green Bay’s offensive line gave up 51  sacks in 2009 and had nowhere to go but up.  They decreased that number to 31 in 2010, so they seem to be moving in the right direction.

The Packers best offensive lineman is probably veteran left tackle Chad Clifton.  Clifton is 34 years old, but he’s still a very effective blocker.  His feet aren’t quite as quick as they once were, and he’s battled knee problems for the last few years.  I anticipate that he’s going to have problems blocking James Harrison.  But of course that puts him in good company, since no other tackle in the NFL seems to be able to block Harrison without holding him.

Daryn Colledge is their left guard, and he’s definitely the weak link on their offensive line (picture Trai Essex or Sean Mahan playing for the Packers).  He struggles against strong rushers.

Their center is Scott Wells.  Wells is not the most fearsome looking center in the NFL.  His short arms make him look like he’s going to be easy to get by.  But looks can be deceptive.  He’s not going to get a great push, but he can hold his ground quite effectively, even against larger nose tackles.

Josh Sitton plays right guard for the Packers.  He’s probably the Packers’ most physical blocker.  Despite the injury problems that have plagued the Packers offensive line over the past few years, Sitton can always be depended on to suit up and play.  He has solid technique and is very dependable at his position.

Right tackle Bryan Bulaga’s name should be very familiar to Steelers fans.  Most mock drafts projected that the Steelers were going to select him in the 1st round of last year’s draft.  Bulaga is a big, physical blocker.  Steelers fans should watch him battling LaMarr Woodley, and think about how close he came to being a Steeler.

Overall, the Packers’ offensive line is not going to instill fear in their opponents.  They’re competent, but not outstanding.  They’re not in the same class as the New York Jets offensive line that the Steelers just faced.  That’s part of the reason why they have so much difficulty running the ball.  But Aaron Rodgers’ mobility help to offset some of the shortcomings in the Packers’  offensive line.

On the opposite side of the ball, the Steelers’ offensive line is no better than the Packers.  They’ve been a M.A.S.H. unit all season long.  Injuries on the Steelers’ offensive line seem to be the norm, rather than the exception.

Starting left tackle Max Starks was placed on the injured reserve (IR) list due to a neck injury.  Jonathan Scott has been filling in for him since then.  Scott is a veteran player who is competent, but not outstanding.  He won’t be the Steelers’ starting left tackle next season.

Left guard Chris Kemoeatu is the only Steelers’ starting offensive lineman from 2009 who maintained his position in 2010.  It would be great if all of the changes came because younger players beat out the incumbents.  But instead, it has been injuries that have pushed most of them out of the line-up.

“Kemo” is a big, physical blocker who can also make blocks at the second level.  He can be a bit emotional, and he is prone to getting silly penalties at the most inopportune times.  But if he can play a smart mental game, he is a very good left guard.

Center Doug Legursky was thrust into the line-up in the AFC Championship game when All-Pro rookie center Maurkice Pouncey suffered a high ankle sprain.  Legursky is a 2nd year veteran who has been shuffled in and out of the Steelers’ offensive line as multiple players have gotten hurt this year.  So while it will be tough to replace Pouncey, Legursky has shown that he can fill in well when called upon.

Right guard Ramon Foster is a big (6’6″, 325 lbs.) second year man out of Tennessee.  I liked him last year when I first saw him at Steelers Training Camp.  He filled in well for Chris Kemoeatu at left guard last year, and he beat out Trai Essex for the right guard position this year.

Right guard has been a position that’s been in flux for the Steelers for the last 3 years.  Since Kendall Simmons left, nobody has been able to grab the position and hold onto it long-term.  Foster, Essex, Legursky, and Darnell Stapleton have all filled in at the position, but many believe that the Steelers will draft a guard in the upcoming draft in hopes of finding a permanent solution for the position.

Finally, right tackle Flozell Adams was also a last minute replacement.  The Steelers signed the long-time Cowboys’ tackle to replace Willie Colon when he was placed on IR.  Adams had a hard time adjusting to the right tackle position after playing left tackle for most of his career.  He struggled at first, but he has been pretty consistent lately.  He isn’t as quick-footed as he once was.  I fear that he will struggle against Clay Matthews in pass protection.  But in run blocking, he is still a brute of a blocker.

Neither unit would have been expected to take their team to the Super Bowl, yet here they both are.  And the unit that plays the best may well be responsible for their team hoisting the Lombardi Trophy.

The Steelers’ offensive line that played in Super Bowl XLIII may have been one of the worst offensive lines to ever win a Super Bowl.  Perhaps history will repeat itself, and one of these mediocre units will prove that you don’t need Pro Bowl players on the offensive line to win an NFL Championship.  All you need is a bunch of guys who are willing to give it their all for 60 minutes.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment by clicking on the square at the top right of this article. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking the bird doohicky below. Also consider following us on Facebook. Thanks.)

Subscribe in a reader

This is Part 2 of our 9-part Super Bowl XLV Preview series.

To read the other parts of this series, click the appropriate link below:

Part 1:  Super Bowl XLV Preview -  Team overviews

Part 2:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The quarterbacks

Part 3:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Offensive Lines

Part 4:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Receivers

Part 5:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Running Backs

Part 6:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Lines

Part 7:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Linebackers

Part 8:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - The Defensive Backs

Part 9:  Super Bowl XLV Preview - Putting it all together

Today we’re going to be evaluating the two quarterbacks who will be participating in Super Bowl XLV; Ben Roethlisberger & Aaron Rodgers.

Aaron Rodgers and Ben Roethlisberger are two quarterbacks who present very similar challenges for their opposition.  Both can kill you with their arms, and both have to be contained because they’re dangerous when they get outside of the pocket.  Yet, when you look at the specifics of how they get it done, the two quarterbacks are very different.

Aaron Rodgers is more of a prototype quarterback.  He has a perfect throwing motion, and he is one of the most accurate passers in the NFL.  If you wanted to film a “how-to” video for quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers would likely be the guy that you’d get to star in the video.  He hasn’t accomplished as much in the league as some quarterbacks have, but it’s not because he lacks the required skills.

Rodgers had the 3rd highest quarterback rating in the NFL in 2010, trailing only Tom Brady and Philip Rivers.  He threw for 3,922 yards and 28 touchdowns.

The Packers rely on Aaron Rodgers far more than the Steelers rely on Big Ben.  This is primarily because the Packers don’t  have a rushing attack that is of any significance. The Packers were 24th in the NFL in rushing, and they just barely reached 100 total rushing yards per game.  They had only 3 runs during the regular season that exceeded 20 yards.  By contrast, the Steelers had 16 runs of 20 yards or more in the regular season.

Because the Packers are so dependent on Aaron Rodgers, their fate is completely tied to his.  Rodgers missed two games late in the year due to injury, and the Packers lost both of them.

In addition to his laser-like passes, Aaron Rodgers is also a legitimate running threat.  In fact, he may be the best running quarterback in the NFL who is not named Michael Vick.  Rodgers ran for 356 yards on 64 carries in 2010.  Ben Roethlisberger is also know for being a threat with his legs, but he uses his legs primarily to extend the play.  He doesn’t tend to run for yardage the way Rodgers does.  To illustrate this fact, Roethlisberger only had 176 yards on 34 attempts in 2010.  That’s about half of Aaron Rodgers’ numbers.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

Unlike Rodgers, Big Ben isn’t a prototype quarterback.  He doesn’t have perfect throwing form, and he isn’t nearly as accurate as Aaron Rodgers.  Roethlisberger’s primary asset is his size and his will to win.  Those aren’t standard attributes that most people look for in a quarterback, but they serve Ben well.

Most quarterback coaches would chastise Big Ben for his unwillingness to throw the ball away and avoid a sack.  They’d also try to break him of his habit of holding onto the ball too long to extend the play.  But Steelers fans know that some of Ben’s best plays come when he is running around playing “sandlot football”.  While it’s unorthodox, it’s effective nonetheless.

Ben’s other great strength is his size.  There’s a reason they call him “Big Ben”.  Until you actually stand next to him, you don’t quite realize just how big he is.  Ben is HUGE.  Just watch him standing next to some of his teammates.  He’s much bigger than linebackers like James Farrior, Lawrence Timmons, or James Harrison.  His bio lists him as 6’5″ and 241 pounds, but I’m sure that’s inaccurate.  I’d estimate that he weighs somewhere between 250-255 lbs.  So sending a 5’9″, 190 pound cornerback on a blitz might not be the best strategy to stop him.

Bart Scott, the former Baltimore Raven and current New York Jet, said that tackling Ben is “like trying to tackle a polar bear”.  It’s hard to prepare for him, because most teams don’t have a quarterback on their roster who’s big enough to imitate him in practice.

Despite Ben’s unorthodox approach to the quarterback position, he is absolutely clutch.  When the Steelers need him to make a big play, he does.  Just ask the Arizona Cardinals.  Or the Baltimore Ravens.  Or the New York Jets.

Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger

Ben doesn’t play in a system that allows him to pass for 4,000 yards per year like Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Philip Rivers and Drew Brees do.  So he’ll never get the accolades that those guys do.  But when it’s all said and done, Ben may end up having more Super Bowl rings than any of them.

Super Bowl XLV promises to be a great game.  The two teams match up well against one another.  And the most interesting match-up of them all may be Aaron Rodgers vs. Ben Roethlisberger.  This one should be a battle for the ages.

(If you enjoyed this article, please consider leaving a comment by clicking on the square at the top right of this article. Also, please subscribe to our blog by pressing the orange button below. You can also follow us on Twitter by clicking the bird doohicky below. Also consider following us on Facebook. Thanks.)

Subscribe in a reader