Super Bowl XLIV Champs Are...

This Super Bowl is going to be a high scoring game!  As you saw this week, both offenses are superb with very talented quarterbacks.  This game is about the #1 Offense going against the #2 team in passing yards.  So you can expect that they both will put up a lot of points.

Many people think that this game will only be about the offense.  I am excited to watch because I know that Drew and Peyton are going to put on a great show!  However, I agree with Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant and still believe that defense wins championships.  The teams are equally matched up on defense.  While both defenses have struggled this season, it did not stop either team from reaching the Super Bowl.  The Saints have an All-Pro Free Safety, Darren Sharper to watch out for Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon.  The Colts have an All-Pro Defensive End, Dwight Freeney who is #3 in sacks in the league and will focus on chasing Drew.   Whichever defense steps it up gives their team an edge.

So, with equally matched teams, who does the advantage go to?  I don't have "a team."  I just enjoy watching the game.  If this were the regular season, I would just pick the team with the most former Michigan players to have someone to cheer for.  However, these two teams are equal there too!  The Colts have Mike Hart (Running Back) and Marlin Jackson (Defensive Back).  The Saints have Jonathan Goodwin (Starting Center) and Adrian Arrington (Wide Receiver).  Congratulations guys, GO BLUE!

With anything, I believe half of it is what you do and the other half is how you approach it.  I think that the Super Bowl Champs will be the team that has the experience and the right mentality.  This will allow them to be poised under pressure.  This team is focused and understands that business for this season is not over until Sunday, the championship game.  This was displayed when they won their conference title.  One team celebrated as if the goal had been accomplished.  This mind set will cause them to feel proud just to be in Sun Life Stadium.  The other team did not celebrate as if they had reached their goal.  They were enthusiastic about another win, but ready to prepare for the next game.   

So, the 2010 Super Bowl Champs and winner of the Vince Lombardi Trophy are the Indianapolis Colts with a final score of 42 - 35.

If you need a reminder on any parts of the game that we have discussed go back to a previous post.  Otherwise send an e-mail to heelsnhelmets@gmail.com.

Enjoy watching the game!

Ciao!

Heels &  Helmets

Super Bowl XLIV: When the Saints are On Offense

Super Bowl XLIV is going to be all about offense. The Saints offense is a scoring machine! Our NFC Champs can pass the ball, run the ball and score touchdowns. Let me show you just how well they do it.

There are 32 teams in the NFL. After the regular season, the New Orleans Saints were #2 in passing yards (number of yards gained from throwing the ball), #7 in receiving yards (yards gained by the receiver running after catching the ball), #6 in rushing yards (number of yards gained from running the ball) and #1 in touchdowns. They were the #1 Offense in the NFL this season.

The Saints offense is led by Quarterback, Drew Brees. He can throw the ball and he has a couple of threats to pass the ball to. He has led the Saints to two NFC Championships games, but this is his first Super Bowl. So, he is hungry for a title!

Here is a look at all of the players that will most likely start on the Saints Offense next Sunday. (Go Back to our article on Offense Controls the Game to review the roles of each player.)

Quarterback

Drew Brees (#9) - Coming off of a strong playoff performance without any interceptions. (I show him a little love because he comes from the Big 10.)

Center

Jonathan Goodwin (#76) - Strong veteran and Michigan Man. (Go Blue!)

Guards and Tackles - They block well! Drew has time to pass and the Running Backs have space to run.

Carl Nicks (#77) - Left Guard

Jahri Evans (#73)- Right Guard

Jermon Bushrod (#74) - Left Tackle

Jon Stinchcomb (#78) - Right Tackle

Wide Receivers

Marques Colston (#12) - The guy to watch. He catches all over the field and led the Saints in catches and yards.

Devery Henderson (#19) - Catches long passes, but has a reputation of being inconsistent.

Robert Meachem (#17) - Great catcher, but has a sprained ankle.

Running Backs

Reggie Bush (#25) - Very fast and avoids tackles, but has not been consistent since his knee injury.

Pierre Thomas (#23)- Led Saints in rushing yards.

(Reggie should start, but if he is not playing well this week, Pierre will start.)

Tight End

Jeremy Shockey (#88) - Injury left him out of the Giants' Super Bowl, so he wants to make an impact. Not sure if he will because he didn't do much during the playoffs because of sore right knee.

Tomorrow we will look at the men that will attempt to stop this scoring machine - The Colts' Defense.

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets

Offense Controls the Game

On Super Bowl Sunday, Peyton Manning and Drew Brees will both attempt to lead their offenses to victory. The goal of the Offense is to move the ball down the field to the defense’s end zone to score points. This team is referred to as having “Possession,” meaning that it possesses control of the football. The offense makes progress toward their goal by accumulating yards. This attempt to get more yards and move down the field is known as a “Drive.”

The offense has four chances to gain 10 yards. Each chance is called a down. If they are successful, they receive another set of four downs. This is signaled by a “First Down.” This continues until the offense scores or does not earn a first down and loses control of the ball giving the other team possession of the ball and the opportunity to start their drive.

Scoring on Offense.

The Offense scores when a player carries the ball into the end zone, catches the ball in the end zone, recovers a fumble in the end zone or the kicking team recovers a kickoff in the end zone. This is called a touchdown and worth 6 points.

Let’s take a look at the players who are on Offense:

1. Quarterback – Team leader. Decides and orchestrate the plays. Runs, hands off or throws the ball.

2. Center – Gives the ball (snap) to the quarterback and then blocks the defense.

3. Guards and Tackles – Holds the defense away from the quarterback and running backs.

4. Wide Receivers – Catch the ball from the quarterback.

5. Running Backs – Receive hand off from the quarterback.

6. Tight Ends – Block the defense and catches passes.

The offense also controls the game clock because they decide when the ball is snapped (play starts) and what the play will be. The score and the amount of time left in the game are a couple of factors that the offense considers to make a decision on which play to run. Typically running plays take more time than passing plays. Many times when the offense wants to move fast, they will call passing plays. This use of time is referred to as managing the clock. With all of this control, you may be thinking that the entire game will be based on what the offense does. Not so and you will see why tomorrow when I tackle the other side of the line scrimmage - Defense.

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets