Panthers need some D to win

It is so trite to say it, but I cannot help it.  Defense wins championships.  In football, those who have it stop teams in the redzone and deflate loud stadiums.  Those who don’t, well to say it again, don’t win championships.  

Look at the Green Bay Packers and Carolina Panthers game yesterday.  Rookie Cam Newton is putting up record numbers.  In both of his NFL games so far he has thrown over 400 passing yards.  He threw 432 passing yards against the Packers.  This was over 100 yards more than those of the opposing quarterback, Aaron Rodgers who had 308 passing yards. 

Those are impressive offensive stats, but they have not netted the Panthers a win.  The difference between Green Bay and Carolina is defense.  The veteran squad led by 7-time Pro Bowl corner Charles Woodson intercepted three of Cam’s passes.  The Packers won 30 – 23.

The long passes, great catches and fast runs are just nice stats if you do not win.  The Panthers must step it up on defense to get their first win.

Ciao! 

Heels & Helmets

Vince Lombardi is back at home!

The Green Bay Packers won Super Bowl XLV and are taking the trophy named after their legendary coach, Vince Lombardi, back to Green Bay.  Congratulations to the Packers organization and the game’s MVP Aaron Rodgers!

This game held true to the saying that defense wins championships and offense sells tickets.  In my opinion, the Packers’ underrated defense fueled the team’s victory.  They dominated the first half of the game.  They kept Ben Roethlisberger and the Steelers’ offense off the field and limited them to just a field goal.  As a result, the Packers were up 21 – 3 at half-time.

During the second half of the game, the Steelers fought hard to come back.  By the fourth quarter, they were within a field goal.  With the score, 28 - 25, the Packers offense could not get a touchdown, so they settled for a field goal.  The Steelers had a little over 2 minutes to get a touchdown and extra point to win the game.  The Packers defense stopped them and the game was over.

Green Bay’s defense rocked!  Yet, the MVP honors went to an offensive player.

I am not taking anything away from the brilliant game that Aaron Rodgers had.  He threw for over 300 yards and had 3 touchdown passes.  However, two of those touchdowns were the result of a turnover.  Jarrett Bush’s interception and Clay Matthew’s forced fumble that was recovered by Desmond Bishop led to touchdowns.  This does not include the interception that Nick Collins returned for a touchdown. 

In addition to this, their leader and veteran cornerback, Charles Woodson, was on the sideline for the second half of the game.  Woodson broke his left collarbone in the 2^nd quarter.  Green Bay’s Defensive Coordinator, Dom Capers, had to make adjustments and use a couple of backup players to fill this huge vacancy.  Jarrett Bush and Pat Lee stepped up and covered the position usually handled by a 7-time Pro Bowl player.  Despite the challenges, this defense got it done.  Therefore, because of their tenacity and big stops, the 2^nd Heels & Helmets® Super Bowl REAL GAME CHANGER AWARD goes to the Packers Defense.  Congratulations!

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets®

Super Bowl XLV: Packers on Defense

The Green Bay Packers defense may not have the hype that Pittsburgh has, but it is good; Especially, it’s secondary (cornerbacks and safeties).  This is key because the Steelers are going to pass and the Packers have some veterans in the backfield who are talented and savvy.  Pittsburgh’s defense may have the current Defensive Player of the Year, but the NFC Champs’ defense includes the runner-up, Clay Matthews, and last year’s winner, Charles Woodson.     

Here are all of the players that will most likely start when the Packers' Defense comes out on Sunday. (Go back to the article Defense Wins Championships! to review the roles.)

Tackles and Ends - These guys are going after Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall

Ryan Pickett (#79, Left End) – Big blocker.  At 340 pounds, he is one of the heaviest guys in the NFL

B.J. Raji (#90, Nose Tackle) – Had over 6 sacks this season.  Scored on an interception in the NFC title game against Chicago.  (It was hilarious watching the big guy run.)

Cullen Jenkins (#77, Right End) – Had 7 sacks in just 11 games. 

Linebackers

Clay Matthews (#52, Left Outside Linebacker) – Pro-Bowl linebacker. Runner up in the 2010 Defensive Player of the Year Award.  Long lineage in professional football, grandad, dad and uncle all played in the NFL.  Fourth in the league in sacks at 13.5

A.J. Hawk (#50, Left Inside Linebacker) – Tough guy who hits hard.  Had 111 tackles this season. 

Desmond Bishop (#55, Right Inside Linebacker) – Forced to step up after the team suffered so many injuries.  Ended the regular season with 103 tackles and scored from an interception.

Erik Walden (#93, Right Outside Linebacker) – Joined Packers late in the season to fill a void created by several injuries.  Made a big contribution of 11 tackles and 2 sacks in Chicago regular season game to clinch a playoff berth.

Cornerbacks

Charles Woodson (#21) – 7 time Pro-Bowl cornerback.  2009 Defensive player of the year.  Leader of Packers’ defense.  Does not have a lot of interceptions this season because teams avoid throwing to his side.  Well-rounded defensive back who will shut down a receiver, tackle on the run and attack on a blitz. 

Tramon Williams (#38) – Went from practice squad to becoming a starter.  Did extremely well in the playoffs.  Teams go to his side to avoid Woodson, but playoff performance shows that he should not be taken for granted.  Good punt returner.   

Safeties

Charles Peprah (#26) – Injuries gave him the opportunity to start 11 games this season.  He got 63 tackles.

Nick Collins (#36) – Ended the regular season with 70 tackles and four interceptions.

Tomorrow we will review the special men on each of our Super Bowl teams - Special Teams.

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets®

Nebraska Is In A Real Football Conference Now, No Whining Allowed

It’s official.  Effective July 1, 2011 The University of Nebraska – Lincoln will be in the Big 10 Conference.  I welcome the Cornhuskers to the oldest Division I-A Football Conference and I am ready to settle a debate.

It goes back to 1997.  Back then the NCAA Division I-A Football Champion was decided by the AP (Associated Press) and the ESPN/USA Today Polls or, as we called them, the writers and the coaches polls.  Until that year, I thought that the coaches got it right.  That year, they proved that they didn’t.

The University of Michigan had an unblemished record.  They replaced Nebraska as the #1 team after beating #3 Penn State the weekend that Nebraska almost lost to a Missouri team that was not ranked in the top 25.  (They saved the game in overtime with a lucky catch.)  The Wolverines headed into the bowl season undefeated and ranked #1 in both polls.  Head Coach Lloyd Carr was Coach of the Year and Charles Woodson, starting cornerback, won the Heisman.  (First defensive player to do so.)  The Wolverines only needed to win the Rose Bowl to become National Champions.  So, you would think.

The Wolverines went to Pasadena and beat #8 Washington State, 21 – 16 in the 84^th Rose Bowl.  Nebraska won the Orange Bowl in Miami by beating #3 Tennessee, 42 – 17.  After the bowl games, the writers kept Michigan at #1, but the coaches moved Nebraska to the number one spot on their poll.  This wasn’t about the action on the gridiron.  This was about the coaches recognizing the end of a career of their colleague and one of the best coaches, Nebraska Head Coach, Tom Osborne.  It was his retirement gift.

The coaches got it wrong.  They’ll say Nebraska beat the #3 team “convincingly.”  That is, as Bo Schembechler would say, hogwash!

Here are the top reasons why Michigan should have been the consensus 1997 Football Champions.

1.    Tougher schedule – 11 straight games without a bye week.

2.   Tougher opponents – Played 6 teams ranked in the top 25. (Nebraska played 3.)

3.   Beat the #3 team (Penn State) 38 – 4 during the regular season on the road and followed it up with victories against #23 Wisconsin and #4 Ohio State.

4.   They handled business on the field and left it there.  Nebraska players went whining to the media, “Don't give it to Michigan.  Our coach deserves this.”  (Champions don’t whine!)

5.   Nebraska should not have been #2 and undefeated.  The refs got the call wrong in the Missouri game.  The Tigers clearly caught the ball.

After the bowl games, everyone was debating who would have won if Michigan and Nebraska had played each other that season.  In my mind, there is no doubt that Michigan would have killed Nebraska.  The teams are different, but I am looking forward to the Cornhuskers joining the conference, visiting the Big House and experiencing a battle with the most winningest football program.

Nebraska, Welcome to a real football conference where a rival doesn’t mean beating up on someone for 25 years!  And NO WHINING ALLOWED!

Ciao!

Heels &  Helmets

A Pro Bowl Without Peyton Manning Isn't A Pro Bowl!

The NFL's Pro Bowl is tonight at Sun Life Stadium in South Florida. Congratulations to all of the Michigan Men - Tom Brady, Steve Hutchinson, Jake Long and Heisman Trophy Winner Charles Woodson - that were selected to this years Pro Bowl! GO BLUE!

The Pro Bowl is the NFL's "All Star" game featuring the best players from the NFC and AFC. Well... almost the best. This year, fans will not see players like Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Reggie Wayne or Darren Sharper because they are busy getting ready for next week's Super Bowl. We know that these players can not chance getting injured, but how does the NFL have an "All Star" game without them? A Pro Bowl this year is not a Pro Bowl without Peyton Manning!

Since 1980, the Pro Bowl has been played in Honolulu two weeks after the Super Bowl. However, in an effort to generate more interest and kick off Super Bowl Week, the NFL made some changes to its Pro Bowl. It is now played one week before the Super Bowl at the same location of this championship game.

I understand wanting to improve the game and engage more people (I am a huge advocate of continuous improvement) and despite the NFL doing a pretty great job of this, their Pro Bowl needs some work. But, having a Pro Bowl without Peyton Manning is an oxymoron, not the solution. How can they call it a Pro Bowl without Peyton Manning?

I have a few suggestions for the NFL. OK, I know that I am dreaming of a perfect world without injuries in the first two, but here they are:

1. Move the Pro Bowl to Thanksgiving week. Like the Super Bowl they could get all eyes on one program. This would be a great way to showcase their stars and allow fans to truly see the best players.

2. Host the Pro Bowl after the season in late February or early March. This is a slow time for the NFL. Sure the Scouting Combine happens, but fans do not really follow this. Generate more interest in the combine and lead into the draft.

3. Allow fans to Select "All Star" players, but do not play the game. Fans already recognize that the players are not really playing at their best to prevent injuries, so eliminate the game. Plan a fan event that acknowledges the players and interacts with the community. (I have already given options for free, so don't expect the details on this event.)

If the NFL, does not like any of those options, I suggest that they change the name. Fans can't buy into a game promoted as an "All Star" game when the starters are actually back up. Again, a Pro Bowl is not a Pro Bowl without Peyton Manning!

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets