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: Saints On Defense

The New Orleans Saints is not a defensive powerhouse.  They have an aggressive style, but it has not translated to big success.  They ranked in the bottom 8 this season.  Even worse, they were 26 in total passing yards allowed.  This is not good for a defense that has to play Peyton Manning who passes all day long.  Especially, considering he was tested during the playoffs.  He beat the #3 defense (Baltimore Ravens) and came from behind and won against the best defense this season (New York Jets) in the AFC Championship game.  The pressure is on the Saints to put some pressure on Peyton.

When going against a team with a good passing game, it is important to have strong Cornerbacks and Safeties. The good thing for the Saints is that they have a Free Safety that is a threat to the best quarterbacks, Darren Sharper.  He is an All Pro Free Safety.  He can catch, run and tackle.  He tied for first in the NFL for interceptions with 9 and three of those were returned for touchdowns.

Here are all of the players that will most likely start or play a major role on Sunday.  Go back to Defense Wins Championships! to review the responsibilities of each position.

Tackles and Ends 

Remi Ayodele (#92) - Defensive Tackle 

Sedrick Ellis (#98) - Defensive Tackle.  Missed a lot this season with knee injury.

Bobby McCray (#93) - Defensive End

Will Smith (#91) - Defensive End.  Best pass rusher on the team. Second in sacks in the NFC with 13 sacks.  

Linebackers

Scott Fujita (#55) - Missed 5 games because of knee injury, but still had 75 tackles. 

Jonathan Vilma (#51) -  Decent season with 130 tackles, 3 interceptions and 2 sacks. Also had an interception in the NFC title game. 

Scott Shanle (#58) - Third on the team in tackles.  

Cornerbacks

Jabari Greer (#32) - Started the season strong with 2 interceptions and a touchdown, but missed almost half of the season with a sports hernia.

Tracy Porter (#22) - He is a big reason the Saints made it to the Super Bowl.  He intercepted Favre in overtime which set up the Saints to score.  During the regular season he had 4 interceptions, 2 forced fumbles and 69 tackles.

Safeties

Roman Harper (#41) - Strong Safety. Second on team with 127 tackles.

Darren Sharper (#42) - Free Safety.  He'll be ready for Dallas Clark or Reggie Wayne.  He Set the NFL record with 376 yards on interception runbacks and one was for 99 yards!  Peyton needs to be careful throwing to his side.

The Saints' Defense needs to stop Peyton from throwing the ball.  To be successful, the line needs to step up and the linebackers and cornerbacks need to blitz.  All of this is much easier said than done!

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets

Super Bowl XLIV: Colts On Defense

The Indianapolis Colts are not exactly known for their defense. They have a history of allowing other teams to get a lot of yards running the ball. Out of the 32 teams in the NFL, they rank in the bottom half on defense. They have shown some improvements during the playoffs, but as you learned yesterday, the Saints offense is good with everything. The Colts' Defense certainly has their work cut out for them.

The star of this defense is Dwight Freeney. He is a Pro Bowl Defensive End that is known for his toughness because he plays through injuries. He was #3 in the NFL this season in sacks accumulating 13.5 sacks during the regular season. He also owns the team's record for career sacks with 84. Clearly, he knows how to get to the quarterback. If he is healthy, Drew better watch out!

Here are all of the players that will potentially start when the Colts 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 Drew and his Running Backs.

Antonio Johnson (#99) - Defensive Tackle

Dan Muir (#90) - Defensive Tackle

Robert Mathis (#98) - Defensive End

Dwight Freeney (#93) - Defensive End. Ankle is injured, so we will have to wait to see how much he plays.

Linebackers

Philip Wheeler (#50)

Gary Brackett (#58) - Leader of the defense. 99 tackles during the season even with the injuries.

Clint Session (#55) - Led team in tackles.

Cornerbacks

Kelvin Hayden (#26) - Only had one interception. Defending the Saints wide receivers will not be easy.

Jerraud Powers (#25) - Didn't play in AFC championship game because of foot injury.

Safeties

Melvin Bullitt (#33) - Strong Safety. Not consistent because of injuries.

Antoine Bethea (#41) - Free Safety. Started every single game.

It is going to be tough for this group to handle the speed and versatility of the Saints Offense. If they do, their counterparts on offense will need to come out and score. This should not be a problem. You'll see why tomorrow when I take a look at the Colts Offense.

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets

Defense Wins Championships!

Coach Paul “Bear” Bryant said, “Offense sells tickets. Defense wins championships.” The “Bear” was a famous college football coach and is still considered the world’s greatest college football coach by many. (Yes, he is up there with the Great Bo Schembechler.) He led the University of Alabama to six national championships, so he knows something about winning. Today, we will review the Defense and demonstrate how the players on this unit can have a major impact on the game without controlling the ball. After this lesson, you will understand what the “Bear” meant.

The main goal of the Defense is to stop the offense on the opposing team and get possession for their teammates on offense. Yesterday, we learned that the offense works to move the ball down the field and score. The Defense strategizes to prevent the offense from gaining yards, earning first downs and scoring.

The foundation to stopping the offense is tackling. Tackling is wrestling the offensive player carrying the ball to the ground. Once one or both of a player’s knees hit the ground, he is tackled and the play is over. When a quarterback is tackled before he passes or hands off the ball, it is called a “sack.” If the ball carrier is tackled behind his goal line the defense scores.

Scoring on Defense

The defense scores when they tackle the offensive ball carrier behind his goal line. This is called a safety and worth 2 points.

The Defense can also score a touchdown in the manner that the offense does by intercepting a pass or recovering a fumble and carrying the ball into the end zone. If the defensive player does not reach the end zone, the offense will come out and start their drive.

Players on Defense:

1. Tackles and Ends – First line of defense. They rush the quarterback and stop the running backs.

2. Linebackers – Second line of defense. Chase the running back, run back to defend against a pass or blitz the quarterback.

3. Cornerbacks – Closely follows the wide receivers and defends against the pass. Sometimes blitzes the quarterback.

4. Safeties – Views the entire field. Last person the offensive ball carrier has to pass. Primarily defends against the pass, but must be prepared for anything.

People love the excitement of seeing the offense go to work – long passes, great runs and amazing catches! However, a good defense prevents the offense from achieving their goal of scoring. Ultimately, offense can score all evening long, but if the defense does not stop the opponents, their offense will continue to score as well. I believe that this was Coach Bryant’s point. Now you should have a new appreciation for a good sack!

Ciao!

Heels & Helmets