Similarly to our NFC Championship coverage, our final column for the Super Bowl is an in-depth look at the matchups for Super Bowl XLIV. What are the good matchups for the Saints? The bad ones? And the ones that can go either way. For whatever reason, the hype this week has seemed subdued. Maybe its the fact that these are two good stories and there have been few sources of controversy this week. Maybe its because everybody and their great grandpappy say they're rooting for the Saints, but are picking the Colts to win. Remember that these two teams started 27-0. When looking at SB XLIV, this one could be a classic.
3 Good Matchups
1) Sean Payton v Jim Caldwell
-Jim Caldwell seems like a great guy and a great leader for the Colts. But, what does he offer as the head man besides being Tony Dungy's clone? Granted, that's a great thing. But, you get the feeling that Sean Payton will have that extra motivational device, or extra trick play that can provide a spark for New Orleans. With two weeks to prepare, one of the great offensive artists in the game needs to put together his Mona Lisa.
2) Will Smith v Charlie Johnson
-As Freeney's Ankle Turns, the matchup on the opposite side of the ball is just as important. Quietly, former Buckeye Will Smith had a great season for the rejuvenated Saints D. Honestly, could anyone notice Charlie Johnson if he walked into a room with a sign saying, "I'm Colts LT Charlie Johnson." The man charged with protecting Peyton Manning's blindside has played well, but Will Smith needs to play like the player that had a career high 13 sacks and get at least 1 against Peyton Manning.
3) Pierre Thomas v Colts Run D
-The Saints will have to run the ball to be effective on offense and keep Peyton Manning off the field. That burden falls mostly to Pierre Thomas. The Colts did a good job against the Jets running attack, but they have proved susceptible in years past. The absence of Bob Sanders may finally be felt if the Saints can control the clock and punish the Colts. Here, the inside trio of Evans, Goodwin, and Nicks can have a big impact in controlling the line of scrimmage. If the Saints get over 150 on the ground, they have a great chance to win.
3 Bad Matchups
1) Dwight Freeney v Jermon Bushrod
-I don't care how many bad ankles Freeney is playing on, he can still provide problems for Jermon Bushrod. Heck, I don't care who plays, Bushrod is the weakness of the Saints offense. In fairness though, Bushrod hasn't played that bad. But, he was exposed on a big stage against DeMarcus Ware. And, even though he kept Jared Allen quiet, the extra protection schemes limited the Saints' options and slowed down the offensive attack (7 3 & outs). Bushrod needs to hold his own, but its a question mark against whoever lines up on the other side.
2) Tom Moore v Gregg Williams
-Gregg Williams shot his mouth off earlier this week, but the bad matchup is that Manning is 6-2 lifetime against Gregg Williams defenses. While Manning gets all the credit, Colts offensive guru Tom Moore goes under the radar as his Obi Wan Kenobi. Williams has done a great job as Saints DC, but its questionable whether or not his blitz packages can get to Manning. The Saints might be forced to play straight up against Manning, which is a scary proposition.
3) Joseph Addai v Saints Run D
-With all the focus being on the two quarterbacks this week, the two running backs stand to profit as well with these matchups. Joseph Addai is just as good of a matchup as the Colts as Pierre Thomas is for the Saints. Addai is the unknown soldier of the Colts offense, but he has an elusive running style that can trouble New Orleans, who has had some issues with spotty tackling throughout the season.
3 Scary Matchups
1) Peyton Manning v The World
-Peyton Manning is this close to becoming the next Brett Favre. If he does win the Super Bowl, it will be interesting to see if the public gets tired of his act and the endless praise he receives as the best in the game and perhaps the best of all time. By the time his career is over, he will be the best ever, but will fans get tired of the Favrian attention? Judging by all the pregame hype, the Saints are facing the Zeus of Quarterbacks. Manning only shows his humanity when defenses get in his face, hit him, and frustrate him. The Saints must hit Manning, and hit him often to have any hope. Paging Curtis Painter??
2) Dallas Clark v Saints S/LB's
-If Clark gets consistently matched up with OLBs Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita, or SS Roman Harper, he will get 10 catches for over 100 yards. This is the one skill position matchup that should scare Who Dat Nation. Shanle and Fujita don't have the speed to cover Clark, and Harper does not have the strength to guard him in the redzone. Visante Shiancoe was a problem for the Saints two weeks ago and Clark is even better.
3) Austin Collie v Randall Gay
-Another matchup that should delight Peyton Manning is his slot receiver Austin Collie against the 3rd CB Randall Gay. Gay does have Super Bowl experience with the Patriots, but he has been outmatched in important games. Gay is much better in the slot than on the outside, but Collie is coming off of a career day in the AFC Championship. The Saints will have to repeat their performance against Wes Welker (6 catches 32 yards) to have a chance.
3 Great Matchups
1) Drew Breeees v Colts Pass D
2) Shockey, Colston, Henderson, Meachem v Colts Secondary
-As good as Manning is, Drew Brees again enters a big game as the less fancied QB. But, the weapons at his disposal are superior to those of the Colts. The sheer depth of the Saints WR/TE corps should scare the Colts. Shoot, if Mark Sanchez and Braylon Edwards can get huge plays in the passing game, can't Brees, Henderson, and Meachem do the same? A healthy Jeremy Shockey will be a boost as well, but this game is all about the QBs. This is the moment that Drew Brees has waited for, the moment he feels destined to be in, and the win that belongs to him and the city of New Orleans. You get the sense that Brees has an unmatched will and self belief that it is destiny for him and these Saints to do the unthinkable. Only a win on Sunday can finally vault Brees into the Pantheon of QBs where he rightfully belongs.
3) Saints Special Teams v Colts Special Teams
-The Saints special teams have been a key to their success throughout the playoffs. Good returns at crucial times, big plays from Reggie Bush, and even a clutch FG from Garrett Hartley. Don't underestimate rookie P Thomas Morestead and his booming punts and kickoffs as well. The Saints are much more likely to get a gamebreaking special teams play Sunday night, and those can always shift a game dramatically.
5 Toss Ups
1) Jabari Greer & Tracy Porter v Reggie Wayne & Pierre Garcon
-With Greer and Porter injured for much of the season, the Saints statistics in the passing game are negatively jaded. Greer and Porter were ginormous against Minnesota - Porter with his crucial INT and Greer doing a fantastic job against Sidney Rice. Their matchup against Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon is critical. If they can hold Wayne and Garcon under 100 yards, then it will limit Manning's options and force him to spend some more time in the pocket. Manning has shown that he gets frustrated when he gets hit, and its not just about the blitz, but the coverage the Saints CBs can provide.
2) Jon Stinchcomb v Robert Mathis
-All the attention has been on the Freeney/Bushrod matchup, but the other side of the Saints O-Line is a huge factor. In the NFC Championship game, unheralded RT Jon Stinchcomb did a good job with Ray Edwards, who tore up the Cowboys. He'll need to block Mathis 1 on 1 if Freeney is able to play at all. Stinchcomb is just as important as Bushrod in allowing Brees the time and opportunity to pass well.
3) Jon Vilma & Darren Sharper v Colts Skill Players
-For all of the talk of the quarterbacking Zeus destroying the Saints D, these two men will be huge up the middle of the Saints defense. Jon Vilma might be the most underrated MLB in the game, and Darren Sharper has gotten a lot of press as the one who can get a pick of Peyton Manning. These two have made plays all season long, and they will need to be at their best on the biggest stage.
4) Good Reggie v Bad Reggie
-Let's be honest. Nobody knows which Reggie Bush is showing up. In the past, he has played well in big games for the Saints. Well, if you don't count last week's underwhelming NFC Championship performance. He can make a big play for you, or against you. The key is back to Sean Payton. If he can find a new way to use Reggie Bush, one we haven't seen before (maybe a long TD pass?), then maybe he can be the difference maker.
5) Destiny v History
-In the end, this is what Super Bowl XLIV is about. Will the history and experience lead the Colts to victory, or does the fairy tale ending finish the magical season for the Saints and the city of New Orleans? With the pressure of making the Super Bowl off, the Saints might play with nothing to lose. The pressure to win the NFC Championship in the Superdome isn't their in Miami. Do the Saints see this as the final step of their journey, or are they just happy to be there? Everything coming out of Miami this week has seemed to say that the Saints are there to win a championship. History isn't on their side, but it hasn't been for 43 years.
This year has always felt different. This team has embraced the journey of getting to Super Bowl XLIV. They know the stakes, and they know what this win will mean to New Orleans and Saints fans everywhere. Win or lose, the 2009 season will be one remembered by Saints fans for the rest of eternity. But, it won't quite be the same unless they lift the Lombardi Trophy on Sunday. All season, their mantra has been "Finish Strong." On Sunday, I'll be joining Who Dat Nation in hoping and praying that the Saints can finish strong in Miami with a World Championship.
No comments:
Post a Comment