thedrifter
01-21-06, 10:24 AM
Burning questions for the Conference Championships
By Vic Carucci
Special to SuperBowl.com
(Jan. 20, 2006) -- Four burning questions for the Conference Championships:
Can the Denver Broncos handle Pittsburgh's blitz better than the Indianapolis Colts did in their divisional-round loss to the Steelers?
Yes.
The greatest focus of the Broncos' preparation this week has been on studying how the Steelers' blitzing befuddled and overwhelmed a Colts offensive line that had played extremely well for most of the regular season. That was the single-biggest reason for the Steelers' ability to dominate virtually the entire game, and one way or another, it will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the AFC title game.
The Colts' linemen certainly weren't lacking the necessary intelligence to figure out what they were seeing from a Pittsburgh scheme that constantly sends blitzers from a variety of angles. They should have known how to adjust to it. However, the biggest problem with that group is that it does not have enough quick and nimble players to move to the necessary spots to sufficiently protect Peyton Manning.
The Broncos offensive line does. With the exception of right tackle George Foster, Denver's linemen do an excellent job of changing direction, which is half the battle in coping with the Steelers' aggressive blitz package.
Will the Steelers be able to get and keep control of the game by coming out with the pass-oriented offense they used against the Colts?
No.
The Steelers stunned the Colts by deviating from their run-first script and coming out from their first play with an aggressive passing attack. It was effective, in part, because the Colts weren't ready to handle it, but mostly because they had no answers for talented rookie tight end Heath Miller, who continually found gaping seams in the middle of the field.
The Broncos' safeties, John Lynch and Nick Ferguson, are much better at adding muscle to a defense that ranked second in the NFL against the run during the regular season. Consequently, it would not be a surprise to see the Steelers again have Ben Roethlisberger come out throwing and Miller to again catch some passes over the middle.
However, the Broncos do have the fastest and most athletic linebackers in the league, and they will do their share to minimize the damage of Roethlisberger's short and intermediate passes. They also have one of the top cornerbacks in the game in Champ Bailey, and the Steelers, like most Denver opponents, will likely opt to avoid throwing in his direction. That means Hines Ward, the Steelers' only consistent big-play receiving threat, will frequently be motioned to locate a more favorable matchup.
It will be up to the Broncos to try and take advantage of the fact that Bailey will, for all intents and purposes, take away half the field from the Pittsburgh passing game.
Will the Seattle Seahawks be able to contain Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith enough to prevent him from being the difference in the outcome?
No.
The Seahawks shouldn't feel bad. Hardly any team has figured out how to cover Smith or prevent him from making a substantial gain whenever he has the ball in his hands.
Beyond his enormous talent, another reason for Smith's success is the savvy and creativity of Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning. Most teams line up their No. 1 cornerback on the left side of the defense because, with most quarterbacks being right-handed, their first look is in the direction of that cornerback. That is why Panthers' Henning tends to put Smith on the left side of the offense, which would usually match him up against the No. 2 cornerback.
That is, unless he sees a more favorable matchup on the right side, which was the case in Carolina's divisional-round victory over Chicago when Smith pretty much did whatever he pleased against left cornerback Charles Tillman. Look for Smith to again spend most of his time on the right side because he will then see plenty of the Seahawks' Nos. 2 and 3 cornerbacks, Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon, and less of No. 1 cornerback Marcus Trufant, who stays mostly on the right side of Seattle's defense.
Will the Panthers be able to contain Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander enough to prevent him from being the difference in the outcome?
Yes.
Alexander is going to start after suffering a concussion that caused him to miss most of the Seahawks' divisional-round victory over Washington. How long he is able to remain in the game is a question, because the Panthers' highly physical defense will be determined to hit the league's MVP as much and as hard as possible in hopes of prompting another early exit.
Although Seattle's receivers are solid, there isn't a dynamic enough player in the group that should prevent the Panthers from being mostly successful in man-to-man coverage. As a result, expect Carolina to keep at least one of its hard-hitting safeties, Marlon McCree or Mike Minter, and/or reserve linebacker/safety Thomas Davis near the line of scrimmage to help shut down the run. The more the Seahawks are forced to rely on throwing the ball, the more vulnerable Matt Hasselbeck will become to the exceptional blitzing of Davis.
Should Alexander become limited or leave the game early, the Seahawks will turn to Maurice Morris. Morris does not come close to having Alexander's considerable talent (not many backs do), but he will give a full effort in trying to allow Seattle to maintain some semblance of a consistent running game and balanced offense.
Ellie
PANTHERS
STEELERS
By Vic Carucci
Special to SuperBowl.com
(Jan. 20, 2006) -- Four burning questions for the Conference Championships:
Can the Denver Broncos handle Pittsburgh's blitz better than the Indianapolis Colts did in their divisional-round loss to the Steelers?
Yes.
The greatest focus of the Broncos' preparation this week has been on studying how the Steelers' blitzing befuddled and overwhelmed a Colts offensive line that had played extremely well for most of the regular season. That was the single-biggest reason for the Steelers' ability to dominate virtually the entire game, and one way or another, it will go a long way toward determining the outcome of the AFC title game.
The Colts' linemen certainly weren't lacking the necessary intelligence to figure out what they were seeing from a Pittsburgh scheme that constantly sends blitzers from a variety of angles. They should have known how to adjust to it. However, the biggest problem with that group is that it does not have enough quick and nimble players to move to the necessary spots to sufficiently protect Peyton Manning.
The Broncos offensive line does. With the exception of right tackle George Foster, Denver's linemen do an excellent job of changing direction, which is half the battle in coping with the Steelers' aggressive blitz package.
Will the Steelers be able to get and keep control of the game by coming out with the pass-oriented offense they used against the Colts?
No.
The Steelers stunned the Colts by deviating from their run-first script and coming out from their first play with an aggressive passing attack. It was effective, in part, because the Colts weren't ready to handle it, but mostly because they had no answers for talented rookie tight end Heath Miller, who continually found gaping seams in the middle of the field.
The Broncos' safeties, John Lynch and Nick Ferguson, are much better at adding muscle to a defense that ranked second in the NFL against the run during the regular season. Consequently, it would not be a surprise to see the Steelers again have Ben Roethlisberger come out throwing and Miller to again catch some passes over the middle.
However, the Broncos do have the fastest and most athletic linebackers in the league, and they will do their share to minimize the damage of Roethlisberger's short and intermediate passes. They also have one of the top cornerbacks in the game in Champ Bailey, and the Steelers, like most Denver opponents, will likely opt to avoid throwing in his direction. That means Hines Ward, the Steelers' only consistent big-play receiving threat, will frequently be motioned to locate a more favorable matchup.
It will be up to the Broncos to try and take advantage of the fact that Bailey will, for all intents and purposes, take away half the field from the Pittsburgh passing game.
Will the Seattle Seahawks be able to contain Carolina Panthers receiver Steve Smith enough to prevent him from being the difference in the outcome?
No.
The Seahawks shouldn't feel bad. Hardly any team has figured out how to cover Smith or prevent him from making a substantial gain whenever he has the ball in his hands.
Beyond his enormous talent, another reason for Smith's success is the savvy and creativity of Panthers offensive coordinator Dan Henning. Most teams line up their No. 1 cornerback on the left side of the defense because, with most quarterbacks being right-handed, their first look is in the direction of that cornerback. That is why Panthers' Henning tends to put Smith on the left side of the offense, which would usually match him up against the No. 2 cornerback.
That is, unless he sees a more favorable matchup on the right side, which was the case in Carolina's divisional-round victory over Chicago when Smith pretty much did whatever he pleased against left cornerback Charles Tillman. Look for Smith to again spend most of his time on the right side because he will then see plenty of the Seahawks' Nos. 2 and 3 cornerbacks, Andre Dyson and Kelly Herndon, and less of No. 1 cornerback Marcus Trufant, who stays mostly on the right side of Seattle's defense.
Will the Panthers be able to contain Seahawks running back Shaun Alexander enough to prevent him from being the difference in the outcome?
Yes.
Alexander is going to start after suffering a concussion that caused him to miss most of the Seahawks' divisional-round victory over Washington. How long he is able to remain in the game is a question, because the Panthers' highly physical defense will be determined to hit the league's MVP as much and as hard as possible in hopes of prompting another early exit.
Although Seattle's receivers are solid, there isn't a dynamic enough player in the group that should prevent the Panthers from being mostly successful in man-to-man coverage. As a result, expect Carolina to keep at least one of its hard-hitting safeties, Marlon McCree or Mike Minter, and/or reserve linebacker/safety Thomas Davis near the line of scrimmage to help shut down the run. The more the Seahawks are forced to rely on throwing the ball, the more vulnerable Matt Hasselbeck will become to the exceptional blitzing of Davis.
Should Alexander become limited or leave the game early, the Seahawks will turn to Maurice Morris. Morris does not come close to having Alexander's considerable talent (not many backs do), but he will give a full effort in trying to allow Seattle to maintain some semblance of a consistent running game and balanced offense.
Ellie
PANTHERS
STEELERS