Super Bowl Preview: The Playmakers

As I have already mentioned, Super Bowl 43 is not an anticipated ball game and I think that everybody is taking the Steelers because very few people know anything about the Arizona Cardinals. But I think it will be a close game and there are a few players to watch for on both teams.


Over the past 40 years, the Steelers have been known for playing hard-nosed, smash mouth football and the 2009 squad is no different. In my previous blog I talked about Ben Roethlisberger and how he doesn’t have to play well in order for the Steelers to win. The reason for that is running back Willie Parker is the catalyst for what the Steelers want to do on offense – run the ball and throw on play action. Parker is having a solid postseason with two touchdowns and averaging 3.8 yards-per carry. But I think the most important piece on the Steelers offense is former Super Bowl MVP Hines Ward. He has not scored a touchdown in the postseason, but can stretch the field and can make bone-crushing block. Ward will be playing with some pain as he suffered a knee injury in the AFC Championship game against the Ravens. If he is not effective, look for receiver Santonio Holmes and tight end Heath Miller to pick up some of the slack.

As good as the Arizona offense has been this postseason, they have their most daunting task as the go up against a Steeler defense that has been ranked No. 1 in the NFL all season long. They are led by linebacker James Harrison who was named Defensive Player of the Year when the regular season ended. But also watch out for linebacker James Farrior who leads the team in tackles in the postseason linebacker LaMarr Woodley who has four sacks in the last two games. But the one player that Kurt Warner needs to find on every play is safety Troy Polamalu. He is dangerous when it come to stopping the run or defending the pass. I can also make the argument that he is slightly better than Ed Reed, but that’s another blog for another day. Their version of the 3-4 scheme is what other teams aspire to be and fans what a top-notched NFL defense is on Sunday.

Now on to the Cardinals. As I mentioned earlier, they don’t have household names other than Kurt Warner. But Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald make up the best wide receiver tandem in the NFL and when they are both on, they are extremely dangerous. Running back Edgerin James is not the back he was earlier in the decade with the Indianapolis Colts, but he has rejuvenated himself this postseason and he was one of the reasons that the Cardinals were able to get past the Falcons and the Panthers. But I have to give credit to their offensive line because they have kept Warner upright all throughout the playoffs. Led by Levi Brown and Mike Gandy, the O-line is a big unit with the average weight around 325 pounds.

Defensively, the Cardinals don’t make as many plays as the Steelers defense, however, they are probably the fastest unit in the game. Linebacker Karlos Dansby leads the team in tackles (28) while cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie leads the team in interceptions (2). Safety Ardian Wilson is the Cardinals version of Polamalu and can lay a lick on a receiver. Darnell Dockett, Roderick Hood and Bertrand Berry are also having great outings in the playoffs and will have to come up big against an aggressive Steelers ground attack. That shouldn’t be a problem because they were able to stop the likes of Michael Turner, DeAngleo Williams and Brian Westbrook to make their way to Tampa.

That’s part two of my Super Bowl 43 preview. Come back on Saturday as I take a look at the coaches and make my predictions and who will win the Super Bowl MVP.