Don’t worry; this won’t be another full length preview of this year’s Super Bowl. Instead, I’ve decided to focus on one key aspect of the game that I think will be instrumental in deciding the winner. This matchup doesn’t even start on the field though; it starts in the training room.
How Maurkice Pouncey’s ankle will heal, or more specifically, how effective he can be, will have a huge effect on this game. Pouncey’s health will be the key to this matchup, which will pit the interior offensive line of the Steelers against the Packers defensive front. The winner in this battle of the trenches will have a huge edge, and I think by the end of the night, will be crowned Super Bowl Champs.
This matchup will come down to two big players (literally); Maurkice Pouncey and B.J Raji.
The importance of stopping Raji, and the subsequent importance of getting Pouncey healthy, is why the Steelers medical staff is going to be under a lot of pressure these next two weeks. If Pouncey’s ankle heals completely and he’s playing at 100 percent, the Steelers chances at slowing down Raji will increase by a ton. Take Pouncey out of the game, or have him playing at less than 80 percent, and the Steelers chances against Raji and the Packers take a bigger hit than Wes Welker running a crossing route.
The reason Pouncey is so important to the Steelers is obvious. He was named a second team All-Pro this year, and he plays the most important position on the line (yes, more important than Left Tackle in my mind). The offensive line always works best as a cohesive unit, and if any unit is missing their commander, it’s not the same. Pouncey makes all the calls on the line, and the rest of the O-line, not to mention Ben Roethlisberger, trust him immensely. The Steelers won’t be at their best without Pouncey, and they will need to be to stop Raji and the Packers.
Now why is stopping the Packers interior defence so important? Because offensively, everything the Steelers want to do starts with controlling the middle. Pittsburgh will want to run the ball, I’m sure, and if they can stop, or at least contain Raji and the Pack’s interior, they will have a much better chance at doing this. Not only will their running game help them out on the offensive side of the ball, but it’ll help their defence also. If the Steelers can run the ball effectively, it will keep Aaron Rodgers and the Packers potent offence on the sideline, and will allow the Steelers’ D some time to rest.
The Packers can also benefit from controlling the middle. As opposed to a lot of scrambling quarterbacks, Big Ben’s doesn’t usually run near the sidelines; most of his key scrambles are up the middle, while stepping up in the pocket. If Green Bay can get good pressure up the middle and not give Roethlisberger any room to step up, they’ll be able to negate Ben’s rushing ability, and take away one of the Steelers’ biggest weapons.
By getting pressure up the middle, the Packers would also give their pass defence a huge advantage. If Roethlisberger is forced to throw the ball quickly and under pressure most of the game, the big play Packers’ corners will have a field day. Guys like Tramon Williams and Charles Woodson thrive off mistakes and misreads, and if Ben doesn’t have any time to throw, they’ll be able to jump routes and play aggressively all day.
As you can see, the war in the trenches cannot be ignored in this game. From the Steelers running game to the Packers pass defence, so much of this game will hinge on the play of these two lines, and more specifically, the play of these two young +300 pounders.
Pouncey vs. Raji; let the games begin.
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