How Mike McCarthy Found His Mojo

Mike McCarthy with the Holy Grail

The Green Bay Packers are sitting on top of the football world right now and it is in no small part due to their Head Coach Mike McCarthy. McCarthy showed a toughness and resolve that the outside world had not seen down the stretch in leading the Packers to an impressive six game winning streak that culminated in winning Super Bowl XLV. Along the way McCarthy picked up supporters and turned detractors into ardent fans. But how did he do it?

One area that cannot be questioned is the support of his players. One thing happily missing from this year’s Super Bowl winners is a malcontent. Almost to a man there was no “Hey what about me?” types that litter the locker rooms of the NFL. The packers went about their jobs quietly and professionally and simply let their game do all the talking, a clear reflection of McCarthy’s style.

Style points will only get you so far in the NFL though. Early on it is fair to say McCarthy was tentative and less that rock steady in both his play calling and decision making. The most telling thing was that while the Packers were dropping games to the likes of the Dolphins and Redskins and a putrid loss to Detroit the players laid the blame upon themselves and not on their coach. Refreshing.

But to exonerate McCarthy would be equally unfair. A victim of an ultraconservative series of calls MM was reluctant to go for the kill and called his end game in a manner designed more  not to lose than go out and win the game. For the uninformed there is a huge difference between the two. Playing not to lose is to be cautious and overly careful. Chances are not taken as it is felt they are not needed. Instead of looking to throw on 3^rd down teams simply continue to run it up the gut for 2 or 3 yards and then punt relying on a defense to carry it home and limp over the finish line. Good enough becomes good enough. But it does not push a team over the edge to a win and oft time leads to a an unexpected loss.

In playing too cautiously however a stagnancy can set in and allow momentum to shift to the other side of the ball. Witness the early game against the Bears. Green Bay was mopping the floor with the Bears and suddenly and inexplicably went stale. The Bears capitalized on this, used a tough D to hold the Packers and literally stole a game away from theme, a theme they would repeat throughout the season to take the NFC North title.

This was seen again against the ‘Skins when Brandon Jackson was having a career day running the ball until he became Abandoned Jackson late in the game. Jackson was well over 100 yards and had a career best 79 yard run when MM went elsewhere and the Skins grabbed the W in OT.

McCarthy’s strengths are in his preparations and organizational skills. He plans meticulously and sets a tone the fan won’t see. He is patient in developing his players and loathe to air them out publicly even if it appears to be needed. Not one to grab the headlines MM eschews the limelight and focuses on his players and his team. He also gives Aaron Rodgers a lot of leeway in audibling at the line. There are times, times no one else in a green and gold jersey will ever hear when the two will clash over a play call. But as relationships mature over time so has the relationship between ARod and MM grown.

Growth and development is not limited solely to a player. It is entirely possible that a coach can grow too. The late Vince Lombardi, the gold standard of coaching in any sport, credits a meeting he had early in his professional career with Frank Gifford and Tobin Rote of the New York Giants with changing his style. Lombardi at the time was a first year offensive coach (coordinators did not exist in the ‘50’s) with the Giants and fresh from coaching in college after a long run as a high school coach. His ‘rah rah’ college style was laughed at by the men who made professional football their living and the ever perceptive Lombardi picked up on it. Quietly Lombardi went to Gifford’s and Rote’s dorm room and asked them simply what he was doing wrong. Lombardi quickly learned he had to adapt his style to the men under him. It is a safe bet to say Lombardi not only adapted but managed to meld his style to better fit his players and was able in the process to flourish. The casual fan will want to remember the Packers as an unbeatable entity that never lost a game, but history says differently. The Packers did not win every game but were fighting to the bitter end. Lombardi taught his Packers that they never lost a game; they simply ran out of time.

To say that Mike McCarthy had a similar epiphany would be pretty close to accurate. Somewhere along the way MM began to assert himself and his style and his will upon his players and the game in which he was involved. Early in the season he was reluctant to throw a red flag and waited for a committee to gather and debate and generate a consensus to throw the flag or not… ooops… too late to challenge. By the end of the season McCarthy was far more bold and had the look and air of a man that said “Gimme the damn flag – I’m challenging and I don’t give a damn who disagrees.” Those types of bold initiatives trickle down to the players like an avalanche trickles down a mountainside. Right or wrong the players rally behind a firebrand far more than they will muster courage behind a milksop.

MM and Matt Flynn

After being embarrassed by the Lions in a dreadful performance during a 7 – 3 loss not a peep was heard coming from the podium. Think Rex Ryan would have been quiet? Losing Aaron Rodgers for the upcoming game cast a pall upon the Packers, but something happened in this process. That upcoming game was against the mighty New England Patriots and MM began to sell and tell his team and the media Matt Flynn would be the man to lead them.

At first there were snickers but MM beat the drum steadily. Flynn was ready. Flynn can play. And he planned meticulously. And he caught Bill Belichick, arguably the greatest coach of his era, with his pants down around his ankles.

When MM dialed up an onside kick to start the game he fired a shot across the bow. And the Pats looked like Patsies on the play. Give McCarthy an A+++ for creativity and chutzpah. And boy did the Packers come to play. They played till the last gun, and in the end, they did not lose… they simply ran out of time. There would have to have been the realization afterwards across the board that was “Hey – we almost did it. We’re a pretty good team here.” And with the red hot Giants rolling into town the difficult path was made easy with but one simple notion  - fellas, your next loss ends your season. You get a jump start on the playoffs by two weeks, oh, and by the way – don’t look for a stiff. EVERYONE you’re gonna play is a contender.

Rather than shrink from the challenge McCarthy, like all great coaches, rose up to meet it head on. The Giants? A blowout. A message was sent. Next were Da Bears. In Chicago. And a coach, Lovie Smith, whose stated mission as their coach was to “…beat the Green bay Packers…” An impressive late TD win. Philly and the now high flying Michael Vick? A wire to wire lead and the ball was rolling. Next came Hotlanta, only the best team in the NFC. That ended in a decisive blowout.

Ryan Grant with Wil Blackmon and MM

At this point any question anyone ever had about McCarthy’s ability to design a game plan and prepare his team had been eliminated. When Ryan Grant went down early in the year with a season ending injury the Pack relied upon a running game by committee featuring Brandon Jackson and John Kuhn, and unheralded 6^th round draft pick James Starks joined the mix. Starks responded with a 100+ yard game, and for his efforts, or more to the point lack thereof in the ensuing weeks practices, earned a seat on the bench in McCarthy’s doghouse.

While Packer Nation was clamoring for a running back MM sat pat on his hand and played the Starks card, but only when MM felt Starks was ready to play. Give McCarthy credit for a toughness that doesn’t capitulate to public pressure. And when Starks displayed some less than desirable practice habits MM planked him quickly getting the young rookies attention. Starks was not even suited up in that late stages of the season, and McCarthy found the right mix of tough love, patience and toughness needed to get Starks on the same page as everyone else.

MM with Steeler HC Mike Tomlin after
Super Bowl XLV

One thing MM is not given enough credit for is toughness. He needed Starks badly and was willing to make sure the kid understood how he wanted him to play before he would play him again. And how MM expected Starks to practice. Like Lombardi before him McCarthy has found a successful mix between teaching, preaching, parenting and coaching each of his players. His reliance upon locker room leaders like Charles Woodson and Donald Driver to speak up says volumes. His riding out James Jones drops and still giving him an opportunity paid dividends in the playoffs. McCarthy leaned on his coaching staff.

The always smiling Donald Driver

And most importantly Mike McCarthy learned and led his team.

The Packers gained momentum and confidence in every passing week. Emboldened by his players MM began asserting his will upon a game. His play calling became more creative and daring. He began to play for the win. Taking a chance is part of the equation. No longer timid or worried about being ultra careful he gave his players the best opportunity to win by letting them play. MM removed the handcuffs and placed the ball literally in the hands of his leaders and turned the Pack loose. If a 3^rd down pass was needed in a playoff game, they passed. And on first down. And James Starks reemerged from his canine confines and found himself not only dressing but playing a huge role in getting the Packers to the Promised Land. Starks finally got McCarthy’s message and none too late. And McCarthy continued to use the pass as his weapon of choice to continually attack the Steelers.

Mike McCarthy is among the best in the business at scripting the first 15 plays of a game. His play calling against the Steelers was bold, daring and aggressive from the outset. He turned his dogs loose and they responded with a Pack mentality grabbing a lead they would never relinquish. Starks provided enough of a running game threat to make McCarthy’s play action options the weapon they are. Rodgers delivered in the clutch and MM relied upon Jordy Nelson and his defense to bring the Lombardi Trophy back home.

McCarthy now has a seat at the Head Table in the Holy Trinity of Packer coaches who have a Super Bowl title with Vince and Mike Holmgren. In doing so McCarthy has put his own indelible stamp on his team and it will go down in history alongside his coaching brethren. Every great coach has an epic moment or strategic move that endures the test of time. Mike McCarthy made his by having his players fitted for the Super Bowl rings the night BEFORE the game was played, a moment of sheer brilliance that will last forever as it should. It was bold, agressive, positive and reflected the confidence McCarthy had and had instilled into his Packers, a moment of coaching genius that is up there with anything done by his Packer predecessors. Yes, the door was wide open for McCarthy and his team to lay a gigantic egg. But like Joe Namath's gurantee the Packers made good on their coaches actions as the players ate it up and played mistake free football.

As their leader had their backs all year, they had their leader's back.

Greg Jennings celebrates with MM

At a time when leadership was desperately needed MM found his mojo and his cojones and manned up. McCarthy did what he expected of his players and his players, in turn, delivered what was expected of them. Witness Greg Jennings bear hug of McCarthy at the end of Super Bowl XLV captured by the NFL Networks cameras. It was Jennings seeking out and wrapping up McCarthy, lifting him off the ground and joyously saying “Mike! You gave us the vision in training camp…”

Lombardi, Holmgren, and McCarthy

He didn’t need to finish the sentence.

Somewhere Vince is Smiling Proudly

Behold! The Power of Cheese!

WE DID IT!!!

Today’s weather is an expected high of 21 degrees with a wind chill factor near 10. It is gray and overcast and there is a 75% chance of snow and mixed freezing rain today in Green Bay Wisconsin. It is a beautiful day in Green Bay today.

Mike McCarthy bring Vince
home where he belongs

The Green Bay Packers will leave chilly, frozen Dallas and will be home soon bringing the Vince Lombardi Trophy along with them as the World Champions after defeating the gallant Pittsburgh Steelers 31 – 25. In a thankful departure from the trash talking done lately in the NFL both teams showed a mutual respect and fear of the other and settled it on the field and not in the press.

Pitt HC Mike Tomlin, the brilliant leader
of the Steelers

While this game was far from the classic battles or superb performances it will no doubt go down as one of the most thrilling and nail biting games in recent history. Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin, a class act throughout and elegant in his post game comments said “This game is not about what we (the Steelers) were not able to do; it was about what they (the Packers) were able to do.” And just as predicted the early reviews of this game have to Nielsen ratings and overnight share through the roof. An estimated 106 million people broke last year’s record ratings by 3% and Super Bowl XLV drew a staggering 71 share overnight, meaning over 2.3 of the televisions in America watched the Packers make history.

In this game the Packers managed to impose their collective will on a team every bit their equal. Perhaps no other team in Packers history has had such a unified front in the locker room. Given the history of teams that have pranced upon the frozen tundra that is saying quite a lot.

Mutual respect between two proud franchises

The Packers of Lombardi were forged and molded and driven until they became of one mindset. One distinction between Lombardi’s Packers and Mike McCarthy’s Packers is Lombardi had far more talent on his ’62 and ’65 squads in relative terms than the ’10 Packers. Talent only gets you so far in the NFL. One need not look any further than T.O., Randy Moss, Albert Haynesworth and the other self absorbed prima donnas of the NFL to understand that concept. Great players can always be beaten by teams of far less talent and greater singleness of purpose.

Team unity aside when those players themselves have talent AND the single mindset and buy into a coaching philosophy they can overcome the tallest of obstacles. Like losing 17 players to injury and suspension. Like losing their franchise QB for 2 games to a concussion. Like having to finish the season with 6 consecutive wins against teams whose worst record was 9 -7. Like winning 4 road playoff games in a row. Like losing their all time leading receiver and last year’s Defensive Player of the Year and emotional leaders to injuries in the Super Bowl. Give these Packers a mountain and enough time and they not only believe they will scale it; they will accomplish this and be simply amazing in the process.

Charles Woodson out with a broken collarbone
but able to hoist the Lombardi Trophy

Witness Charles Woodson, the unquestioned leader of not only the defense but the voice of the team. When Woodson played as he always does and laid everything out on the line and broke his left collarbone in the 2^nd quarter the Leader of the Pack lost his voice. In an emotion filled speech spurring his teammates on Woodson, the toughest CB in the NFL, broke down and bawled like a child. Overcome with emotion he could not finish his speech. His teammates embraced that and gathered their fallen warrior up and did not leave him to die unrequited on the battlefield. Nor did they abandon their fallen offensive veteran WR Donald Driver. They carried them on their shields to deliver the Lombardi Trophy to the leaders of this remarkable team.

Donald Driver, the senior emeritus
of the Packers WR's

Donald Driver, unable to play after a nasty ankle turn, refused to take his uniform off and stood on the sidelines imploring his receiving mates on. When CB Sam Shields also left following Woodson into the dressing room with an injury the much maligned Jarrett Bush took his spot and responded with a titanic interception.

In the Twitter world we now live in it is commonplace to see QB’s yelling at receivers and receivers demanding the ball and defensive players calling out opponents and coaches laying down a gauntlet challenging other team’s coaches. They make for great highlights and get your mug on ESPN.

Jordy Nelson setting a Packer WR record
 scores the first of Green Bay's TD's

But they don’t make a great team nor do they make a team great. Jordy Nelson had the greatest game ever by a Packers receiver in the playoffs with 9 grabs for 140 yards and 1 TD. Yet he will be as remembered for the ones that got away as what he did when he held on to the ball. Had Nelson and James Jones managed to come down with some of Aaron Rodgers tracer darts of throws Nelson could have easily topped 200 yards and Green Bay could have put up 3 more TD’s. It didn’t happen. Nor was Rodgers seen screaming at anyone in frustration.

Pittsburgh will be eternally haunted by one daunting image for the ages that encapsulates their frustration playing against the Packers. When Ben Roethlisberger missed a wide open and blazing to the pylon Mike Wallace with an off course pass the cameras caught Big Ben tip his head skyward and roll his eyes in a moment that says it all. The entire Steeler nation let out a collective curse at the missed opportunity.

Super Bowl MVP
Superman

Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers will now be coronated as the new next big deal of the NFL. His face will adorn the cover of Madden ’12 and enough words will be written about Arod to stretch from Chico, Ca. to Ashwabegon,WI. and back several thousand times and deservedly so. Rodgers left with a 24 for 39 performance, over 300 yards and 3 TD’s but most importantly no turnovers. While far from technically perfect the Packers played mistake free football while exacting a pound of flesh for every Steeler miscue. The vaunted Steeler running game was in fact almost a dead even draw with Green Bay’s James Starks gaining 53 yards on 11 carries (4.7 avg.) and Pitt’s Rashard Mendenhall getting 63 yards on 14 carries (4.5 avg.). While Pittsburgh also got running yards from Ike Redman and Mewelde Moore it was the QB’s that had the biggest showdown.

The Picks are in! Nick Collins grabs a pick 6

Flushed frequently from the pocket Roethlisberger ran for 31 yards as well as his life. Roethlisberger running was a distinct advantage for the Packers as it is his arm, not his feet that will kill you. He can hurt you with a run but keeping his arm in check was the Packers goal. An early bull rush by practice squad pickup Howard Green forced up a Duck a la Roethlisberger that Nick Collins easily swiped and returned for 6. Injuries accounted for much of the key moments in this game, especially surreptitiously. With the Steelers driving Frank Zombo, back in the lineup replacing his replacement Erik Walden who was out with an ankle sprain plowed into Big Ben and looked for all the world like a man trying to pull a tree up out of the ground by its’ roots. When He finally got Roethlisberger’s feet off the ground with Herculean effort the tree, and the Steelers hopes, began to topple.

The aforementioned Jarrett Bush, beaten badly by Hines Ward for a Pittsburgh TD came up when he literally stole the ball away from Mike Wallace. Rodgers found Greg Jennings with a bullet over the middle made possible in large part due to Troy Polamalu’s Achilles injury that found him just a tick behind the play.

Hot Potato! Desmond Bishop scooping
up the game changer

The Maurkice Pouncey injury showed up when Ryan Pickett of the Packers got inside replacement C Doug Legursky and had his helmet on the backside of Mendenhall and the also the ball making it a far easier target for Clay Matthews III who popped the ball out and Desmond Bishop, in due to Nick Barnett’s season ending injury gathered in and fell on for the Packers.

In the game of attrition and mistakes, the Steelers made 3 – and the Packers made them pay for every single one getting 21 points off the Steelers turnovers. Green Bay, led by Aaron Rodgers precision made exactly zero. Big games require ball protection and the Packers dominated in this department.

At age 27 Rodgers is poised to lead these Packers for a long time. They came into their own under the most trying of circumstances in the most trying of years. Charles Woodson was reduced to tears three times, first when learning his collarbone was broken, next when he addressed the team at halftime, and finally when he realized his dream of being a Super Bowl Champion. Greg Jennings head fake of Polamalu who guessed wrong and bit on a post in route when Jennings suddenly broke it outside provided the cushion Green Bay needed. Jordy Nelson stepped in and rewarded the Packers for selecting him and not DeSean Jackson with the game of his life.

Attaboy! Mike McCarthy victorious

The defense has only gotten better and will be the backbone of this team for years to come. A few more healthy bodies and another good draft may see Green Bay become the next New England. The Packers accomplished all they accomplished with a vastly depleted lineup. Credit GM Ted Thompson for building a team built for the long haul, a team that can be good and great year in, year out. Mike McCarthy did a masterful job of coaching, especially down the stretch when the Packers needed him. He responded by pushing all the right buttons and being the glue that kept the team together.

Aaron Rodgers and Jordy Nelson - hot all day long

And Aaron Rodgers has put to rest any lingering notion about replacing a legend. He is in Steve Young territory now, and these are HIS Packers. At this point he has exactly the same amount of Super Bowl wins as his predecessor and the future looks even more promising than Green Bay’s glorious past. There is no more need to discuss anything but where the Packers today are going, not where they were 3 years ago.

On Tuesday, Lambeau Field will be filled to capacity at roughly 5pm with Cheeseheads form everywhere filling the stadium at $5 a pop to roar for their hometown heroes. The weather is predicted to be around 10 degrees when the sun is out, and there will be an “Ice Bowl I & II” feel to the place. There will be hunting caps, long underwear, galoshes, ski masks, boots, flasks, mittens, gloves, mufflers and scarves. The breath will freeze immediately in the air. It will be a cold, cold northern night. It will be a typical Green Bay day. No one is going to mind or complain one bit. Yeah, it will be a cold day in Green Bay.

And a glorious day for a glorious team.

Welcome home the 2010-11 WORLD CHAMPION GREEN BAY PACKERS!

PACKERS TAKE THE CHEESE!!!!!

2010

SUPER BOWL

CHAMPIONS

GREEN BAY

PACKERS

SUPER BOWL XLV

‘Twas the night before the Super Bowl, And all through Green Bay

The players were anxious And ready to play

The helmets were hung in the locker room with care

In hopes that the Super Bowl soon would be theirs

The players were settled in their hotel rooms that night

While they had visions of Steelers and the soon to be fight

And McCarthy had the plays set and practiced them well

While the players ready to go give it hell

When out on the field there arose such a sound

100,000 strong that shook the earth to the ground

 With all due apologies to Clement Clarke Moore it’s the last minute before this year version of hell on earth is unleashed. The Packers and the Steelers are finally on the eve of the big one, and Super Bowl XLV is shaping up to be a classic matchup that could be one for the ages.

Steelers on their "Stairway to Seven" oddysey

In either case a proud franchise is going to add to its impressive arsenal of hardware. The Packers have 12 NFL Titles and 3 Super Bowl trophies while Pittsburgh is on a quest for has been termed “The Stairway to Seven”. While the Eagles and Lions and Chargers of the world struggle for inclusion the Packers and Steelers march on after very impressive playoff runs.

The Packers Hall of Fame

No one took the harder path than the Packers. Faced with being shut out of the playoffs entirely the Pack reached down, and found their game, and themselves as they have been torrid, winning 5 ‘Must Win’ games in a row without the benefit of a stiff or patsy along the way. The Giants were bombed, the Bears took it on the chin – twice - rendering them to second citizen status, the Eagles also dropped two to Green bay and the mighty Atlanta Falcons, only the #1 seed in the NFC were thoroughly trounced. Last on the agenda- the Steelers

The Steelers earned the #2 seed and dispatched Baltimore after damn near giving the game away early. The Steelers, while a formidable team, have shown a proclivity for last second heroics by playing so up and down that they appear to be part of a Saturday morning serial cliff hanger. While danger lurks at every corner the Steelers do just enough to win. They repeated a theme against New York, piling up a 24 – 0 mountain of a lead only to watch it evaporate to a 24 – 19 win that never should have been that close. In both instances the Steelers had the advantage of playing against up and coming but nowhere near proven 2^nd year QB’s in Joe Flacco and Mark Sanchez. While both are solid QB’s neither one is in the class of a Brady, Brees, Rivers, or Roethlisberger.

Or Aaron Rodgers.

RB James Starks carries the rock now

The Steelers will have no such luxury against the Packers. Rodgers is the man, and the one player the Steelers must contain to have any hope. The Packers are now a diverse team with rookie RB James Starks handling the running back duties. Brandon Jackson is now where he plays best as a # 2 or 3 back how can block, catch the ball out of the backfield and break the draw wide open maximizing his talents.

Against the Ravens the Steelers caught a break when T.J. Houshmanzadeh dropped a 4^th down easy grab that would have extended the game. The Ravens dropped far too many balls in that game that helped the Steelers immensely. While the Packers have had the dropsies throughout the year Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson have dialed up their games and are serious threats. This is another area the Steelers will not have the same courtesy. The Packers wideouts seem to play better when under a microscope in a big game. They can disappear into thin air against Detroit or Washington, but when the light shines brightest they do seem to step up.

LB James Harrison doing his thing
on Drew Brees

The Steelers suffered an enormous blow when C Maurkice Pouncey was scratched from the game day lineup due to his high ankle sprain. DE Aaron Smith is also out as predicted. The job of handling the Packers massive NT B.J. Raji now falls to backup C Doug Legursky who has never started an NFL game and now will need a lot of help to contain the raging bull. The Steelers ability to run the ball will be hampered immensely and with Dom Capers having enough time to really prepare his troops the Packers may be able to stand up to Pittsburgh’s ground game. The Steelers have been playing well with their front 3, and while Smith makes them better the trio of Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel and Ziggy Hood has to do more than try to get to Rodgers. Keeping Starks in check and pressuring the hottest QB on the planet just might be a tough order to fill. All World S Troy Polamalu has been bothered by a nagging Achilles tendon injury that has slowed him down. In the game vs. the Jets Polamalu was decidedly un-Polamalu-like as he was barely noticeable. Rodgers will need to keep a sharp eye on him.

Clay Matthews III introducing himself to
Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger

Steeler QB Ben Roethlisberger is making his bones in big game comebacks. His last second toss to Santonio Holmes to win Super Bowl XLIII over Arizona and his methodical dissection of the Ravens this year are testaments to Big Bens knack for winning big games. The Packers will bring pressure, and if Rashard Mendenhall cannot get some early traction the Steelers will be forced to rely on Ben’s big arm to pull one more out, and he has the talent to pull it off.

This will be a close one. Both defenses are too good to give up massive points and are playing too well. The matchup of the Packers WR’s against the Steelers secondary is the one most feared by the Steelers. While the Steelers will no doubt blitz and blitz often from multiple positions it will be up to Rodgers to get rid of the ball early. Rodgers can ill afford another head high shot as he took against the Bears when Julius Peppers rang his bell, rendering him ineffective from that point.

WR Greg Jennings getting hot at the right time

While Ike Taylor will no doubt draw Greg Jennings in a matchup of #1’s, the bigger duel will be between Donald Driver and/ or Jordy Nelson against Bryant McFadden and William Gay. McFadden is aging and was burnt by Rodgers last year in the desert battle in Arizona while Gay is the most inconsistent CB on the Steelers. Rodgers will get some zip and the Packers will gain some yardage in this confrontation.

 S Troy Polamalu changing the Steelers fortunes
against Joe Flacco and the Ravens

It will be up to James Harrison, James Farrior, LaMarr Woodley and Polamalu to get to Rodgers. Pressure won’t be enough. Getting to and knocking down Rodgers is a must. The Steelers earn their paychecks and playoff bonuses on their defenses ability to give the offense one more shot.

In a closed dome perfect climate stadium both QB’s will look impressive. There will be points scored but in the end, it will be another 60 minutes of football and in a close game a trophy case will have to make room for one more.

In a memorable back and forth game that will go down as the highest rated, most watched game, in history, history will be made – again.




Try it on for size, Aaron



GREEN BAY 27

PITTSBURGH 23

The Key Matchups

The Steelers and Packers look so eerily similar on paper it is hard to avoid the comparisons. The NFL Network, ESPN, and virtually anyone covering Super Bowl XLV has run some variation of “Which QB would you rather have – Aaron Rodgers or Ben Roethlisberger?” In the previous comparative analyses done here it is a dead even draw. Enough with the comparisons,; neither ARod or Big Ben will actually have to face each other on the field. This game, as is all games played in the NFL, will be decided by the key matchups and which team is better able to win the game within a game. Last year the Pack and the Steelers hooked up in a wildly entertaining game that saw Pittsburgh escape with a 37-36 last minute toenails-in-the-blades-of-grass last second heave by Roethlisberger, and game in which Big Ben threw for over 500 yards. There are two things certain in this game – 1) Ben will not put up 500 yards. The Packers have improved far too much to repeat last year’s meltdown and 2) the Steelers will not repeat their performance they put up against the Jets in limiting NY to 1 yard rushing in the first half. While only one year removed both teams are light years evolved from last year’s encounter.

So, how do they match up? Here are the key  matchups to to watch and see how they stack up and where this game will be won or lost.

RASHARD MENDENHALL vs. the PACKERS RUN DEFENSE

Pittsburgh is back to its ‘ground n pound’ mentality and the biggest key to their success will be in Mendenhall’s ability to put up big numbers. At first glance the Steelers have a big advantage as the Packers D has been middling against the run. That was until C Maurkice Pouncey found himself booted up with a dreaded high ankle sprain and looks as if he will not be able to go. Unless Pouncey can pull a Willis Reed-like appearance this will really ding the Steelers chances as backup C Doug Legursky will have to handle B.J. Raji. Raji in particular has been outstanding the past month and a stalwart on the Packers Defensive Line. Mendenhall’s ability to run opens up whatever passing game is needed by Roethlisberger. Perhaps no other team in football gets as much out of a 20 -25 pass game as Roethlisberger and the Steelers. The Steelers are not a pass-first team and if they are unable to run that makes the nest matchup all that much more difficult for them. If the Packers can key in on and put the clamps on Mendenhall it will limit the Steelers offensive effectiveness. Don’t be surprised if the Steelers go with a lot more play-action to freeze the Packers blitz happy defenders. This one will be the key for both teams. If Pitt can run, they can keep Rodgers and the pass happy Pack where they can do the least damage – right on the bench.

ADVANTAGE – STEELERS (only by a slim margin due to Pouncey)

STEELERS WR’s Hines Ward/ Antwaan Randall El/ Mike Wallace/ Emmanuel Sanders vs.

GREEN BAY’s CB’s Charles Woodson, Tramon Williams, Sam Shields, Brandon Underwood

Last time Roethlisberger had a career day against the Pack with over 500 yards in passing. Yikes! That was a much different secondary back then. This year’s group does not include such fearsome defensive intimidators as Josh Bell or Jarrett Bush. Tramon Williams has developed into a stud and Sam Shields has been outstanding thus far. Of course, the Packers have not seen anyone quite as adroit at escaping the rush and winging it on the fly outside of their own practices. Woodson will be all over the field and complimenting the push from Matthews. The Packers will try to hurry Roethlisberger and clamp down on Pitts WR’s. Bottling up Mendenhall is the first order of business. It’s not that the Steelers can’t throw the ball; they are more reliant on their clock killing running game. In this matchup the Packers have a distinct advantage. That is unless Sam Shields suddenly goes rookie gaga and gets mesmerized by the SUPER BOWL and the fact he’s in it. If that’s the case he could be forced to try and run down Wallace. In this matchup give the edge where it rightfully belongs.

(BIG) ADVANTAGE – PACKERS

STEELERS DEFENSIVE LINE (Casey Hampton, Brett Keisel, Ziggy Hood) vs.

PACKERS OFFENSIVE LINE (Chad Clifton, Darryn Colledge, Scott Wells, Josh Sitton, Bryan Bulaga)

Containing the Pittsburgh push AND having enough presence of mind to pick up the blitz coming from somewhere else is priority one for the Packers. Don’t believe the hype about Aaron Smith returning either. His torn triceps is still nowhere near ready and only desperation on the Steelers part gets him in. As it is the Steelers could cause all sorts of havoc on the Packers who have struggled at times with their assignments. One way to offset this is for James Starks to be able to explode quickly through the hole and gain 4 yards consistently, especially on first down. First down run yardage is ultra important and the Steelers will try to stuff Starks back to Buffalo. It will be up to Sitton to do some bullwork as Colledge is the weakest technician of run blockers for either team and also gets mowed over in passing downs. The Steelers have the strength. The question is will the Packers have the brains to offset this matchup?

ADVANTAGE – STEELERS

PACKERS DEFENSIVE LINE (CULLEN JENKINS, B.J. RAJI, RYAN PICKETT) vs.

STEELERS OFFENSIVE LINE (Jonathan Scott, Chris Kemeoatu, Doug Legursky, Ramon Foster, Flozell Adams)

The loss of Maurkice Pouncey to a broken bone in his foot/ leg/ ankle and high ankle sprain is something the Steelers did not need. Pouncey is cut from the same Mike Webster/ Dermonti Dawson mold of terrific Steeler centers and is a potentially enormous hole literally in the Steelers Line. The Steelers want to pound the rock and the job gets that much tougher without the big guy in the middle. Footwork and age may catch up to Foster and Adams, who has had a good year for Pittsburgh but is showing some wear on the tread of his tires at this point. Raji alone will occupy at least 2 and maybe all 3 interior linemen for Pittsburgh. If Raji can collapse the pocket as he has shown he can do Green Bay’s blitzes will look to harass Roethlisberger. It will take at least two to bring down the 270 lb QB. The Packers give up rushing yards but are a nightmare against the pass. This is a battle in the trenches worth watching closely. Although there is no appreciable advantage the mere fact that Pouncey is unavailable keeps this from being a Pittsburgh advantage.

ADVANTAGE  - NONE (due to Pouncey)

JAMES HARRISON vs. JAMES STARKS and AARON RODGERS

The meat of the big matchups. Harrison is big, fast, quick, strong, tough and mean. He doesn’t give a damn about the fines and doesn’t care of you know it. If he gets a shot at Rodgers, he’ll take it. If he can blast Starks he’s going to do it. Intimidation is Harrison’s calling card and it earns him attention. It will up to Starks to protect the ball and for Rodgers to simply keep doing what he has been doing – moving around, spread the ball, and get rid of it quickly without turning it over. If the Pack can get some long sustained drives that may help to wear down Harrison. And Green Bay will keep the reliable John Kuhn in with the blocking assignments in passing downs. Having faced Brian Urlacher and Lance Briggs the Pack may have an answer for the Steelers monster man. Both Starks and Rodgers are quick enough to stay out of harms way. They’ll have to do it for three hours though.

ADVANTAGE – PACKERS

CLAY MATTHEWS III vs. RASHARD MENDENHALL and BEN ROETHLISBERGER

If the previous matchup was the meat then this is the potatoes of the big matchups. Matthews is free from the nagging shin injury that slowed him down in the latter part of the year and will draw much deserved attention. One thing not lost on Tomlin was how well the Packers used Matthews as a decoy to spring other blitzers. In the first round vs. Philly CM3 head faked RT Winston Justice, froze him, and dropped back into coverage while Desmond Bishop ran around Matthews and clobbered Michael Vick in the back early in the game. Justice was sent to the bench as he was lost and Dom Capers has a way of deploying all sorts of blitzes and Matthews has a knack for making the most of his opportunities. Still, getting to Roethlisberger is one thing – bringing him down is another. Matthews can’t do it alone. Big Ben’s big size and Mendenhall’s scampers may neutralize CM3’s effectiveness. If it does then someone else will have to step up large. But with the high octane motor Matthews has a spring in his step the Steelers haven’t yet seen.

ADVANTAGE - PACKERS

PACKERS WRS (Donald Driver, Greg Jennings, Jordy Nelson, James Jones, Andrew Quarless) vs.

STEELERS CBS (Ike Taylor, Bryant McFadden, William Gay)

This is where it gets dicey for the black and gold. They need a pass rush. They need sacks. They need Troy Polamalu’s Achilles injury to be healed. This is the same Bryant McFadden who was torched last year in Green Bay’s OT loss in the desert shootout in Arizona (51-45) by Aaron Rodgers, who has had a chip on his shoulder. Rodgers is one of those players who plays so much better when he is being challenged. Gay has been targeted more times than John Gotti in his Teflon Don days. The Steelers have given up big chunks of yardage through the air and how, or more to the point who they have to cover will be a match up nightmare. If the Steelers cannot get to Rodgers and he is able to pick his spots he can dissect the Steeler secondary. That’s a tall order considering the pass rush sure to come Rodgers way. The fact is the Packers have 4 legit deep ball threats who can play over the middle, and Quarless has emerged of late and with Brandon Jackson and James Starks out of the backfield the options open up. Starks ability to advance on the ground only makes this match up worse for Pitt as GB can go to its arsenal of play action. The fact is when the Packer passing game is clicking, they have too much out there that can be effectively covered. SOMEONE is always open. If they go MIA or get the dropsies, their rubicon this year, it only helps the Steel City boys.

ADVANTAGE – PACKERS

NEXT EDITION – THE PICK