From Zero to Hero: Who Will Become a Legend of the Game

With the Super Bowl looming we are about to make a national sensation out of a player most of us had never heard of.  In 2008 David Tyree cam into our living rooms has he latched a pass to his helmet keeping the Giants game winning drive alive.  Last year Tracy Porter of the saints grabbed a Peyton Manning pass and returned it 74 yards for an interception.  James Harrison was known by close followers of the NFL but his career had been tumultuous to that point, but as he returned a 100 yard interception for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLIII he gained a new level of fame.  But the question is what no name will come up big in this year’s Super Bowl?

David Tyree wowed viewers with one of the most spectacular catches ever, but prior to cementing an Eli Manning pass to his helmet only Giants fans had heard of the sixth round pick out of Syracuse.

Tyree was never an elite receiver but his clutch catch established him a place in football history.  The Super Bowl created what we as fans know David Tyree as, even though in his seven year NFL career he amassed only 650 yards and four touchdowns.

Last year in the Super Bowl Saints cornerback Tracy Porter leaped out of relative obscurity to intercept a Peyton Manning pass.  The interception would be returned for a touchdown that would seal the victory for New Orleans.  The second round pick out of Indiana had earned a starting role for the Saints in his second year in the league but, Porter is not an all pro player or renowned for his skill. Because of his super play when it mattered most he his known throughout the sports world.

James Harrison was undrafted in 2002 and began his career on the practice Squad, by 2005 he started to become a role player and special teamer for the Steelers.  In 2008 he would make the Pro-Bowl but had yet to become a household name.  After Harrison stumbled and bumbled his way to a 100 yard interception return for a Super Bowl touchdown his career has exploded and he has become the become poster boy for hard hitting  linebackers.

So who will become a legend for their performance in this year’s Super Bowl.  Both team’s rosters are laden with stars but who is that guy that will surprise us all and become an icon of the sport’s biggest game.   

For the Steelers that player may be rookie receiver Antonio Brown who has averaged 22 yards a catch in the postseason. He is also the Steelers return man averaging 22 yards a return per kickoff in the playoffs and took one all the way in the regular season. 

For Green Bay it may be John Kuhn, who is a short yardage specialist for the Packers.  Kuhn runs hard and keeps his legs moving, which will enable him to convert a crucial third and short or pound it in the end zone on the goal line.  As a whole the Packers won’t be able to run on the Steelers but when it counts most Kuhn should be called on to convert.  Plus everybody loves a white running back, just ask Peyton Hillis.

Roethlisberger Entering Rarified Air.

Pittsburgh’s Ben Roethlisberger is poised to become part of an elite fraternity of all time great quarterbacks.  He already has two Super Bowl titles under his belt and with a win one week from today he will become the fifth quarterback to win three Super Bowls.  Three of the other four are hall of famers, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, and Troy Aikman the other is Tom Brady.

Roethlisberger won his first Super Bowl as game manager whose primary responsibility was not to lose the game.  In his second attempt he was the leader of the team and was integral in stretching defenses and creating opportunities on offense.  He started this season on a four game suspension but has played well throughout and has been integral in getting his team back to the Super Bowl.

The others Quarterbacks to have achieved this distinguished feat have had their careers defined by winning Super Bowls.  Terry Bradshaw helped create the Steelers dynasty of the 70’s.  He has never been known as exemplary passer or renowned for his field general skills but he brought home hardware and that made him worthy of induction in Canton.

Joe Montana is also remembered for his outstanding postseason performances but no one  has ever doubted his ability to play the position better than anyone who came before him.  Montana was crucial in creating the west coast offense that would almost redefine what teams looked for in a quarterback, valuing accuracy over incredible arm strength.

 Aikman was a tough leader who managed one of the most dynamic teams of modern era but never is considered an all time great he is defined by winning and like Bradshaw was inducted in Canton because of his team’s success.

Roethlisberger can at the least cement his status as one of a few players to win three super Bowls as a quarterback.  If he can proves he is a dynamic passer later in his career then he could become an all time great by winning number three.  It is almost certain his sketchy offseason behavior will be forgotten (until another incident pops up) and throughout the offseason the four letter network will discuss where he ranks among the all time elites.   A victory for Roethlisberger means more than a third ring it earns him a legacy matched by a few of the games greatest.

Steelers Run Defense Too Dominant.

The Pittsburgh Steelers ranked first in the NFL in stopping the run during the regular season and they match up favorably against a Packers rushing attack which ranked 24^th in the league.  The Steelers are lead in tackling by one of the league’s best linebacking corps.  Three of the Steelers linebackers have triple digit tackles this season on their way to paralyzing opponent’s rushing offense.

Then they employ the greatest run stopping safety football has to offer in Troy Polamalu, who some would argue is the most Impactful defender in the game.  Paired with Polamalu at safety is Ryan Clark who accumulated 90 tackles this season.

Green Bay may have a difficult time handling such active defenders especially since they have had trouble running against even the weakest teams in the league.  The Packers as a team averaged just over 100 yards a game on the ground and amassed only 11 rushing touchdowns.

The team’s leading rusher, Brandon Jackson, recorded just over seven hundred yards and averaged a disappointing 3.6 yards per carry. The teams second leading rusher throughout the season was quarterback Aaron Rodgers.  But as the packers move into the playoff their rushing seems to have come out of nowhere averaging twenty more yards a game than they did in the regular season.  This is largely due to their leading rusher this post season, who literally came out of nowhere.

James Starks was a sixth round draft pick out of Buffalo who was not even activated until November but in his playoff debut he wowed audiences across the nation.  He rushed for 123 yards averaging more than five yards per carry against the eagles in the first round.

In an innovative inverted wishbone formation the packers had their way with the Eagles’ defense.  The formation allows the Packers to not establish a strong side on offense, and also gives them a backside fullback to fill holes which allows a guard or center to pull while not leaving a backside end or tackle unattended.  This furthers the Packers advantage rushing because while these centers and guards pull they occupy second level defenders with their big bodies.

We have seen this formation less often in the Packers last two Games but we have seen moderate effectiveness from Starks.  Further the inverted wishbone is not likely to have success against the Steelers because of the prowess of their linebackers and safeties, who facing such a formation can load the box.

The only chance the packers have of successfully running the ball is to spread the Steelers defense and force pass rush specialists James Harrison and Lamar Woodley into coverage which will eventually make the Steelers run a Nickel.  The lack of depth at the cornerback position for Pittsburgh is a liability in run support and is the only small chink in the Steelers’ rush defense armor. 

Ultimately the Packers won’t be able to run with any sort of success  because of the dominance of the Steelers rush defense but if they hope to have any chance of winning they will have to at least make the run a threat or Aaron Rodgers may spend most of his first Super Bowl starring at the ceiling of Jerry World.

Following Greatness Aaron Rodgers will Bring Lombardi to Lambeau

If history is our guide the sixth time is the charm for Green Bay Packers quarterbacks.  The two all-time great quarterbacks to don the green and yellow, Bart Starr and Brett Favre, each won league championships in their sixth years of play.  Aaron Rodgers is in his sixth season as an NFL quarterback, and seems poised to follow in the footsteps of these true legends of Lambeau.  

Rodgers has had an exemplary season to this point, on his way to guiding his team to the greatest sporting event on earth.  He has completed 65% of his passes for 3900 yards and 28 touchdowns.  His predecessor Favre put up similar numbers on his way to an MVP season in 1996.  Favre completed 60% of his passes for 3800 yards and 39 touchdowns that season leading the Packers to their first Super Bowl in almost 30 years.

Favre would go on to even greater things earning another MVP the next season; he threw for 30 touchdowns six more times, and 4000 yards five times after that season.  Starr would go on to win four more league championships after winning it all in 1961 and improve his passer rating seven times throughout his career.

In Rodgers’ sixth season in the NFL he has arrived on the grandest scale of the game and if we have learned anything from the Packers past he will take home the trophy named for his franchises legendary coach.  Not only that but he can be expected to improve as a passer over the course of his career just like Favre and Starr before him.

Sorry Steelers fans it’s inevitable, only one Packers’ quarterback since Starr has played for the team six years without winning Super Bowl.  But hey at least you don’t have to get your hopes up because now you know that history dictates that Aaron Rodgers has to win.

Why a Tennessee Fan Can't Cheer for the Packers.

We often view the Green Bay Packers as one of the proudest franchises in American sports, and this is largely true.  They are the only publicly owned franchise in American sports and because of this their fans are more connected to the team and probably possess a greater passion for their team.

But they hire thieves; no the Packers don’t search out cat burglars like those from the home security commercials and put them roster, but they do hire Heisman thieves.  Two of the University of Tennessee’s greatest football players were robbed by a pair of jackals of the frozen tundra almost forty years apart.

In 1956 Paul Hornung was awarded the Heisman trophy after leading his Notre Dame Fighting Irish to a 2-8 record.  No that is not typo the winner of the Heisman lost eight games in 1956.  The runner up that year was Tennessee’s Johnny Majors. 

Hornung who played quarterback for the Golden Domers completed a stellar 53% of his passes and had a touchdown to interception ratio of 3:13.  Majors, whose primary responsibility on offense was rushing, was still a more successful passer than Hornung. Not to mention that his team went undefeated in the regular season. 

Hornung was a do everything player for the Irish and was almost their entire offense, but giving him the Heisman would be the equivalent to awarding Randall Cobb the Heisman, except Cobb managed to win six games at Kentucky.  Yes he was a great player but he did not earn the Heisman.

What is more astonishing is that not only did Hornung take the Heisman from Tennessee’s Majors, he took it from Jim Brown.  Yes arguably the greatest football player ever was defeated in the Heisman race by a guy who had a losing record.

In the next year’s NFL Draft the Green Bay Packers would select Hornung with the first overall pick and would become an integral cog in the Packers run throughout the sixties, though he did not play in his lone Super Bowl appearance with the Packers due to injury.

The Packers would acquire cornerback Charles Woodson in 2006 nine years after Woodson stole the Heisman from another Tennessee great, Peyton Manning.

Woodson was a very good college player but when simply analyzing his production he did not deserve the Heisman. But as he crossed the goal line on a 78 yard punt return against Ohio State in 1997 he took the trophy from the grasps of Manning as well as a Rose Bowl Birth from the Buckeyes.

Woodson averaged only four tackles a game but did haul in an impressive eight interceptions, comparatively Tennessee’s Eric Berry finished his sophomore year in 2008 with seven picks, 72 tackles and no Heisman.

But Woodson did make a huge offensive impact, ya , he had 14 touches on offense the whole season.  But wait he averaged 8.6 yards per punt return and what is even more glaring is without the return against Ohio State he averaged 6.4 yards per return. 

Manning was one of the most prolific passers college football has ever seen and in 1997 he threw 36 touchdowns, 9 times as many as Woodson accounted for, and 3800 yards.

The fact that either Hornung or Woodson won the Heisman can only be viewed as an abomination of the award, and outright thievery from two of the greatest players Tennessee has ever known. Supporting the Packers only further glorifies the legacy of these thieves of Lambeau.

Cutler's Criticism Uncalled For.

The Green Bay Packers defeated their divisional rival the Chicago Bears in last week’s NFC championship game.

The Packers have been praised for their victory and a chance to win their fourth Super Bowl two weeks from now in Dallas.  But recent sports commentary seems to suggest that only Bears quarterback Jay Cutler lost to the Packers and the criticism he is receiving is not only unjust but plainly ridiculous.

Cutler's toughens has been mocked and his character questioned because he could not finish the game due to a knee injury.  These notions are preposterous; Cutler led the Bears to a North Division title and secured the team a two seed in the playoffs. 

But because Cutler did not look hurt he has been vilified by media members, fans, and players across the nation.  Many have said his lack of emotion showed apathy, but we know that Cutler has never been overly demonstrative with his emotions. 

So the question is why do we as sports fans require that of our athletes to be so ostentatious when it comes to emotion. Would him crying after a loss like Tim Tebow or challenging his teammates to fisticuffs like Ryan Leaf after a bad practice make him a better quarterback?  No, of course not.  What if he were to choreograph a dance routine with his sunglass clad teammates like former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon would he then find favor among the sports nation. 

Writhing in pain would have been the appropriate reaction since we have found out that Cutlers injury was in fact serious.  The sprain of the MCL should have made it very difficult for Cutler to stand or bend his knee as well as put him a great deal of discomfort.  

But he did not grimace or cringe he pushed through the pain and stayed on the sideline with his team when many players with similar injuries would have been icing their knee on a training table in the locker room. 

Why is it so bad that Cutler remained stoic through his trying time, do players have to put on show when they tweak an ankle or stub their finge? What is this The World Cup where players throw themselves to the ground and are carried off the field only to run back on a few minutes later?

Why can we not accept the Jay Cutler did not show emotion and be fine with it?  It does not mean that he cares less about the game.

 Might it mean he is processing his thoughts internally rather than simply letting emotions fly?  It is often discussed that more cerebral players have an advantage at quarterback because they will be cool under pressure, and that is a trait that is praised.  Fans have given Matt Ryan the nickname “Matty Ice”, for his poise in all situations

Cutler is doing just that, he stayed cool through what was likely very difficult time for him as an athlete.  While fan and media criticism is to be expected, what is shocking is how many former players are chastising the Bears quarterback. 

Maurice Jones-Drew via twitter accused Cutler of quitting on his team.  Really Maurice so I guess you quit on your team this year when you tore your meniscus.

Mark Schlereth said he would play through the pain and would only come off the field on stretcher.  Well Mark when one considers you mass and history of knee instability, had the same injury happened to you, you might have been carried off.

Bruce Gradkowski wondered in his tweet whether the Bears would stick with Cutler in the off season.  Bruce, are you serious?  You’re a career journeyman backup, what; do you think you can get the Bears past the conference championship game? I guess he feels he could have done more with the league worst offensive line, one that allowed Cutler to be sacked 42 times, 12 more than any other quarterback.  Or maybe Gradkowski feels he could do more with the dynamic receiving duo of return specialist Devin Hester and Johnny Knox who specializes in sideline routes.  

Maybe Bears fans should be angry that Cutlers only legitimate weapon in the passing game is Greg Olsen.  After all when he had weapons like Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal, and a competent offensive line he played at a pro-bowl level.