Super QBs taking more control By Scouts, Inc.
Why To Watch
These teams are more similar than people think. They both love to run the football with excellent backs behind big and physical offensive lines. They both play solid defense. And they both have improving quarterbacks who understand their offensive systems. Both Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Hasselbeck are gaining more and more freedom from their head coaches to take the game into their hands.
Pittsburgh is the first No. 6 seed to play in the Super Bowl, and Seattle is making its first trip to the title game in the franchise's 30-year history. These teams are well-coached, and both do a superb job of not only putting together creative game plans but also making great adjustments during the game. Neither team is satisfied with just being in Detroit. They expect to win the game. Marquee players, great coaches and two hungry teams -- there's a lot to like in this matchup.
When the Seahawks have the ball
Rushing A healthy Shaun Alexander makes this Seattle running game potent and able to take over a game. However, the Pittsburgh defensive line, led by NT Casey Hampton, is unbelievably physical in its two-gap, read-and-react schemes. The Steelers' linemen can hold up at the point of attack versus a good Seattle offensive line.
Alexander loves the cut-back run or counter, especially those in which he starts to the right behind FB Mack Strong. Most defenses key on Strong as a lead isolation blocker and wind up overpursuing to the hole. That allows Alexander to cut back to the left side behind the best blocking tandem in the league, LOT Walter Jones and LOG Steve Hutchinson. Both do a great job of sealing off the backside.
While the Steelers' linebackers are aggressive and can get caught out of position, the defensive line will not. It will be difficult to move them out of the hole, and cut-back runs versus this front will be difficult. This also is an excellent tackling Steelers defense, and the corners and safeties hit like linebackers. All the yards after contact Alexander usually gets will be tough to come by against the physical Pittsburgh run defense.
FB Strong will need to have a huge game in terms of making contact with ILBs Larry Foote and James Farrior and SS Troy Polamalu. His lead blocks are the key to Alexander breaking some big runs on the second level.
Another big challenge for Hasselbeck will be his ability to audible when he recognizes the Pittsburgh defensive scheme or a blitz. A lot of Alexander's big plays come as the result of audibles and checkoffs from passing plays into running plays.
Passing:
QB Hasselbeck has just about mastered Mike Holmgren's complicated West Coast offense. This week he'll face an equally complicated, blitz-heavy Pittsburgh defense that will give him a variety of looks. His ability to read and adjust at the line will be extremely important. He has done an excellent job all season of checking out of bad plays. If he makes the proper reads and checks at the line, there are big plays to be made vs. a Pittsburgh secondary that struggles in coverage.
Hasselbeck has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and none are as important as the now-healthy WR Darrell Jackson. WRs Joe Jurevicius and Bobby Engram have stepped up and overperformed this season, and TE Jerramy Stevens is one of the more underrated players in the NFL at his position.
Holmgren likes to spread the field with multiple-receiver sets, which should be able to slow down the edge pressure the Steelers get from OLBs Joey Porter and Clark Haggans. Seattle would like to force both Porter and Haggans into more coverage situations, where they tend to struggle. Pittsburgh is very good in its Cover 2 scheme but struggles when forced to match up man-to-man. The Steelers are much more effective when they can play zone behind the blitz.
When Pittsburgh is in Cover 2, Hasselbeck will try to attack the intermediate perimeter and the deep middle of the field. You can also expect to see Pittsburgh play some Cover 3, with FS Chris Hope manning the middle and the two cornerbacks the deep outer thirds. This coverage gives SS Polamalu the ability to blitz and freelance. Hasselbeck must locate Polamalu on every play before the snap. If Seattle's pass protection holds up vs. the blitz-happy Steelers -- and that is a big "if" -- Hasselbeck will be able to move the ball through the air.
When the Steelers have the ball
Rushing:
While Seattle's defense does not look particularly good statistically against the run, the Seahawks really have improved in the second half of the season. They are giving up less than 60 yards on the ground per game over the last month and a half.
We know that Pittsburgh will run the football, but suddenly, in the last couple of weeks, we don't know when. The Steelers are no longer a run-first, pass-second offense. It is not automatic anymore that they will run on first down. When they do pound the ball, they will do it with an inside/outside approach featuring Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. The more the Steelers throw early, the better chance they have to coax the Seahawks into some nickel packages, which makes their run defense softer.
Seattle doesn't have a big, physical front seven, but they are disciplined in their gap responsibilities. The linebackers also do an excellent job of stepping up and filling against the run, especially MLB Lofa Tatupu. Also, SS Michael Boulware, a former linebacker, can move down into the box and play the run. However, if Roethlisberger throws often, Boulware might be forced to sit back in coverage.
The outside run game with Parker could struggle against Seattle, because the Seahawks' linebackers all can run and get to the outside. This could be a big final game for Bettis. He likely will get 20 carries to try to wear down Seattle's defensive front. If the Steelers get any kind of an early lead, they will sit on the ball and ride Bettis' big body to victory.
Passing: With Roethlisberger maturing at a rapid pace, the Steelers' coaches are now more comfortable putting the game in his hands. His composure has been excellent, and he is doing a great job of seeing the entire field. He's even looking off defensive backs now, freezing them and getting better throwing lanes.
As he has done throughout the playoffs, Roethlisberger will try to attack the deep middle of the field and expose Seattle safeties Boulware and Marquand Manuel. The Seahawks really miss Ken Hamlin, and athletic tight ends who can stretch the field give them problems. Pittsburgh has one of those athletic tight ends in rookie Heath Miller.
The Steelers will need good pass protection from their offensive line and good blitz pickup from their backs, because Seattle does a nice job of attacking with its linebackers, particularly MLB Tatupu and fellow rookie OLB LeRoy Hill. Roethlisberger has done an excellent job in the playoffs of not making mistakes and not gambling on risky throws. He knows how to dump the ball off or throw it away. He won't see a very complicated Seattle defense with exotic looks, but he will see a fundamentally sound unit that flies to the ball, tackles well and communicates effectively.
Pittsburgh is using all its weapons in the passing game and can spread Seattle out with three- and four-receiver sets. That will force Seattle into nickel schemes and allow the Steelers to come back and pound the ball in the running game against a softer defense. Pittsburgh is no longer a one-dimensional run offense with a caretaker quarterback. Expect a 50-50 run-pass ratio against Seattle, and Pittsburgh might throw a lot on first down. Expect to see some surprises from this passing game.
Why To Watch
These teams are more similar than people think. They both love to run the football with excellent backs behind big and physical offensive lines. They both play solid defense. And they both have improving quarterbacks who understand their offensive systems. Both Ben Roethlisberger and Matt Hasselbeck are gaining more and more freedom from their head coaches to take the game into their hands.
Pittsburgh is the first No. 6 seed to play in the Super Bowl, and Seattle is making its first trip to the title game in the franchise's 30-year history. These teams are well-coached, and both do a superb job of not only putting together creative game plans but also making great adjustments during the game. Neither team is satisfied with just being in Detroit. They expect to win the game. Marquee players, great coaches and two hungry teams -- there's a lot to like in this matchup.
When the Seahawks have the ball
Rushing A healthy Shaun Alexander makes this Seattle running game potent and able to take over a game. However, the Pittsburgh defensive line, led by NT Casey Hampton, is unbelievably physical in its two-gap, read-and-react schemes. The Steelers' linemen can hold up at the point of attack versus a good Seattle offensive line.
Alexander loves the cut-back run or counter, especially those in which he starts to the right behind FB Mack Strong. Most defenses key on Strong as a lead isolation blocker and wind up overpursuing to the hole. That allows Alexander to cut back to the left side behind the best blocking tandem in the league, LOT Walter Jones and LOG Steve Hutchinson. Both do a great job of sealing off the backside.
While the Steelers' linebackers are aggressive and can get caught out of position, the defensive line will not. It will be difficult to move them out of the hole, and cut-back runs versus this front will be difficult. This also is an excellent tackling Steelers defense, and the corners and safeties hit like linebackers. All the yards after contact Alexander usually gets will be tough to come by against the physical Pittsburgh run defense.
FB Strong will need to have a huge game in terms of making contact with ILBs Larry Foote and James Farrior and SS Troy Polamalu. His lead blocks are the key to Alexander breaking some big runs on the second level.
Another big challenge for Hasselbeck will be his ability to audible when he recognizes the Pittsburgh defensive scheme or a blitz. A lot of Alexander's big plays come as the result of audibles and checkoffs from passing plays into running plays.
Passing:
QB Hasselbeck has just about mastered Mike Holmgren's complicated West Coast offense. This week he'll face an equally complicated, blitz-heavy Pittsburgh defense that will give him a variety of looks. His ability to read and adjust at the line will be extremely important. He has done an excellent job all season of checking out of bad plays. If he makes the proper reads and checks at the line, there are big plays to be made vs. a Pittsburgh secondary that struggles in coverage.
Hasselbeck has a lot of weapons at his disposal, and none are as important as the now-healthy WR Darrell Jackson. WRs Joe Jurevicius and Bobby Engram have stepped up and overperformed this season, and TE Jerramy Stevens is one of the more underrated players in the NFL at his position.
Holmgren likes to spread the field with multiple-receiver sets, which should be able to slow down the edge pressure the Steelers get from OLBs Joey Porter and Clark Haggans. Seattle would like to force both Porter and Haggans into more coverage situations, where they tend to struggle. Pittsburgh is very good in its Cover 2 scheme but struggles when forced to match up man-to-man. The Steelers are much more effective when they can play zone behind the blitz.
When Pittsburgh is in Cover 2, Hasselbeck will try to attack the intermediate perimeter and the deep middle of the field. You can also expect to see Pittsburgh play some Cover 3, with FS Chris Hope manning the middle and the two cornerbacks the deep outer thirds. This coverage gives SS Polamalu the ability to blitz and freelance. Hasselbeck must locate Polamalu on every play before the snap. If Seattle's pass protection holds up vs. the blitz-happy Steelers -- and that is a big "if" -- Hasselbeck will be able to move the ball through the air.
When the Steelers have the ball
Rushing:
While Seattle's defense does not look particularly good statistically against the run, the Seahawks really have improved in the second half of the season. They are giving up less than 60 yards on the ground per game over the last month and a half.
We know that Pittsburgh will run the football, but suddenly, in the last couple of weeks, we don't know when. The Steelers are no longer a run-first, pass-second offense. It is not automatic anymore that they will run on first down. When they do pound the ball, they will do it with an inside/outside approach featuring Jerome Bettis and Willie Parker. The more the Steelers throw early, the better chance they have to coax the Seahawks into some nickel packages, which makes their run defense softer.
Seattle doesn't have a big, physical front seven, but they are disciplined in their gap responsibilities. The linebackers also do an excellent job of stepping up and filling against the run, especially MLB Lofa Tatupu. Also, SS Michael Boulware, a former linebacker, can move down into the box and play the run. However, if Roethlisberger throws often, Boulware might be forced to sit back in coverage.
The outside run game with Parker could struggle against Seattle, because the Seahawks' linebackers all can run and get to the outside. This could be a big final game for Bettis. He likely will get 20 carries to try to wear down Seattle's defensive front. If the Steelers get any kind of an early lead, they will sit on the ball and ride Bettis' big body to victory.
Passing: With Roethlisberger maturing at a rapid pace, the Steelers' coaches are now more comfortable putting the game in his hands. His composure has been excellent, and he is doing a great job of seeing the entire field. He's even looking off defensive backs now, freezing them and getting better throwing lanes.
As he has done throughout the playoffs, Roethlisberger will try to attack the deep middle of the field and expose Seattle safeties Boulware and Marquand Manuel. The Seahawks really miss Ken Hamlin, and athletic tight ends who can stretch the field give them problems. Pittsburgh has one of those athletic tight ends in rookie Heath Miller.
The Steelers will need good pass protection from their offensive line and good blitz pickup from their backs, because Seattle does a nice job of attacking with its linebackers, particularly MLB Tatupu and fellow rookie OLB LeRoy Hill. Roethlisberger has done an excellent job in the playoffs of not making mistakes and not gambling on risky throws. He knows how to dump the ball off or throw it away. He won't see a very complicated Seattle defense with exotic looks, but he will see a fundamentally sound unit that flies to the ball, tackles well and communicates effectively.
Pittsburgh is using all its weapons in the passing game and can spread Seattle out with three- and four-receiver sets. That will force Seattle into nickel schemes and allow the Steelers to come back and pound the ball in the running game against a softer defense. Pittsburgh is no longer a one-dimensional run offense with a caretaker quarterback. Expect a 50-50 run-pass ratio against Seattle, and Pittsburgh might throw a lot on first down. Expect to see some surprises from this passing game.
