Super Bowl Analysis - Defense!

We're getting closer! 72 hours from now, we'll be fully assaulted by Super Bowl pre-game coverage that runs for like 12 hours straight. And I can't wait!

But for now... let's look at the defenses...

I've said it several times already this year, but I'll say it again for those tuning in late - Seattle's defense is pretty damn good. The game planning is good, the execution is good, the players are good. They're stepping up big time in the playoffs, and the Steelers are crazy if they think that this is a "soft" defense that they'll be able to abuse.

Let's take a look at their previous two playoff games. Only 3 touchdowns allowed in 2 games by Seattle.

1) Against the Redskins, late in the game, Brunell launches a pass into the end zone from like 20 yards out into tight coverage. Andre Dyson, in near perfect position, dives towards the ball. The ball deflects off his hand, then off his helmet... and hits Santana Moss right in the chest, and he somehow holds on. Freaky play. 9 times out of 10, no way does a ball deflected like that get caught.

2) The mysterious "vanishing block in the back" punt return by Steve Smith. Horrible call by the refs, as Carolina coach John Fox basically talked the officials into picking up the flag. But, whatever, it counted. But this was a touchdown scored on special teams, not against the defense.

3) 47 yard touchdown catch by Drew Carter of the Panthers. The coverage was just a little late getting over and just a little early timing the jump. Yes, burnt for a bad long touchdown. But the score was 34-7 at the time. I can excuse the team for having a slight lapse with such a big lead.

Again, Seattle has only allowed one (yes, 1) 100+ yard rusher all season long, including the playoffs. That was Tiki Barber, and he needed OT. Had Feeley hit the winning field goal as time in regulation expired, Tiki would have finished with 90-something yards. The Redskins couldn't run on Seattle. Neither could the Panthers. Even though we were clearly playing the pass. We don't need 8 in the box to stop the run. Our front 4 do an excellent job, with help from the quick linebackers.

So speaking of the front 4, let's look at them. Defensive ends Grant Wistom and Bryce Fisher. Fisher had 9 sacks during the regular season, and sacked Brunell in the first playoff game, forcing a fumble. He's a high motor guy that's generally considered a pass rush type. But he's been solid against the run too. Wistrom is the captain of the defense, and has had an awesome year. His numbers don't jump off the page, but there's a ton of stuff he does that doesn't show up in the box score - forcing the QB up in the pocket so someone else gets the sack, penetrates into the backfield forcing the running back wide giving the linebackers time to come up and make the tackle, chasing the QB all the way across the field. Keep an eye on Wistrom, and you'll see him around the ball on just about every play. He might not get to the QB, but he's right on his heels pressuring him.

Our defensive tackles have been great this tear. First round draft pick Marcus Tubbs is in his second year, and he's a primary reason we've been so good against the run. He's one of those clogging type tackles that takes up space and pushes offensive linemen back into the backfield. Chuck Darby is a veteran from Tampa Bay, where they know a bit about playing defense. He's basically taken Tubbs under his wing this season, and taught him a few tricks. The two work well together. Seattle actually uses a pretty regular rotation at tackle, to keep everybody fresh. Rocky Bernard has been awesome. 8.5 sacks in the regular season. 2 sacks last week (including a huge one on 3rd and long). Not too shabby for a defensive tackle who only plays about half the plays. Craig Terrill is his partner in the rotation, and he's not going to make any huge plays, but he's solid.

Then there's our linebackers. Everybody already knows about Lofa Tatupu. He's going to the Pro Bowl, probably should have won Defensive Rookie of the Year (he finished second to San Diego's Shawne Merriman), and has already become a leader on this team. He calls the plays on defense, and shifts the defensive linemen once he sees the offensive formation. Watch this on Sunday. Watch how he taps the linemen on their butts to shift them into holes. And then watch what happens when the running play goes right into one of those now-filled holes. Most importantly, Tatupu knows how to win. This is his 3rd championship game in a row. The last two years, he won a little thing called the NCAA National Championship while playing for USC. The dude is a beast. Oh, and for when Bettis runs over Tatupu the first time in this game (and it probably will happen.. I mean, Bettis huge and Tatupu is underdsized for a MLB), just remember this - Bettis also ran over Brian Urlacher and dragged him like 5 yards when the Steelers whupped the Bears a few weeks ago. There's no shame in getting run over by the Bus. Just keep the fat bastard out of the end zone.

With all the talk about Tatupu, our other rookie linebacker is getting little attention. But LeRoy Hill is having an impressive season himself. He didn't become the full-time starter until late in the season due to the injury to Jamie Sharper, but even before that, he was good when he played. 7.5 sacks in the regular season. 15 tackles in the playoffs. He's a fast mofo. The defense was sending him on blitzes fairly often during the regular season, but have eased up a bit on that lately. He's pretty good. If we can keep Tatupu and Hill together, we might have one of the best linebacking groups in football within a few short years.

The third linebacker is D.D. Lewis. Solid. Not spectacular or flashy. He was projected to earn the starting job last season, but then missed the whole year with an injury. You might remember him from the play Carolina tried to run to Steve Smith on a screen. D.D. Lewis was the defender who jumped the route so quickly that the ball actually deflected off his helmet.

Many people will say that the secondary is our weakest link, and that may be true. But it's still pretty solid. Marcus Trufant is an excellent cover corner, and may be a year or two away from the Pro Bowl. Opposing QBs just don't throw at him enough for him to pass his interception total. On the other corner, Andre Dyson has been pretty good too, though he's been hurt a decent chunk of the year. He's a bit more physical than Trufant, but not quite as good in coverage. A strength is in nickel packages, when Kelly Herndon gets on the field. Herndon and Dyson battled it out for the 2nd CB spot throughout training camp, but injuries to both throughout the season has prevented any real separation between the two. Herndon is quicker and more of a ball hawk, but he's not a great tackler, and sometimes gives opposing WRs wayyyy too much cushion. Still, he's good enough to be the 2nd CB on a lot of NFL teams, and that's nice insurance.

Our secondary took a big hit when Ken Hamlin was lost for the season after that brawl outside a Seattle bar. But Marques Manual has stepped in and played well, even passing along some of Hamlin's trademark big hits. (It was Manuel who absolutely flattened Shockey in the end zone on that controversial "touchdown" catch in the Giants game.) Michael Boulware has successfully made the switch from linebacker (where he played in college) to safety. He's solid against both the pass and run, and continues to come up with interceptions at key moments.

Overall, I love this Seattle defense. This is the first time I think I can say that since I've followed the team. There are some players who aren't quite superstars yet, but can be. They play well as a unit. They communicate well, and help each other make plays. If one player doesn't make a tackle, he at least forces the angle or slows down the runner so his teammates can. Their final numbers yardage-wise are very deceiving, because they played with huge leads in so many games. I think this defense can be a Top 10 defense next year. And I think they start making people believers on Sunday.

Predicted Seattle defensive stats: 2 interceptions, 1 forced fumble, 4 sacks.

Now, the Steelers... Obviously, I don't know as much about their individuals, but I'll do what I can. :P

A lot of media morons are making a big deal about the 3-4 defense the Steelers play, and how Seattle had trouble with the 3-4 this season. They played one 3-4 defense: Dallas. They struggled on offense, but still won the game. Newsflash! This just in! They actually had some trouble with some good 4-3 defenses too! Jacksonville, the Giants, and the Redskins all gave Seattle some trouble with their defense. They all play the 4-3. And those games were all a long time ago. Seattle absolutely shredded the Redskins and Carolina defenses in the playoffs. And the Steelers defense (3-4, 4-3, 5-2, whatever the fuck they're going to play) is not as good as those two defenses.

One more comment on the 3-4. The tricky thing about it is you don't know where the 4th pass rusher is coming from. It could be any of their 4 linebackers, or even a safety. Rushing 4 defenders is NOT a blitz. I'm sure the announcers will make that mistake about a hundred times on Sunday, and call a 4-man rush a "blitz". Anyways, I get the feeling that Seattle has watched enough film, and been together long enough as a team that they'll have a pretty good idea where the 4th rusher is coming from on most plays.

Joey "Big Mouth" Porter is a pretty good player and a Pro Bowler. He's looked good in the playoffs coming off the end on a rush or blitz, going unblocked, and squashing the quarterback. As the bold and brazen Jerramy Stevens predicted, I don't think he'll have such an easy time if he tries doing that on Walter Jones' side. Walter Jones is a beast. All he has to do is get one paw on the guy, give a little shove, and the guy flies 5 yards up field. Hasselbeck steps up in the pocket, and throws a bullet. Remember how last week all everybody kept talking about was Steve Smith, Steve Smith, Steve Smith? Remember how Seattle made sure they didn't let him beat them? Expect Porter to get the same treatment. If Jones doesn't get him, look for Mack Strong to be in the backfield with protection help, or even Alexander to give up the body to protect the QB. I don't expect Porter to have a particularly good game, since Seattle will have him in their sights at all times.

Then there's Troy Polamalu. This guy scares me way more than Porter. He's frickin nuts out there. Tatupu and him play with a similar reckless abandon, yet disciplined style. Maybe it's the polynesian blood in them, or their USC experience. He's smart, aggressive, and quick. If he has any weaknesses, it'd be that maybe he's slightly too aggressive, and can miss tackles sometimes. Alexander loves cutting the run back across the field when there's no hole to run through. If Polamalu is too aggressive and gets caught in that mosh pit of blockers while Alexander runs the other direction, that's a big gain right there. But the key to not letting this guy beat us is just accounting for him in pass coverage. Make sure you don't throw a ball that he can get to. It'll be tough for Hasselbeck to keep both Porter and Polamalu in his sights at all times, but that's what he needs to do to stop them from making the big plays.

The rest of the defense is pretty good. Their nose tackle, Casey Hampton, is going to the Pro Bowl, as is linebacker James Farrior. Their cornerbacks can be had, and their defensive ends are solid, but not great. They'll be doing a lot of shifting and rushing from different angles, but if they are going to bring a big blitz, they sure as hell better get there, because Hasselbeck can and will burn them. The Seattle offense is smoking hot right now, and I don't see this defense cooling them off.

Predicted Pittsburgh defensive stats: 1 interception, 2 sacks