Spring Break
Defense Wins Championships
NFL
Tim Ehrens
Issue date: 1/31/08 Section: Sports
Tim Ehrens breaks down the defense, special teams and coaching of the two Super Bowl combatants.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of these two teams and the advantages for each.
Defense
Front Seven - The Patriots boast a very good, powerful and agile front line with Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren making up a defensive line that is as hard to block as any line in the NFL. Their linebacking core, while experienced and reliable at times, has shown signs of age and indications of losing a step or two this season. Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin might be at a disadvantage when trying to bring down the strong Jacobs or Bradshaw or when breaking into the backfield on a blitz. Adalius Thomas is a solid, strong linebacker with great instincts who can play inside or outside.
This is an area where the Giants can do the most damage in this game, as their front seven can hang with just about any defense in the league. Anchored by the best one-two punch of defensive ends in football, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, the Giants' defensive line have a knack for pressuring the quarterback from the outside. The experience of Strahan and the size and power of Umenyiora are great complements that will give the Patriots' backfield a lot of problems. Linebackers Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce can play coverage or blitz at will and shutdown offenses. Tuck has been playing stellar as of late and has distinguished himself a force to be reckoned with. Advantage: Giants
Defensive Backs - Neither team's defensive backfield is anything special, but has had moments that have proven to be invaluable to their respective teams' postseason success. The Giants' Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters are veteran players who have been known to come up with big stops in their careers and McQuarters' performance on special teams could be a key factor in this game. Corey Webster picked off Brett Favre to give the Giants the chance that eventually put them in this game, and his presence on the field could be key in covering some of the Patriots' receivers.
Here's a position-by-position breakdown of these two teams and the advantages for each.
Defense
Front Seven - The Patriots boast a very good, powerful and agile front line with Richard Seymour, Vince Wilfork and Ty Warren making up a defensive line that is as hard to block as any line in the NFL. Their linebacking core, while experienced and reliable at times, has shown signs of age and indications of losing a step or two this season. Tedy Bruschi, Mike Vrabel and Rosevelt Colvin might be at a disadvantage when trying to bring down the strong Jacobs or Bradshaw or when breaking into the backfield on a blitz. Adalius Thomas is a solid, strong linebacker with great instincts who can play inside or outside.
This is an area where the Giants can do the most damage in this game, as their front seven can hang with just about any defense in the league. Anchored by the best one-two punch of defensive ends in football, Osi Umenyiora and Michael Strahan, the Giants' defensive line have a knack for pressuring the quarterback from the outside. The experience of Strahan and the size and power of Umenyiora are great complements that will give the Patriots' backfield a lot of problems. Linebackers Justin Tuck and Antonio Pierce can play coverage or blitz at will and shutdown offenses. Tuck has been playing stellar as of late and has distinguished himself a force to be reckoned with. Advantage: Giants
Defensive Backs - Neither team's defensive backfield is anything special, but has had moments that have proven to be invaluable to their respective teams' postseason success. The Giants' Sam Madison and R.W. McQuarters are veteran players who have been known to come up with big stops in their careers and McQuarters' performance on special teams could be a key factor in this game. Corey Webster picked off Brett Favre to give the Giants the chance that eventually put them in this game, and his presence on the field could be key in covering some of the Patriots' receivers.
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