Super Bowl 2012: 4 Defensive Players Who Could Win the Game's MVP Award

Since the Super Bowl began back in 1967, eight different defensive players have been named the game's MVP, one of which was a co-MVP, so it's only happened in seven different Super Bowls.

Nevertheless, it's never wrong to discount the dark side from stepping up in pro football biggest stage. After all, having a dominant defensive player can really give one team a distinct advantage over the other, especially when each has an explosive offense.

Jason Pierre-Paul: DE, Giants

New York defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul is finishing a career year as he tallied 16.5 sacks while forcing two fumbles.

In addition, Pierre-Paul blocked a kick, defended six passes and collected 86 tackles in the process.

As for the playoffs, Pierre-Paul has 16 tackles and four run-stuffs but only half a sack. Well, he's then obviously due for a strong showing in the Super Bowl. However, you can bet the Patriots will be game-planning to block him.

That said, don't be surprised to see J.P.P. loop inside on a few defensive line stunts, as well as take a pass rush step forward and then sneak into coverage right underneath the curl and crossing routes.

The Giants don't need to get overly aggressive with him because his talent alone will get pressure. However, it's not a bad idea to try and use some deceit as he is athletic enough to sell a pass rush and then switch with a blitzing linebacker.

How Pierre-Paul performs against the run will be more important though, because New England must remain balanced to keep the Giants front seven honest.

Corey Webster: CB, Giants

This past season Corey Webster led the Giants with six picks, 16 passes defended and had 71 interception return yards.

It's easily Webster's best performance in one season. However, it's the postseason where he takes his game to another level. In the 2007 postseason Webster defended five passes, made 12 tackles and recorded two interceptions.

The second pick was courtesy of Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game that put New York's offense in position to beat the Packers. Fast-forward to 2011 and Webster was challenged more in the Wild Card Round and divisional round, combining for eight tackles and two defended passes.

So, not a lot by comparison to the regular season but he was even less challenged in the NFC title game. There, Webster managed to force a fumble while recording two tackles.

His lockdown coverage is what gives New York such a distinct advantage and if he continues that trend in the Super Bowl, New England will fall to the Giants again.

Webster must be able to shut down Wes Welker and/or Deion Branch every time he's singled up to allow double-teams on Rob Gronkowski and the linebackers to play more against the run.

Even if Webster doesn't record any major stats, blanket coverage won't go unnoticed by any means.

Rob Ninkovich: LB, Patriots

Regardless of what year it is, Patriots head coach Bill Belichick always manages to have a great corps of linebackers that can find the football.

This season, Rob Ninkovich has been the epitome of that by recording 6.5 sacks, 74 tackles, recovering three fumbles and picking off two passes.

In the postseason Ninkovich has recorded 12 tackles, 1.5 sacks and forced a fumble. His ability to blitz off the edge or up the middle while knowing how to defend against the pass and run is quite impressive.

He's simply one of the more underrated linebackers in the game because of New England's bad rap for allowing so many yards. Still, Ninkovich had a solid season and has been effective through two postseason games.

Against New York, he'll be responsible for getting inside pressure on Manning when blitzing and shielding off the underneath routes to Victor Cruz and Hakeem Nicks in the zone.

Nickovich's awareness and instincts will be most vital to the Patriots slowing down the Giants offense because yards after the catch is arguably their receiver's best attribute.

So, having the knack for finding the football anywhere on the field must enhance because as we saw in all three of New York's playoff games, they're deadly in making moves upfield.

Devin McCourty: CB, Patriots

As a rookie in 2010, Devin McCourty picked off seven passes, forced two fumbles, made 82 tackles and defended a total of 17 balls.

It earned him a Pro Bowl and first-team All-Pro selection, as well as high expectations for a 2011 season. There, McCourty only recorded two picks but accounted for 87 tackles, 12 passes defended and was an unknown bright spot in the New England secondary.

Had it not been for Kyle Arrington picking off seven passes and the Patriots allowing so many yards per game, perhaps McCourty would have earned more recognition. Still, he proved his worth and continued that by making nine tackles, but has yet to defend one pass in the postseason.

His blanket coverage goes overlooked because of how vulnerable New England has been all season against the pass, so expect him to be challenged quite often by Eli Manning. The Giants receivers are all too good to double-team each, so New England must lock down in man coverage.

That said, McCourty will either step up and get it done or pull an Ellis Hobbs and choke under pressure as Hobbs did in Super Bowl XLII. Provided that McCourty will step up when challenged, he could really shift the momentum into the Pats' favor.

He did so as a rookie and has that opportunity to showcase his talents on the NFL's biggest stage.

John Rozum on Twitter.