Super Bowl 2012: Pressuring Tom Brady and Eli Manning, Pass-Rush Breakdown

If there's going to be one area of Super Bowl XLVI that determines the outcome of the game, it will be which pass-rush rises to the occasion.

Both Tom Brady and Eli Manning are excellent at picking defenses apart, and each have had outstanding pass protection all season long as well. That being said, let's break down each defense's pass-rush and how they can get constant pressure.

Giants Pass Rush

The key here is getting to Tom Brady up the middle and from the side of rookie tackle Nate Solder. Blindside left tackle Matt Light is arguably the best in the game, so not much success will come from Brady's backside.

Therefore, when knowing it's a pass and a blitz is called, sending defenders right at Solder will then force the running backs to slide out and help. After all, why not try to exploit and get the rookie flustered early on?

In turn, that will cause the guards and center to shift in accordance to the blitz. Doing so will open lanes for the backers to blitz and/or make it easy for guys like Chris Canty and Osi Umenyiora to use their hand techniques to slip past.

The more a defense can get an offensive line to move laterally in pass protection, the more rushing lanes will be created. Worst-case scenario is knocking Brady down enough to mess up his rhythm and timing.

The biggest and more important factor though, is not giving anything away pre-snap.

Brady is arguably the best in the league at reading defenses before the snap, so creating diversions will be necessary. Thereafter, it's simply executing quickly, attacking rookie Nate Solder to force other linemen to be one-on-one and limiting Brady's vision.

The worst thing the Giants can do to themselves is not taking chances. Because if you don't get to Tom Brady, he will eat you alive.

Patriots Pass Rush

Perhaps a more interesting matchup considering that the Giants offensive line was significantly exposed against the San Francisco 49ers, the Patriots pass-rush will need to be as effective with the focus around Vince Wilfork.

Whether Bill Belichick is in a 1-5-5 or 3-4 look, Wilfork's ability to control both A-gaps can really cause problems for New York. For one, that forces the running backs to help with pass protection up the middle.

The problem there are the odds of Eli having a safety outlet in the flats with pressure from the outside. Any time a running back tries to slip through the defense's front seven, it's much easier going outside than through the middle.

There's simply too much traffic and it makes the read a lot easier for the linebackers.

And with Wilfork dominating the middle, that allows New England to blitz outside. Wilfork draws a double-team from the guard or running back, thus putting the tackle one-on-one with either Rob Ninkovich or Mark Anderson.

The most concerning area for New England is the pass defense not allowing anyone to get open within three seconds. New York has lived off of receivers finding zone soft spots and coming back to the ball, so beginning with press coverage and remaining physical is important.

That said, Eli can also be prone to turning the ball over, so mixing up blitzes across the line of scrimmage will work against him. If not though, Eli will shred the Pats, not because they're vulnerable, but because Manning is capable of buying time when needed.

No pass rush equates to no chance at slowing down the Giants. Just ask Green Bay.

John Rozum on Twitter