Super Bowl 2011: Players to Watch

WIth the Super Bowl right around the corner I thought it would fun to be a list together of who to watch come Super Bowl Sunday in two weeks. Instead of wondering who to watch through out the game here are some players I believe that will have key roles for both teams. This Super Bowl is between the two title towns of the NFL. Green Bay has the most NFL championships ever while Pittsburg has the most Super Bowl victories ever.

Pittsburgh RB Rashard Mendenhall

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers holds up the Lamar Hunt trophy after the Steelers defeated the New York Jets 24 to 19 in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Penns

In his second career playoff game last week against the New York Jets, the young gun seemed to use all he had in his arsenal.  Mendenhall rushed for 121 yards on 27 carries, good enough for 4.5 yards a carry and a touchdown.  Adding to his efforts, he had to big catches for a total of 32 yards. The Super Bowl could be a different story—the Packers are allowing only 70 yards a game in the playoffs—Mendenhall will have to remain patient waiting for his blocks as he did against the Jets and hit the hole hard.

Pittsburgh QB Ben Roethlisberger

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the New York Je

It’s hard to say ‘Big Ben’ shines when the spotlight is on.  The two-time Super Bowl winner passer rating in Super Bowl’s is only good for a 64.1 with a touchdown-to-interception ratio of one-to-three.  In only three of his ten games this season Roethlisberger threw for three touchdowns.  The Steelers will need to attack the Pack through the air as the Packers have allowed 212 yards through the air in the playoffs.  If the Steelers defense weren’t so good I’d say this game is on all Roethlisberger’s shoulders. 

Pittsburgh TE Heath Miller

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers catches a pass ruled incomplete against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham

In his last Super Bowl, Miller seemed to be forgotten—only five catches for 57 yards. The Steelers like to use the 6’5” Miller more as a run blocker than a threat in the passing game. If you watched the AFC championship game, Miller had a key reception to end the game on third down clinching the win for the ‘Black and Gold’. With all the schemes the Packers throw at opposing quarterbacks I think it's possible for Miller to slip out more than a few times for a big game.

Pittsburgh Steeler LB James Harrison

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Linebacker James Harrison #92 of the Pittsburgh Steelers celebrates after a play against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by G

In the 2008 Super Bowl victory Harrison had arguably the biggest defensive play in Super Bowl history. His 100-yard interception return for a touchdown gave the Steelers a 10-point lead heading into halftime.  Harrison accumulated three sacks against the Ravens in the divisional round. With the Steelers' unique packages and play-calling, Harrison could be in quarterback Aaron Rodgers' face all night.

Green Bay Packers CB Tramon Williams

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Tramon Williams #38 of the Green Bay Packers returns a kick against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Selected as a first alternate for 2011 Pro Bowl, Williams has shown he can make the big play, especially in the playoffs. Williams didn’t fall for a Michael Vick pump fake in his game-sealing pick in the Wild Card round. The pick against Matt Ryan showed his football IQ, as he went the distance, blowing the Falcons' game out of the water before halftime.  Williams’s six interceptions on the year have been crucial for a Packers victory.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

After a breath-taking performance against the Falcons in the divisional round—86 percent completion percentage, 366 yards and three touchdowns—some would say Rodgers can’t have a game like he did against the Bears on Sunday to win the Super Bowl. 

Rodgers looked human, throwing for only 244 yards with zero touchdowns-to-two interceptions. The former back-up to legend Brett Favre has become known to be one of the week-by-week workers in the business. The time he puts into film study is on the level of Peyton Manning. Rodgers doesn’t have to repeat his performance in Atlanta but he also can’t throw two interceptions against the Steelers.

Green Bay Wide Receivers

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Wide receivers Greg Jennings #85, Donald Driver #80 and Jordy Nelson #87 of the Green Bay Packers on their sideline agains tthe Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois

Some would say this is the best receiving core in history—Brett Favre said it himself last week— each receiver is special in their own right. You have James Jones with the speed to blow by his defenders with a great set of hands.

Donald Driver is just clutch and rarely fails to haul it in, Greg Jennings is 5’11” but plays like he is 6’5” making acrobatic catches all over the field, and Jordy Nelson is a great red-zone threat being the tallest receiver over 6’1”. These receivers don’t just catch the ball they get the Packers yards after the catch—49 percent of Aaron Rodgers' yards this season came after the catch.

Green Bay Packers MLB Clay Matthews

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Linebacker Clay Matthews #52 of the Green Bay Packers holds up two fingers against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images

Matthews is ridiculous not only in his strength and size but also in the way he entrenches himself on the grid-iron. He is constantly flying all around the field with no since of protecting his body. He is on one mission—to hit the quarterback. Matthews has come accustomed to that accumulating 14 sacks this season and 3.5 through the playoffs thus far.