Super Bowl 2011: Aaron Rodgers, Rashard Mendenhall and the Top Impact Players

Everyone trains and plays the game for one goal and one goal only: the Super Bowl. Star players will help their team on to glory and role players play like it's their last. But, looking at the Packers and Steelers heading into Super Bowl XLV, who are the players who will have the biggest impact?

For the Packers, is it Aaron Rodgers? Greg Jennings? Nick Collins?

For the Steelers, is it Ben Roethlisberger? James Harrison? Troy Polamalu?

Lets go in-depth and see who will have the biggest impact for both teams.

Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers

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ATLANTA, GA - JANUARY 15: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after he threw a 7-yard touchdown to John Kuhn #30 in the third quarter against the Atlanta Falcons during their 2011 NFC divisional playoff game at Georgia Dome on January 15, 2

After three games in the playoffs, Rodgers is making his own legacy in Green Bay. He has six touchdowns to two interceptions this postseason, to go along with 790 yards while completing 71 percent. He has also ran for 56 yards and two touchdowns.

The Chicago Bears shut Rodgers down after the first drive in Sunday's game, so a logical guess is to think the Steelers will be able to. Against the Steelers, Rodgers will have to be at his best, because this team will only win the Super Bowl as long as he is productive.

But he will need help.

Which leads us to...

Green Bay Packers RB James Starks

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Running back James Starks #44 of the Green Bay Packers reacts after his four-yard second quarter touchdown run against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago, Illinois. (P

The little known running back from the little school is a huge part of the Packers' and Aaron Rodgers' success. He didn't have a great game against the Bears, but he was good enough to open up the passing lanes for Aaron Rodgers.

James Starks has provided the Packers with a reliable running game, which has made the Packers play action one of the deadliest in the game. He is also an underrated blocker, which has helped Rodgers stay on his feet.

If Starks comes out against the best run defense in the game and is stopped early, it will be hard for Rodgers to get the play action going and with it, the Packers hopes of winning the Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers DB Sam Shields

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CHICAGO, IL - JANUARY 23: Nick Collins #36 of the Green Bay Packers celebrates after Sam Shields #37 seals the win with a fourth quarter interception against the Chicago Bears in the NFC Championship Game at Soldier Field on January 23, 2011 in Chicago,

Everyone knows about Charles Woodson, Nick Collins and as of lately, Tramon Williams. But the unsung hero for the Packers defense has been Sam Shields. He has been the big playmaker on defense this postseason and will have to come up huge for the Packers in order for them to keep the Steelers offense at bay.

This postseason alone, he has 11 tackles, a sack, two interceptions and a forced fumble. He has been someone who offensive coordinators have to actually plan for now, which is causing others to play with a little bit more ease.

If he doesn't have some sort of impact on the defensive side of the ball, then the Packers will be in for a long day.

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 15: Running back Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers rushes against the Baltimore Ravens during the AFC Divisional Playoff Game at Heinz Field on January 15, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/G

For the Steelers, their bread and butter is playing defense and running the ball. They want to punish you on both sides of the ball, and Mendenhall is the type of guy who can do that for you on the offensive side.

He has been able to allow the passing game to also blossom because of the excellent play action by the Steelers, due to his excellent running. He will break tackles with either his speed or underrated strength. He is a great check down for Big Ben also.

During the postseason, he has three touchdowns for the Steelers, while averaging just below 90 rushing yards per game. He also has 45 yards receiving on three catches.

If the Steelers cannot get Mendenhall running right out the gate, then Big Ben will have a lot of pressure on his shoulders, but for a guy with two Super Bowl rings, I'm sure Roethlisberger would not mind.

Pittsburgh Steelers NT Casey Hampton

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Casey Hampton #98 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs onto the field prior to their 2011 AFC Championship game against the New York Jets at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/G

In order to beat the Packers, you have to stop the running game first, and Casey Hampton is the man to do it. Casey is one of the most dominant nose tackles in the league and will be key to stopping the Packers running game early and often.

He might not get a bunch of tackles, but he clogs lanes up and forces the running back to move laterally, which James Starks is not known for. If you get Starks moving sideways, he is not as effective as he would be going north and south.

The big man up front will have to do what he has been doing for years, to keep the Packers offense one-dimensional.

Pittsburgh Steelers CB Ike Taylor

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PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 21: Ike Taylor #24 of the Pittsburgh Steelers lines up prior to the snap during the game against the Oakland Raiders on November 21, 2010 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

The man who is going to be lining up against Greg Jennings is Ike Taylor, because of Ike's combination of size and speed. He is about 6'3" and can run equal with Jennings. This will be a hard matchup for both, since both are great at what they do.

In the postseason, Ike has seven tackles, with a sack and forced fumble. He is about as important to the Steelers secondary as Troy Polamalu. Ike isn't going to win any beauty contests with his play, but he is one of the best at locking guys down.

If Ike can control Greg Jennings and stick to his hip, he will be making Aaron Rodgers' job a whole lot harder.