Super Bowl 2011: Pittsburgh Steelers' 5 Offensive Essentials vs. Green Bay

Any team that reaches the Super Bowl is doing something (or, more likely, a lot of things) correctly. That doesn't mean that game plans for the biggest game of the year will be run of the mill or even easy to create.

The Pittsburgh Steelers and Green Bay Packers are two of the most evenly matched teams to play each other in the Super Bowl in this decade. It's hard to pick decisive advantages in talent. Experience seems to be the major divider and, depending on who you talk to, the biggest advantage.

Nevertheless, once 6:30 pm arrives this Sunday, all of the talking and thinking will be done, and the time for action will be at hand. Here's a look at how the Pittsburgh offense can execute against Green Bay and claim victory.

1. Heavy Doses of Rashard Mendenhall

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Rashard Mendenhall #34 of the Pittsburgh Steelers runs the ball against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers won 24-19. (Photo b

The easiest way to beat the Green Bay offense is to keep it on the bench. To do that, Pittsburgh needs to control the clock.

To control the clock, it needs Rashard Mendenhall and the Pittsburgh offensive line to play the same game that they played against the New York Jets.

Against New York, the Steelers leaned heavily on the running game, and Mendenhall and his blockers delivered an excellent performance. The Steelers used some deceptive schemes (blocking heavy one way and running the other), and Mendenhall proved shifty and able to cut back decisively.

They need it one more time.

The key will once again be how well Jonathan Scott and Chris Kemoeatu block in the running game. They have a tall task against a tough Green Bay front and an even bigger challenge should star rookie Maurkice Pouncey fail to play.

If Mendenhall can grind out four to five yards on a consistent basis, especially on first and second down, the Steelers can control the clock and use long, time-consuming drives to score points.

2. Take Some Shots with Ben Roethlisberger

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers passes against the New York Jets in the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers defeated the Jets 24 to 19. (Ph

Running the ball is essential.

That doesn't mean we should ignore one of our greatest strengths: the receiving corps.

Or that we should overlook the accuracy and arm strength of our quarterback.

Once the run is established, take a shot deep to Mike Wallace, Emmanuel Sanders or Antonio Brown on first or second down. That way, the Green Bay defense won't be allowed to fold in and focus on the run on early downs. They'll have to respect both possibilities.

Green Bay is a good blitzing team, so mixing in short slants, a bubble screen or two (if the blitzing defender is a cornerback) and some passes to backs and tight ends will be very important. The quicker that Ben Roethlisberger can make a read and get rid of the ball, the better off everyone will be.

This is a great opportunity for the Steelers' young pass catchers to show that they have the ability to run quick, precise routes and keep their eyes on the ball. This is a terrible time to have a rookie mistake.

The running game will control the clock, but the passing game must be used to keep Green Bay honest and to generate some big plays.

3. Get Heath Miller Involved

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Eric Smith #33 of the New York Jets breaks up a pass intended for Heath Miller #83 of the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The Steelers

Green Bay has the better overall secondary (not the best player, but the best unit).

That said, they have their work cut out. Hines Ward makes the tough catches and can appear anywhere from up the field to over the middle. Mike Wallace can run short routes or beat anyone deep with his speed. Emmanuel Sanders and Antonio Brown have each shown the ability to make clutch plays when needed, and Antwaan Randle El is no slouch.

Then there's Heath Miller.

Miller seemed almost forgotten in the offense this year. He was overlooked in a lot of situations, missed some key time to injury and has only recently become a relevant part of the game plan.

They need to go to him more often. He makes big catches, he can make some defenders miss and he can also bowl people over and force multiple tacklers to bring him down.

He's a beast. He's probably the best tight end no one outside of Pittsburgh has heard much about.

In a game where you have to figure a good secondary is going to find a way to stop some big plays, Miller is the perfect weapon. He's not as commonly known as a threat. He's got great tools.

Best of all, with all of those receivers, someone has to be open. The tight end is the most likely choice.

4. Stop Worrying About Doug Legursky

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelerscalls signals at the line of scrimmage behind center Doug Legursky #64 against the New York Jets during the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field on January 23, 2011 in Pitt

Doug Legursky is one of the unsung heroes of this season.

He's played every position on the line, he's been a fullback and he's been the go-to guy when they need a body.

He's also a pretty fair center.

Forget the bad snaps. There were two, one that was his fault. Given two weeks to work out the communication issues, those will be a memory.

This guy can play. I've thought he was a better guard than Trai Essex or Ramon Foster. Foster's been fair, so I can't say much.

He's a good center. If he starts on Sunday night, the Steelers will be just fine.

He blocks well in both phases of the offense, can communicate the line adjustments very well and is versatile and agile enough to take on blockers of any size and speed. He had a tough test against the Jets and would be responsible for B.J. Raji if he starts the Super Bowl, but he's equal to that task in my opinion.

In fact, if Pouncey can't practice or at least go through the final walk-through, I'd be very hesitant to play him over Legursky in any situation. There's something to be said for being there for the preparation.

5. Field Position Is Essential

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PITTSBURGH, PA - JANUARY 23: Jamaal Westerman #55 of the New York Jets attempts to block a punt by Jeremy Kapinos #13 of the Pittsburgh Steelers and is called for roughing the kicker in the third quarter of the 2011 AFC Championship game at Heinz Field o

It's no big secret that Pittsburgh doesn't have the strongest kickers in the NFL.

Shaun Suisham's kickoffs leave plenty to be desired. Jeremy Kapinos has filled in admirably at punter, but he isn't going to pin anyone back with a long, booming kick.

That said, the Steelers aren't likely to score every time they take the ball on offense.

The best thing that they can do in those situations is make sure they aren't punting from the shadow of their own end zone. Giving Green Bay and its powerful offense good starting field position is asking for trouble.

Give Kapinos a fighting chance. Let him punt from the 35 and beyond, and he'll consistently put teams relatively deep in their own end of the field. If you make Rodgers drive 60-plus yards on a consistent basis, our defense should be equal to the task of corralling the Packers.

This is one of those forgotten parts of the game, but it's so essential against teams that can score quickly and have multiple threats.