Why Matt Light Will Win the Super Bowl for the Patriots

When you look at the New England Patriots, you typically think about Tom Brady, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker.

Many people typically do not look at the offensive linemen of a team: the Jonathan Ogden's, the Orlando Pace’s, and the Willie Roaf's of yesterday.

In today’s world, we see someone by the name of Matt Light. In Michael Lewis’ The Blind Side: The Evolution of a Game, Lewis writes about how left tackles, indeed are changing the face of the game.

Now the second-highest players in the NFL, left tackles are more valuable than before.

Typically, one would not expect a lineman to make more money than a wide receiver or a running back. The only player that, on average, makes more than the left tackle is the man he protects on an every play basis: the quarterback.

The start of all this begins with the defense of a team. Or more specifically, the linebackers on a team.

With the start of the Lawrence Taylor era, every single quarterback had something to fear come Sunday. Teams began scouting for good to great left tackles after the unforgettable incident when Lawrence Taylor snapped Joe Theismann’s leg in two places, ending the great quarterback’s career.

Ever since that had happened, we have seen the emergence of great left tackles.

Moving onto the subject of this Sunday’s Super Bowl, we see an apparently-injured Tom Brady. There is obviously no doubt that he will play, but if indeed he is hurt, and this is not a game stunt, then he will need protection.

Why? Because the New York Giants are going to be targeting his hurt area, not to permanently injure him, but to render him unsuccessful throughout the game.

As everyone knows from watching Brady in his past Super Bowls, we know he easily has the best vision in the NFL. However, Brady is not the most mobile quarterback out there, meaning that he will not be able to take off once he sees trouble in the pocket.

Even if he has proven day-in and day-out that he is not afraid to take a sack, getting sacked and hit constantly will take its toll on your career.

Don’t believe me? Ask David Carr.

This is where the offensive line comes in. These men probably have the hardest, dirtiest job in all the NFL. They must be the smartest people on the field, have the nimblest feet and be the strongest people on the team.

In addition to that, they are constantly on the move and must learn many different pass-blocking assignments.

If one of these men fails to succeed in fulfilling their blocking assignments, the quarterback has a big chance of being sacked.

The biggest fear of a quarterback is to be sacked on his blind side. If a quarterback is right-handed, like Brady is, he depends on his left tackle to protect his blind side. If the quarterback is a southpaw, like former NFL great Steve Young, he must depend of his right tackle to protect his blind side.

In Sunday’s Super Bowl, Brady and company will be hosting a loaded Giants front seven.These players have the potential of keeping Brady on the ground.

Brady has the ability to view about half the field at one time. This would be the side of his chest, which would leave his left side completely vulnerable to sack. This is where Pro Bowl-bound Matt Light comes in. As one of the premiere left tackles in the game, his assignment is to make sure that no one even comes near to Brady’s blind side.

With that taken care of, Brady should have the chance and the time to make sure his receivers are open before throwing the ball.

We saw the Packers’ line break down to the Giants front seven in the NFC Championship game, causing Brett Favre to throw for two interceptions.

As the second-best quarterback to Joe Montana, Tom Brady has the unique ability of stepping up in the pocket just as a potential sacker makes his move. If Light can drive a blitzing linebacker just far enough behind Brady, he just might have enough time to get the ball to one of his many receivers.