Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Defensive Backs

Indianapolis Colts:
Quick, name two members of the Colts secondary. If you said Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea, you're wrong. Sanders is injured, as usual, leaving Melvin Bullitt to take his place. At the corners, there's Kelvin Hayden and rookie Jerraud Powers. Between them, they have 5 picks, four belonging to Bethea. The fact that they had the 14th ranked pass defense is due more to the defense they apply than the abilities of their secondary. The Cover 2 is designed to force short passes and not give up a big play. A decent group of corners and safeties can run it effectively, and that's what they've gone. The group isn't great, but it can run a Cover 2 effectively.

Colts Defensive Backs vs Saints Receivers:
The Saints can and will spread the ball around, so the Colts need to do the same with their secondary. Running a zone-heavy gameplan, with corners dropping back rather than staying in the flats, can stop quick passes. Bethea over the top to one side of the field can take away much of that side. The one concern then becomes the side covered by Bullitt. I'd imagine that side will be victimized early, until the Colts can adjust.

New Orleans Saints:
The typical "sit back and wait" gameplan of the Saints defense may be tested this week. Usually, they force the other team to pass by building up a lead, then take advantage of mistakes. The Colts pass a lot anyway, and Peyton Manning doesn't make a lot of mistakes. Good for the Saints then that Darren Sharper doesn't always need mistakes to happen to make a play. He tied a career high with nine picks this year, and set a new career high by returning three for TDs. He'll mostly be used to help out Tracy Porter, who is young and inexperienced, but still managed 4 picks of his own. Across from him is Jabari Greer, who totaled another 2 picks and 13 passes defensed. The only hole in coverage may be SS Roman Harper, but he's used more for his abilities as a run stopper.

Saints Defensive Backs vs Colts Receivers:
The Saints will need to find a way to stop Peyton Manning, pure and simple. If they can cover his receivers, he has nowhere to go. That's no easy task. Even if they can cover Reggie Wayne, Austin Collie, and Pierre Garcon, they still have to worry about Dallas Clark. Zone defense will be the key for the Saints, too. There aren't many safeties in the NFL as good as Sharper at disappearing in their zone. If they can find a way to confuse Manning by disguising coverages, even just a little, they can shut down the passing game enough to win.

Edge: New Orleans Saints