2010 MLB Preview - Wild, Wild West

PROJECTED STANDINGS:
(Top five contenders only)

1. San Francisco Giants

2. Atlanta Braves
3. Chicago Cubs
4. Florida Marlins
5. Cincinnati Reds


The NL Central may be the toughest division, but that isn't good for Wild Card possibilities. With all the teams there winning at home, it dilutes the records of the rest of the division. They may all be good teams, but that hurts their chances when put against an equally good team in a weaker division. The Giants and Braves have the best chances of taking the fourth playoff spot, due to their opponents. While the Braves have to face a Marlins team on the rise and the NL's best team, the Phillies, the Giants will be able to take advantage of the falling Dodgers, the lowly Padres, and the not-quite-there-yet Diamondbacks.

2010 MLB Preview - The NL East Still Belongs to the Phillies

PROJECTED STANDINGS:

1. Philadelphia Phillies

2. Atlanta Braves
3. Florida Marlins
4. New York Mets
5. Washington Nationals


The Phillies didn't really do anything to improve this offseason, but they didn't need to. The deal that got them Roy Halladay and sent Cliff Lee to Seattle is pretty much an even trade, and with how weak the East has become, its enough to keep them in first. The Braves and Marlins both made some nice additions in the offseason, but neither did enough to put up much of a fight. The Marlins may be overvalueing their home-grown talent. If they can stay in second place instead of dropping to third, they're probably doing the right things. The Mets probably won't be competetive this year, even if they stay healthy. Without a first baseman, it's kinda hard to beat the back-to-back NL Champions. The Nats picked up Steven Stroudsburgh, and while he may be the future of MLB pitching, he'll start the season in the minors. Even if he was in the majors, he can't pitch every game.

2010 MLB Preview - Central Probably the NL's Toughest

PROJECTED STANDINGS:

1. St Louis Cardinals

2. Chicago Cubs
3. Cincinnati Reds
4. Houston Astros
5. Milwaukee Brewers
6. Pittsburgh Pirates


In my opinion, everyone but he Pirates has a shot at winning the NL Central. The reason is partly due to the fact the every team in the division was one game below .500 or better at home last season. That should help make this a close race. The Cards won it last season, and now they have Mark McGwire as hitting coach, Matt Holliday for a full season, and Adam Wainwright and Chris Carpenter remaining in the rotation. The Cubs didn't hurt their chances coming in, but they didn't help them either. Cutting ties with Milton Bradley was a good move, but bringing in Marlon Byrd and Xavier Nady won't exactly put them over the top. The Reds stayed mostly the same. Their big acqusition, Cuban P Aroldis Chapman, has already shown signs of being a problem, leaving a Spring Training game with back stiffness. His control hasn't exactly been perfect, either. Meanwhile, the Astros and Brewers did what small-market teams usually do: sign cheap players nobody else wants and hopes for the best. Both teams have talent, and could be competitive for most of the season, but will fall to nonfactors down the stretch.

2010 MLB Preview - The NL West Gets Weaker

PROJECTED STANDINGS:

1. Colorado Rockies

2. San Francisco Giants
3. Los Angeles Dodgers
4. Arizona Diamondbacks
5. San Diego Padres


The Rockies ended last season right on the heals of the Dodgers, and almost pulled out the Division title. In the offseason, they lost Yorvit Torrealba, but added Miguel Olivo to take his place. They largely kept the rest of the team intact. Below them, the Giants added some strong talent to go along with Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum and could contend this year. After that, it looks like a car wreck in progress. The Dodgers and Padres are both hamstrung by the divorces of their owners, and neither added much talent in the offseason. The Diamondbacks added youth to a team on the way up. They probably won't do much this season, but could be a spoiler down the stretch and will most likely keep improving every year.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - Final 4

FINAL 4:
Underlined teams are those I picked to win.

1. Kansas
2. Kansas State

1. Kentucky
1. Duke

What You Need to Know:

Kansas State has seven losses this season. Three of those came at the hands of Kansas. Make it four after this one. Duke was good enough to win the Bracket of Duke, but Kentucky is clearly the better team.

FINALS:

1. Kansas
1. Kentucky

What You Need to Know:

Both teams have two loses, with one coming against Tennessee. Both teams had tough second half schedules, and managed to come out largely unscathed. Kansas looks like it might be the better overall team, but my gut says they won't be able to overcome John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins. I'm going with my gut.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - West

FIRST ROUND:
Underlined teams are those I picked to win.

1. Syracuse
16. Vermont

8. Gonzaga
9. Florida State

5. Butler
12. UTEP

4. Vanderbilt
13. Murray State

6. Xavier
11. Minnesota

3. Pittsburgh
14. Oakland

7. BYU
10. Florida

2. Kansas State
15. North Texas

What You Need to Know:

The only surprise here is that Syracuse is #1. They lost their last two games, and could have easily been dropped to #2 behind West Virginia. But they're a #1, and all the favorite roll in the opener.

SECOND ROUND:

1. Syracuse
8. Gonzaga

5. Butler
4. Vanderbilt

6. Xavier
3. Pittsburgh

7. BYU
2. Kansas State

What You Need to Know:

Aside from #1 and #2, any of these games could go either way. Butler/Vandy and Xavier/Pitt should both be good games, and I figure the underdogs should win both games.

SWEET 16:

1. Syracuse
5. Butler

6. Xavier
2. Kansas State

What You Need to Know:

Once again, the higher seeds win, setting up a #1 vs #2 regional final.

ELITE 8:

1. Syracuse
2. Kansas State

What You Need to Know:

Syracuse has looked like a solid team all season, but they shouldn't be a #1 seed. Kansas State has the luck of being the one to take them out, being the only #2 to make my Final 4.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - South

FIRST ROUND:
Underlined teams are those I picked to win.

1. Duke
16. Arkansas - Pine Bluff

8. Cal
9. Louisville

5. Texas A&M
12. Utah State

4. Purdue
13. Siena

6. Notre Dame
11. Old Dominion

3. Baylor
14. Sam Houston State

7. Richmond
10. St Mary's

2. Villanova
15. Robert Morris

What You Need to Know:

If the Midwest is the Bracket of Death, the South is clearly the Bracket of Duke. Below #1, the teams are so weak that Duke should cruise to the Final 4. Purdue is without Robbie Hummel, and will probably fall to a Siena team high off their conference championship. And every year we have at least one 5/12 upsets, and this years will be Utah State over Texas A&M.

SECOND ROUND:

1. Duke
9. Louisville

12. Utah State
13. Siena

6. Notre Dame
3. Baylor

7. Richmond
2. Villanova

What You Need to Know:

This mess of a region continues, as the top two stay, while Notre Dame finally makes it past the Second Round, and Siena keeps that championship high going.

SWEET 16:

1. Duke
13. Siena

6. Notre Dame
2. Villanova

What You Need to Know:

Duke make the Elite 8, no surprise there. On the other side, Notre Dame pulls off the huge upset, knocking off Villanova. The Irish have a gameplan that forces opponents to slow down, throwing off their rythm. It'll get them this far, but will it get them to the Final 4?

ELITE 8:

1. Duke
6. Notre Dame

What You Need to Know:

No. Duke has been doing this for far too long to be upset by ND. Really, Duke could lose at any point in this region, and if you bracket goes bust, I'd just blame the South and pray for a better 2011.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - East

FIRST ROUND:
Underlined teams are those I picked to win.

1. Kentucky
16. East Tennessee State

8. Texas
9. Wake Forest

5. Temple
12. Cornell

4. Wisconsin
13. Wofford

6. Marquette
11. Washington

3. New Mexico
14. Montana

7. Clemson
10. Missouri

2. West Virginia
15. Morgan State

What You Need to Know:

While everyone is talking about Cornell, Missouri and Washington could be the surprises of the first round. Why everyone thinks Cornell could win I don't understand, because everyone also agrees Temple is better than a #5 seed. Everything else goes according to plan.

SECOND ROUND:

1. Kentucky
8. Texas

5. Temple
4. Wisconsin

6. Washington
3. New Mexico

10. Missouri
2. West Virginia

What You Need to Know:

Kentucky, Temple, New Mexico, and West Virginia should clearly be the top four teams in the East. Though even if you flip Temple and Wisconsin at 4/5, the outcome would probably be the same.

SWEET 16:

1. Kentucky
5. Temple

3. New Mexico
2. West Virginia

What You Need to Know:

Temple may be better than a #5, but not better than a #1. Kentucky will probably make this look easy. On the other side, I just don't think West Virginia can live up to the hype. Not to mention all their complaining about being a #2 instead of a #1 could be fodder for a New Mexico rally.

ELITE 8:

1. Kentucky
3. New Mexico

What You Need to Know:

Kansas may be #1 overall, but in my opinion Kentucky is the best team in the nation.

NCAA Tournament 2010 - Midwest

FIRST ROUND:
Underlined teams are those I picked to win.

1. Kansas
16. Lehigh

8. UNLV
9. Northern Iowa

5. Michigan State
12. New Mexico State

4. Maryland
13. Houston

6. Tennessee
11. San Diego State

3. Georgetown
14. Ohio

7. Oklahoma State
10. Georgia Tech

2. Ohio State
15. UC - Santa Barbara

What You Need to Know:

Known as the Bracket of Death, the Midwest is pretty straight forward in the First Round. The 8/9 matchup can always go either way, and otherwise the favorites should come out on top.

SECOND ROUND:

1. Kansas
9. Northern Iowa

5. Michigan State
4. Maryland

6. Tennessee
3. Georgetown

7. Oklahoma State
2. Ohio State

What You Need to Know:

Kansas is the #1 overall team in the tournament for a reason, and they shouldn't have too much trouble with Northern Iowa. Georgetown should roll over Tennessee, too. Michigan St/Maryland could go either way, but thinking this isn't Maryland's year. At the bottom of the bracket, Ohio State may have a better record than Oklahoma State in an arguably better conference, but OK State is 13-3 out of conference, and could pull out an upset here.

SWEET 16:

1. Kansas
5. Michigan State

3. Georgetown
7. Oklahoma State

What You Need to Know:

Kansas and Oklahoma State make the Elite 8. Kansas goes for the obvious reason. OK State gets in not because they are the better team, but because Georgetown's grueling Big East schedule will catch up with them sooner, rather than later.

ELITE 8:

1. Kansas
7. Oklahoma State

What You Need to Know:

Oklahoma State could have a good run this year, but Kansas is just the better team all around.

Have We Learned Anything New in the Last Four Days?

With defensive backs working out yesterday, the 2010 NFL Scouting Combine came to a close. Did it really teach us anything?

Sure, it taught us that Jacoby Ford and Trindon Holliday are this year's fasted players, that TE Jimmy Graham is great at running the gauntlet drill, that OL Mitch Petrus can bench press a lot, and that none of the top QBs are currently capable of actually throwing a football. So now that we know these things and many more, how does that effect next years rookie class? No one really knows.

That fact of the matter is this: the NFL Scouting Combine is mostly useless. The basic idea behind it is sound. You bring in the best college football athletes in this years draft, have them work out for coaches, and they can better evaluate a players abilities. That's where logic ends. Sure, its great to know how strong an offensive lineman is or how fast a receiver is. What isn't always necessary? Knowing how fast a lineman is, or how high a QB can jump.

The NFL Combine is an excellent way to judge the raw talents of players coming out of college, but it is very, very flawed. For starters, there are seven events that every position does: 40-yard dash, bench press, vertical jump, broad jump, 3-cone drill, 20-yard shuttle, and 60-yard shuttle. It's great knowing a receiver has 4.4 speed and a 39" vertical, but do we really need to know those same stats for a lineman?

Each position also has its own specific drills. Quarterbacks throw to receivers, receviers run routes, linemen block, etc, etc. None of these drills are contact. You can sit back and watch a guy in a T-shirt and shorts throw a ball all day, but can he do it with Jared Allen coming from his blind side? A running back might show great speed and recognition abilities, but can he do the same thing, and hold onto the ball, when he's facing down Ray Lewis, with Ed Reed right behind him? A defensive lineman may have great rip and swim technique, but how well will he be able to use it against the Jets offensive line?

A problem that I have with the Combine, and most people don't bring it up, is that the Combine is invitation-only. The athletes performing there are generally the best of the NCAA, players we already know are usually going to be top draft picks. Small schools and schools below D-I aren't usually represented, and if they are, its usually by a single player. It's a problem that doesn't really have a solution. Hundreds of athletes performed this year over a four day period, and hundreds more will be available in this years draft. If you were to include everyone who wanted to work out for NFL scouts and coaches, how long would it take? Weeks? A month or more? It simply isn't logistically possible to have everyone who wants to be there work out.

The Combine isn't all bad. While it doesn't simulate how a player would react in game situations, it does give an idea of the raw speed/strength a coach would have to work with. Combine interviews are also often the first chance an NFL coach has to interact with players he may be considering drafting. Its a great way to find out if a player will fit on your team, and they never even have to take the field to do it.

The general problem with the Combine, and workouts of any kind, is that you can fall in love with a player's abilities, and then they don't perform in real-game situations. In the past few years, the Raiders have selected JaMarcus Russell because he could throw the ball a mile, and Darrius Heyward-Bey based on his 40 time. Neither player has proven they can be a starter in the NFL yet. Neither player was even considered the best at their position in their draft, but the Raiders picked them based on workouts, and now their suffering for it.

The Combine isn't perfect, and it probably never will be. Scouts love the watching players workout, even if what they're doing barely translates into on-field ability. The top QBs don't usually throw. This year, Jimmy Claussen, Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, and Colt McCoy, all top prospects, either didn't participate at all, or didn't throw. Some who don't participate are injured, some are working on technique, and some just don't want to. Instead, they wait for their school's Pro Day, when NFL scouts can see them in a more comfortable situation, and in a setting more like an NFL practice.

The reality of a situation in which the current NFL is all about gathering as much information as possible is that we've gotten away from the simplicity of watching players play the game. Scouts don't need to see Tim Tebow workout to know his throwing mechanics are bad. They saw it in college. Similarly, Shonn Greene fumbled more times in his first year with the Jets than he did in college, where he was known for not dropping the ball. Thats something a workout can't tell you. If a receiver can leap over a defender to make a high-pressure catch in a college game, he can probably do it in the NFL, too.

Really, isn't it as simple as that? A player playing the game. If a college player has abilities that can translate to the pros, he'll use them. If he doesn't, he'll be gone in a couple of years anyway. A team can only pick a player based on their best information. The best information comes from what a person does on the field, not how many bench press reps he can do, and not how high he can jump from a standing position. The Combine does give us some good information, but it should never be the be-all and end-all in how we judge an athlete turning pro.

Ryan Miller is a Great Goaltender. Let's All Hope He Remembers That.

The US Men's Ice Hockey team came into this Olympics with low expectations on them. They made the Gold Medal game, only to lose in overtime. No one probably feels lower right now than goalie Ryan Miller.

For five games, Miller stood on his head in goal. In those five games, he allowed only five goals for a GAA of 1 and a save percentage of 95.4. He beat Switzerland twice, allowing only 1 total goal. The US may have scored 5 goals against Canada the first time they played, but Miller had to face 45 shots to get the win. Canada could have easily won 8-5 against a lesser goalie.

The Gold Medal rematch was what every North American hockey fan hoped for. Canada pulled out to a 2-0 lead, and the US battled back. With 24 second remaining, Zach Parise, who tied Brian Rafalski for the team lead in goals, assists, and points, scored the tieing goal to send the game to overtime. Seven minutes and 40 second later, the game would be over. Sidney Crosby would take a centering feed and, with Miller out of position, scored the winning goal.

It's hard to place blame in a situation like this, and ultimately it's unnecessary. Was the goal scored because of poor defense? Could the US have been better? Is the fault all on Miller? It really doesn't matter. As the goaltender, and the player who gave up the winning goal, Ryan Miller is probably putting it all on himself.

You could see it in his posture when the goal went in: Miller, slumped to the ice on his hands and knees, staying almost motionless while Canada celebrated. You could see it in his eyes on the team bench. You could read his face like a book when both teams came out to shake hands. You could see the saddness in his face on the podium, like his world was crashing down around him.

There are positions in most team sports where the pressure on you is greater than that of a teammates. A high stress situation, followed by the feeling of letting your team down, can crush the careers of some of these people. Pitchers, quarterbacks, and goalies are the most obvious. We all remember the spectacular crash of Ryan Leaf when faced with the pressure of playing in the NFL. After throwing two scoreless innings in Game 1 of the 2000 NL Divisional Series against the NY Mets, St Louis Cardinal Rick Ankiel melted down, walking 4, throwing 5 wild pitches, and giving up 4 runs on only 2 hits. He never recovered as a pitcher.

What Miller did in these games was spectacular. Overall, he went 5-1, with one shutout, a total GAA of 1.33, and a save percentage of 94.6. No other starter in these games matched those numbers, not even Canada's Roberto Luongo. The only person in the world who might be putting the blame for the loss on Ryan Miller might be Ryan Miller.

Miller has been to the playoffs with the Buffalo Sabres twice, in 2006 and 2007. Both times they were eliminated in the second round. Each year since then, his GAA has improved, and is currently at 2.16. He's been in high pressure situations before, lost, and come through better on the other side, but he's never done it on a global scale like this.

The fact that Miller made the team already showed he was the best in the nation. His being named MVP makes him best in the world. Sidney Crosby scoring a goal can't take that away from him, and he needs to remember that. He needs, now more than ever, to be able to shrug off what I'm sure is a feeling of letting his entire country down. He didn't, and he shouldn't feel that way. He took a team that was expected to perform so poorly that the NHLPA booked their flights home for the morning of the Gold Medal game to near-perfection. Thats what he needs to remember now, the 5-0 start, the 139 saves, the shutout of Switzerland, and the silver medal and MVP status he's bringing home. Not the OT goal to a player considered arguably the best in the world.

He'll need to turn it around quick, too. The Sabres play Crosby and the Penguins tomorrow night.

Tiger Woods Finally Makes a Public Statement

After over two months of speculation and wondering where he was, Tiger finally came out of hiding. What we got was more of the same old Tiger.

Goodbye, ECW. May You Finally Rest in Peace.

For 16 years, Extreme Championship Wrestling was a brand that had one of the most loyal followings in the history of professional wrestling. Last night, WWE put the brand to rest, probably for good.

Dealing with Withdrawal - The First Weekend without Football

So here we are, a week removed from the Super Bowl. We're a few weeks away from free agency, and months away from the draft. The Pro Bowl was moved, so we don't have that to calm our nerves in the transition to the offseason. Thankfully, the sports world has made sure to pack this first football-free weekend with other diversions.

Super Bowl XLIV Wrap-up

So depending on which analyst you listen to, either the underdog or the better team won. I picked the New Orleans Saints all along. And now a quarter-by-quarter look at the game:

First Quarter:
From the start, this looked like a win for the Indianapolis Colts. Each team had two possessions in the first quarter, and were opposites in what they did with the ball. The Colts drove almost at will, scoring both times. Their second possession was a 96 yard drive for a TD. Meanwhile, the Saints couldn't get moving. Their first possession, off the opening kickoff, ended in a 3-and-out punt. Their second got them a first down, but failed when Marques Colston dropped a wide open pass on 3rd-and-7. Things weren't looking good after the first.
Score after 1: Colts 10 - Saints 0

Super Bowl XLIV Preview

New Orleans Saints vs Indianapolis Colts
Spread: Colts, -5
o/u: 56.5
Over the past two weeks, I've compared the positions of these two teams head-to-head, and the Saints came out on top, 5-4. In key positions, the Saints match up better against the Colts than vice versa. Still, analysts have been praising the Colts the last two weeks like they won every game by huge magins and dominated every game. If you believe Tony Dungy and most of the other experts, the Colts have already won. That simply isn't true. Of the Colts 14 wins, four came by a field goal or less, and seven came by 7 points or less. The Colts scored more than 20 points 10 times in their wins, while allowing more than 20 four times. The Saints, on the other hand, won by a field goal or less only twice, and 7 points or less only three times. They may have given up more than 20 points eight times in winning games, but they scored more than 20 points in all of their 13 wins. Dungy went as far as to say he would be shocked if the Colts won by less than two TDs. Personally, I think that is a completely rediculous statement, considering the Colts only won by 14 points or more five times, including the postseason, Before the Divisional Round they hadn't done it since Week 7 against the Rams. Does that mean it won't happen? No, the Super Bowl has had a long tradition of defying expectations. I'll be expecting a Saints victory.
Pick: Saints 31 - Colts 20

Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Coaches

Indianapolis Colts:
Jim Caldwell may be considered a rookie head coach, but that doesn't really mean anything in this situation. He's been with the Colts since 2002, and the majority of his assistants have been with the team for at least two seasons. Some have been there for over a decade. Caldwell spent his first three seasons as QB coach, working with Peyton Manning. After that, he was named assistant head coach in 2005. There are probably only a handful of people in the organization that are better prepared to handle an offense centered on Manning better than Caldwell. Defensive coordinator Larry Coyer is one of the new additions to the teams since Caldwell took over, and he has instilled a bend-don't-break style to the defense. The team may be around the bottom half of the league in most defensive categories, but they're 8th in points allowed, averaging less than 20 per game. The fact that almost every coach on the staff was with the team when they won their last Super Bowl will be a big boost this week.

New Orleans Saints:
Sean Payton is in his third year as head coach of the Saints, and he is already among the best head coaches in franchise history. His experience as the quarterbacks coach with the Dallas Cowboys, who had a revolving door at QB for most of his time there, made him almost a perfect choice for a team that had a running game on the decline when he took over, but a passing game ready to break loose. Under Payton, Drew Brees has had his three highest seasons for TDs, and three of his four highest in passing yards. He also came just a few yards shy of breaking Dan Marino's single season yardage record when he finished the season with 5,069. The Saints also finished first in total offense this season, putting up 403.8 yards and 31.9 points per game. Unfortunately, the rest of the staff doesn't have the tenure of the Colts coaches. All joined the team in 2005 or later. The one thing they have going for them is that new defensive coordinator Gregg Williams comes from a season with the Jacksonville Jaguars where he had to face Manning and the Colts twice, winning one.

Edge: Indianapolis Colts

Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Special Teams

Indianapolis Colts:
First of all, congratulations to Matt Stover for being the oldest player ever to play in the Super Bowl. With Adam Vinatieri being held out after injuring his leg during the season, Stover came in and did an excellent job as his replacement. He was perfect on extra points and made 9 of 11 field goals in the regular season, which isn't great, but is good enough considering the Colts don't kick many field goals. In the playoffs, he is a perfect 5 for 5 so far. Punting has been fairly strong, as well. Rookie Pat McAfee is averaging a third of his punts burying opponents inside their own 20, in both the playoffs and regular season. One thing they won't have going for them this week is playing in a dome. With Sun Life Stadium being open air, they'll have to adjust for wind instead of the stillness indoors. One of Stover's two missed field goals this year came outdoors against Houston, His one other outdoor attempt, of course, was good. The return game needs to improve though. Punt returner TJ Rushing was forced to fair catch half of the punts he fielded, and averaged less than 6 yards per return. If the Saints can get moving but have to kick, not being able to get off a good return could hurt. Kick returner Chad Simpson hasn't always been great, but he does have one return for a TD this season.

New Orleans Saints:
Like Stover, Garrett Hartley replaced another player, John Carney, who was cut for missing too many kicks. Hartley has done well, but he has two misses of his own, and his only attempt longer than 40 yards was one of them. Punter Thomas Morstead attempted less punts than McAfee, and has a lower percentage of punts inside the 20, but he averages only about half a yard per punt less, and both have a long of 60 yards. Like the Colts, the Saints kickers will also have to face playing away from a dome. In two games played outdoors, though, Hartley is 5 for 6, with his only miss coming on five attempts against the Redskins in his first game. He also missed one extra point, but is perfect in the playoffs. On punt returns, Reggie Bush had a fairly poor season, averaging less than 5 yards per return while fair catching only a quarter of punts fielded. He has come on strong in the playoffs, though, with a return for a touchdown. Take away that 83 yarder, and he's averaging 8.7 yards per. Not great, but almost double his regular season output. On kick returns, Courtney Roby had a strong 27.5 yards per during the season, which has gone down to 25,7 in the postseason. Like Simpson, he also has a return for a score. Across from him, Pierre Thomas is almost as dangerous, with one return for 40 yards in the playoffs.

Edge: New Orleans Saints

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

Breaking Down Super Bowl XLIV - Linebackers

Indianapolis Colts:
No one will ever tell you the Colts have a dominant group of linebackers. Do they have a nose for the ball? Sure. Clint Sessions recorded 103 tackles, and Gary Brackett had 99 of his own. But between those two and Philip Wheeler, they total only 2.5 sacks, 3 picks, and 2 forced fumbles this season. A Cover 2 defense relies on LBs to drop into coverage and protect the middle of the field against the passing game. They also need to be able to recognize the run at the same time. The Colt's LBs just aren't good enough at doing both.


Colts Linebackers vs Saints Running Backs:
The Saints like to get to the outside, which is good if they can get to Wheeler's side. He is the least experienced of the LBs, and Brackett and Sessions don't have the block shedding ability to keep the Saint's runners out of the secondary. In the passing game, where the Saints like to hit Reggie Bush out of the backfield, the Colts have the ability to apply solid coverage. If the Saints shy away from the short passes and go to the run, it could be a long day for the Colts.

New Orleans Saints:
If the Colts don't have a dominant group of linebackers, then the Saints have a slightly dominant one. Johnathan Vilma may be the only one who topped 70 tackles, with 110, but that is what you want in a middle linebacker. He also finshed the season with 2 sacks, 3 picks, and 8 passes defensed, which is about as good as the Colts as a whole. On the outsides, Scott Shanle and Scott Fujita combined for a sack, 2 picks, and 2 forced fumbles of their own. The fact that the Saints played against more passing plays than running plays due to their big early leads probably skews the tackle numbers a bit, as well.

Saints Linebackers vs Colts Running Backs:
Is this even a competition? The Colts have a terrible running game. While Donald Brown may be able to gain a few extra yards if he can keep running straight ahead, Joseph Addai doesn't have the escapability and speed to get to the outside that he used to. Don't look for the Colt's runners to break any long ones, look for them to be tied up quickly by the Saint's linebackers.

Edge: New Orleans Saints