The big day is finally here. The biggest sporting event of the year, the Super Bowl! I know, my preview is a tad late, but this article will take you through the excitement and expectations of the big day.
Keep on pounding. That is an expression used frequently by the Carolina Panthers. Their team has embraced that statement on twitter, instagram, facebook, or other social media outlets. The Panthers are the heart and soul of Charlotte. Quarterback Cam Newton is special. I admitted it. I have criticized him profusely on STWA, but I have to give him credit for what he has accomplished. A league MVP, offensive player of the year, Heisman trophy, National Championship, a potential Super MVP and ring. Not many have accomplished that. The combination of athleticism and arm strength has dominated the signal caller position in the Super Bowl recently. From the likes of Russell Wilson to Steve Young to even Ben Roethlisberger, it seems like every team needs an athlete at the quarterback position. It is becoming more of a necessity rather than a privilege.
Cam Newton celebrating a touchdown. In his route to a league MVP, Newton boasted an impeccable 45 total touchdowns in the regular season. He also averaged 7.8 yards per attempt, which was seventh best in the league among qualified quarterbacks. We are talking about a guy who only seven year ago was in Junior College.
Devin Funchess didn’t even make more than three catches until November 8, 2015 and that is when he started to become a household name in Carolina. So a rookie is my x-factor for Carolina? Yup. Four of his five receiving touchdowns have come in the second half and he doubled his production in nearly every statistical category since week 9. At six foot four, Funchess might be the next big thing. No pun intended.
Cam Newton has gotten much better at the quarterback position. His footwork was sensational in his win against the Arizona Cardinals. He was stepping into his throws, moving around in the pocket, doing things that I believe will make championship quarterbacks. Most of all, when he was stepping into his throws, he was driving the ball into his receivers. That is what has made him so good this season. Newton’s ability to focus on the little things have made his interception rate decrease from 3.3 in his rookie season to only 2. Newton’s supporting cast is fairly strong, as tight end Greg Olsen and receiver Ted Ginn Jr combined for 17 touchdowns and rookie Devin Funchess is a game changer. Funchess, a six foot four rookie out of the University of Michigan has continued to gain Cam Newton’s trust and he even caught a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC Championship game.
Kuechly making another impact play on the field. Kuechly has been a force for the Panthers since his rookie season, having a combined 591 tackles in four seasons.
The defense is one of the best in the business. Linebacker Luke Kuechly is a reincarnation of the great Ray Lewis. Kuechly is such a heady player. He rarely makes mistakes and I cannot even count the amount of plays that he has made in the open field. The injury to Thomas Davis is going to affect him. I know that he is playing, but no body in their right mind can tell me that someone who is coming off of a broken arm two weeks ago will not feel the effects when tackling someone.
Cornerback Josh Norman’s reputation is questionable outside of the Panthers locker room because of the Odell Beckham situation. That does not define him as a player. He is so energetic and physical. Most cornerbacks might struggle in press coverage, but Norman is the exact opposite, he excels. I watched him play in zone coverage and he looked extremely comfortable, like he has been doing it for years.
Manning has broken virtually every NFL record from passing yards to passing touchdowns, but will he cement himself as the greatest quarterback of all time tonight with a win? We shall see.
How is a second string running back my x-factor for the Broncos. When Hillman has averaged 4 yards per carry or more, the Broncos are 5-0. When Hillman gets 10 carries or more, the Broncos are 10-3. That is a combined 15-3 record, equivalent to winning 83 percent of your games. So my advice to Denver, feed your speedster.
Peyton Manning is the man. Is it his last game? Probably. But he is as excited as ever. You can criticize Manning for his limited arm strength, but there is one thing that you cannot deny about the thirty-nine-year-old quarterback, has the greatest mind to ever step onto a football field. Can mind win over matter. That is a question that panelists have thought of and considered this season. If Manning knows everything that is going on around him and before the snap (which it appears he does) than how did he possibly have the highest interception rate among qualified quarterbacks? The problem with the Broncos offense is Manning to some degree. His limited arm strength allows defenses to stack the box with eight defenders, higher than the standard six or seven. This helps explain why the Broncos were below league average in a majority of rushing categories. Running back Ronnie Hillman is a huge part of the Broncos offense, so much more than people realize. His elusiveness and game breaking speed is a nice compliment to the bruising run style of CJ Anderson.
Talib returning an interception to the house against the Jets. In his past two seasons, Talib has had four touchdowns.
The Broncos defense is as energetic and athletic as it gets. Let’s start with their front seven. Defensive tackle Derek Wolfe is a difference maker. He has some similarities to Ndamukoung Suh. With him and Demarcus Ware on the line, it makes Denver virtually unblockable. Denver’s biggest problem on defense is zone coverage. I don’t know why, but their secondary has a tough time in zone coverage. Honestly, this team is built for man to man with limited help. Cornerback Aqib Talib is one of the best corners in the NFL. He’s six foot three and fast, he sticks like glue to his receivers. Second year corner Bradley Roby has really blossomed this season. I like his aggressiveness for a short corner. He reminds me of Pacman Jones.
Overall, I have the Panthers winning this won 27-17. I still expect this to be a good game, but Newton has an edge over Manning right now and I think the Panthers have fewer holes than Denver at the moment. Enjoy the Super Bowl!!!
sportstalkwithari 