Six To Watch on Super Bowl Sunday

We may think that the Super Bowl is about superstars, but there have been many role-players who have stepped up in the games of their lives to perform well beyond expectations. Oakland linebacker Rod Martin’s three interceptions in Super Bowl XV, the 204 rushing yards gained by Timmy Smith of the Washington Redskins in Super Bowl XXII, and Larry Brown’s MVP performance for the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl XXX are but three examples. Here are six players who have the potential to make a real difference in Super Bowl XLII.GIANTSDE/DT Justin TuckIt’s unusual to call a player who just signed a five-year, $30 million contract extension “unheralded,” but Tuck won’t be the face of New York’s stellar defensive line until Michael Strahan retires, and even then, he’ll be splitting face time with Osi Umenyiora. What Tuck brings is versatility — he can edge-rush, but defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has liked to use him this season as a defensive tackle on passing downs. Tuck has thrived in that role, amassing 10 sacks in his third NFL season. The 6-foot-5-inch, 274-pound Notre Dame alum had some good looks as an end when Strahan was deciding his future in the preseason, but right now, he’s even more dangerous as the Giants’ secret weapon. When Tom Brady struggled against the Chargers in last Sunday’s AFC Championship game, running back Laurence Maroney was able to keep the offense going. Tuck and fellow tackle Fred Robbins intend to make life more difficult for Maroney and the Patriots’ top-ranked offensive line.OG Chris SneeThe Giants’ offensive line is a tougher unit than it’s given credit for; that line finished second behind only New England’s in Football Outsiders’ Adjusted Line Yards statistic (which assigns responsibility for specific running plays to the line), and ranked 11th in Adjusted Sack Rate, which gives sacks per pass attempt adjusted for opponent, down, and distance. Snee, the fourth-year right guard from Boston College who doubles as head coach Tom Coughlin’s son-in-law, has a battle on his hands when he faces New England’s front seven. Snee will focus on defensive tackle Vince Wilfork, and if he can take Wilfork one-on-one (never an easy proposition), that will allow center Shaun O’Hara and right tackle Kareem McKenzie to address whatever different schemes the Patriots bring. New England’s defense has been more vulnerable against the run since losing linebacker Rosevelt Colvin for the season in late November. Snee and his linemates must take advantage.CB Corey WebsterWebster has mirrored his team’s late-season surge. The third-year cornerback from LSU picked off only one pass in his first 36 professional games. However, his week 16 interception and 34-yard touchdown return against the Buffalo Bills was a portent of things to come. In the wild-card win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Webster recovered a fumble and picked off another pass. Webster’s overtime interception of a Brett Favre pass at Lambeau Field set the stage for the Giants’ NFC Championship win over the favored Packers. It’s the right time for a defensive back to be on a hot streak. Depending on the health of fellow cornerback Sam Madison, Webster could either cover Randy Moss deep or defend in passing situations as a nickel cornerback. He’ll be on the field all the time either way, because the Patriots see every situation as a passing situation.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTSRB Kevin FaulkSpeaking of LSU grads on hot streaks, Faulk is rounding into peak form at the right time. While feature back Maroney rushed for 122 yards in each of New England’s two postseason wins, Faulk did what he’s always done — provide reliable production in different ways. He caught eight passes for 64 yards in the regular-season finale against the Giants and followed that up with 13 catches for 118 yards in the postseason. When that New York defensive line brings pressure, Faulk will be one of many escape hatches for Tom Brady. Brady can also motion his running backs outside to unveil coverages, which might exploit a suspect Giants secondary. Faulk ranked third for the Patriots this season with 47 catches. Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker have taken most of the return duties that Faulk used to enjoy, and he’s never been a statistical dynamo, but New York’s defense must not overlook the nine-year veteran.WR Jabar GaffneyThe problem with stopping the high-octane New England passing attack is that if you devote a deep safety to helping your cornerback and shading Randy Moss, and you can somehow stop Welker from catching 15 passes for 10 first downs on those frustrating underneath routes, you still have to deal with Donte Stallworth and Jabar Gaffney when the Pats go three-and four-wide. Few defenses can meet this challenge. In 2006, Gaffney was seen, perhaps unfairly, as a symbol of the primary weakness that kept New England out of the Super Bowl — a group of receivers who fell short from a consistent playmaking perspective. The liability was erased with the acquisitions of Moss, Welker, and Stallworth in the offseason, but it also helped Gaffney, as it would any receiver suddenly spending all his time in single coverage against nickel or dime corners.K Stephen GostkowskiIf Super Bowl XLII is as close as the 38–35 season-ending thriller between these two teams, field position could play a big part in deciding the outcome. This will be even truer in the thin air of Glendale, Ariz. Gostkowski kicked off 28 more times than any other NFL kicker in 2007, and he tied for fourth with 15 touchbacks. Thirty of New England’s kickoffs were not returned, and the Patriots’ opponents averaged their starting drive from their own 27-yard line. Only Tampa Bay put its opponents in a bigger hole to start. Gostkowski’s 64.5-yard average per kickoff could mean a bunch of touchbacks for the Giants. Beleaguered Giants kicker Lawrence Tynes’ 61.8-yard average and eight touchbacks translate more easily into return yardage. Giants opponents averaged their starts from their own 31-yard line in 2007, while the Patriots gained an average of 41.63 yards per drive, by far the NFL’s best. If we see status quo in these departments, New England will have the game half-won.Mr. Farrar is a writer for FootballOutsiders.com.

Six To Watch on Super Bowl Sunday

Six To Watch on Super Bowl Sunday

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