FOOTBALL ONE ON ONE SUPERBOWL PODCAST AND BREAKING DOWN THE GAME

SUPERBOWL XL
Seattle Seahawks vs Pittsburgh Steelers
Place: Ford Field- Detroit, Michigan

Football One on One Superbowl Podcast Show - Take a Listen!

Breaking Down the Game Plan for Both Teams:
Seattle Seahawks Game Plan:

First and foremost, let me give the ultimate credit to Seahawks appearance in the Superbowl to Headcoach Mike Holmgren. When Holmgren first arrived in Seattle, he had to get rid of alot of veterans who were hanging around just taking up space and not performing up to a level which the Seahawks could really achieve. That's why Shawn Springs was traded to the Redskins, Koren Robinson was traded to the Vikings, Chad Brown sent to the Patriots and Jerry Rice let go. I'm sure it was diffficult for Holmgren to make these moves, but he had to in order to get this team to compete at a higher level. With the additions of wide receivers Joe Jurevicius, Peter Warrick and cornerback Andre Dyson, Holmgren added not only security to this team but game changers to this team. Overall, Holmgren added new leadership and speed to this team -- that's what was desperately needed for this westcoast team. So I give up much PROPS to Headcoach Mike Holmgren! Additionally, I believe he is the only Headcoach to take two different teams to the Superbowl -- The Packers and now the Seahawks!!
Offensively, the game plan for the Seahawks will be to attack the edges (corners) and play a controlled running attack. In order for Shaun Alexander to be effective running, Hasselbeck will be asked to throw short dump off passes to his wide receivers on first and second downs! Bobby Engram, Peter Warrick and in particular Joe Jurevicious will receive alot of short, quick out and slant patterns to move the ball down the field. Then on third down, Hasselbeck willl give to Alexander on quick trap plays off the guard and tackle. Then once these running plays are halfway successful, they will run the power left or power right running plays!! Holmgren will also have Hasselbeck roll the pocket left and right in order to give Hasslebeck time to throw down the field and complete 10 to 15 yard passes. Fortunately for Hasselbeck, he has improved dramatically with his footwork with the help and expert advice of quarterback coach Jim Zorn!! Yes, that's right -- the original and first quarterback of the Seahawks -- Jim Zorn!! So now with Hasselbeck increased mobility and maturity as a quarterback, Holmgren feels confident that Hasselbeck can make plays happen by rolling out and not just sitting in the pocket! This has expanded Holmgren play calling and it will pay off in this game. So watch for a very controlled type of offensive from the Seahawks throughout this game. Once they get the controlled game in full effect, Hasselbeck will go deep to Peter Warrick or Jurevicious!! The key player on offense for the Seahawks will be Jurevicious!! Watch for him on the one-on-one with the Steelers defensive backs!!
As for Hasselbeck, he will have to maintain his composure throughout this game. Believe me, the Steelers will be throwing everything at him and he will have to step up BIG TIME to handle this type of defense. If Hasselbeck maintains his composure for the most part, he will be effective on several key third down plays. However, if he gets rattled, Hasselbeck is very susceptible for throwing an interception or two!! Will he throw an interception or two in this game, yes he will! Yet they will not be as costly as you may think! Hasselbeck will be able to bounce back because of his veteran leadership and keep the Seahawks in this game!
As for Shaun Alexander, he will have an average game. I do not think he will be the outstanding running back in this game because the Steelers have too much speed on defense to hold him in check! Indeed, Alexander will be effective on the quick trap plays so that he can get pass the line of scrimmage and then excellerate! Alexander is deceptively fast so do not think he cannot out run defensive players -- he can!! Alexander will also be successul on cutback plays because of the fast pursuit of the Steelers players! Yet the Steelers will contain Alexander throughout most of the game! Alexander has had a wonderful regular season but he will have to really STEP IT UP in the Superbowl and put his signature on this game. He is quite capable of doing this, but I think the Steelers have a better game plan to contain him!!
Defensively, the Seahawks game plan will be controlled blitzing and short-coverage zones! Defensive coordinator Ray Rhodes has had to step down a bit because of a mild stroke and give his defensive playcalling to another assistant coach! This assistant coach (I do not know who he is) is doing a great job! The Seahawks are blitzing and changing up their defensive looks at the right moment to confuse opposing quarterbacks. They will do the same against Roethlisberger and confuse him several times. They cannot allow Big Ben to stand up in the pocket and pick them apart. That's why the Seahawks will come with controlled blitzes up the middle -- not around the sides to apply pressure to Roethlishberger!! The Seahawks will also play a short-coverage zones to stop the short passes to Hines Ward and Randle El! In fact, the Seahawks secondary may give up a long pass or two, just to control the Steelers short passes! Believe it or not, this will work! The Seahawks know (as well as the rest of the country) that the Steelers always try a couple of gadget plays so they will be ready for it!
The strength of the Seahawks is centered on one person -- Lofa Tatupu -- rookie linebacker -- who calls all the defenses on the field. Tatupu is phenomenial!! He is a born leader and has blazing speed for the linebacker. Watch for Tatupu to make a pivital play in this game and cause the Seahawks to believe in themselves even more!! Tatupu is the real deal!!
The Seahawks defensive line is very solid and will apply pressure to Big Ben! Yet it will be the secondary of the Seahawks which will play a very significant role in the success or failure of this defense. The secondary is much more solid and in your face than you think. I like how they play the physical game!! That's why they will play a short-coverage zone at first then switch to man-on-man once they feel more confident that they can match up with the Steelers wideout! This will be a great matchup throughout the game!! The Seahawks defense has come to play this year and in this game, it will not be any different!

Pittsburgh Steelers Game Plan:

Well, they are back again -- The Pittsburgh Steelers -- in the Superbowl! It's this tradition or what!! As you know the Steelers terrible towl will be in full effect! As for Headcoach Bill Cowher, the only NFL coach with the longest tenure, he is deserving to be in this position again. Yes, I said it!! Even though I have been tough on Bill Cowher in the past, I give it up to him for maintaining the Steel tradition yet also changing the style of the offense and defense this past year in order for them to make here in the big game!! Yes, even Cowher changed his philosophy in playing this game and that's why the Steelers are here! In essence, Cowher gave more autonomy to his offensive coordinator, Ken Whisenhunt (who will be a Headcoach next year with another NFL team -- Raiders!) so that the team can open up the playbook and get the ball in more of his skilled players. As for defense, Cowher gave full control to Dick LeBeau and it has truly paid off!! Indeed, this Steeler team is not like your old Steelers -- they are the new, faster, wide-open, taking-chances, Steelers!! That's the way it has to be in the new NFL!! So I give up BIG TIME PROPS TO Headcoach Bill Cowher for believing in his assistant coaches and giving it up more to his skilled players!! Way to go Cowher and even your classic Cowher look (as he thrust out his chin and give his emotional sneer) will pay off in the biggest game of Cowher's coaching career!
Offensively, the Steelers' game plan will be to continue the wide open attack -- passing on 1st and 2nd down and then controlled running with Bettis, Parker and Haynes. No this is not your tradition Steeler offense anymore!! With the most valuable player of the team and my fellow MIAMI UNIVERSITY GRADUATE (Go MU -- Yes, I played football at MU too -- it feels good!)-- My boy -- Big BEN ROETHLISHBERGER -- the Steelers are in great hands! Big Ben has ELEVATED HIS GAME BIG TIME AND MATURED MORE THAN A NUMBER OF SO-CALLED EXPERTS EVER THOUGHT!! Ben is playing within himself yet is also challenging himself in each game!! Ben's accuracy is back as well as his mobility! This has made a big difference for him during the second half of the season and he has proved it every week. This game will not be any difference!! You heard it first here -- BEN ROETHISHBERGER WILL BE THE MVP OF THE SUPERBOWL!! He will be that good in this game and Ben will take over and execute to Hines Ward, Randle El and use his tightend much more -- Heath Miller! Watch for key catches to Health Miller because the Seahawks defense will forget about covering him!! Ben will have special plays to get Miller the ball!! Ben will also stand tall in the pocket and will get the time to throw deep down the field. In fact, the game plan against the Seahawks cornerback is to attack them! So watch for Randle El and Cederick Wilson to make big time deep catches! Ben knows that the Seahawks will try to blitz him up the middle so he will be ready for that controlled blitzing gameplan of the Seahawks. Once Ben settles down a little bit (because of jitters and his first time in the big game), Roethlisberger will take OVER this game!! He will execute short, in between, long and even run for Superbowl touchdown!!! Yes BIG BEN ROETHLISHBERGER WILL SHINE IN THIS GAME LIKE NO OTHER YOUNG QUARTERBACK HAS IN THE SUPERBOWL!! This is the guy that I saw at Miami University when he was a junior and I said then he will be the NEXT JOHN ELWAY!! Oh by the way, Ben's idol is -- guess who -- that's right -- John Elway!! So this will be a day for Big Ben to SHOWCASE HIS SKILLS!!
Oh yeah, there are other key players on the Steelers offense! Of course, Jerome Bettis (native Detroiter) who is coming home and will definitely have a solid game and score three touchdowns at Ford Field!! His parents have gone to all of Bettis' games and this one will be extra special!! If anyone else deserves the MVP, it is Jerome Bettis!! He has come a long way and this soon-to-be Hall of Famer deserves all the accomplishments he can get! Bettis knows how to get the yards and he will bring all the emotion and perserverance and LEADERSHIP to the Steelers team like no one else!! Bettis is a complete TEAM player and he will elevate the rest of the players!! MUCH PROPS TO JEROME -- THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES, ATTITUDE, EMOTION AND LEADERSHIP! BETTIS WILL GET THE JOB DONE!!
Then there are Randle El, Hines Ward and the incredible offensive line of the Steelers!! The Steelers offensive line will rise to this occasion and make the holes and protect the line better than they have all season long!! Yes, it will be the great offensive line that will make the difference in the trenches!! Of course, Hines Ward will make his clutch catches in the game and keep the chains moving. Yet it will be my boy Randle El who will electrify the Superbowl crowd and make the secondary guessing how to contain him!! Indeed, the Seahawks did a great job against the Panthers Steve Smith, but they only had Steve Smith! Now it is the full package and they will be desperately trying to catch up with the Steelers wideouts!! In the end, the wide receiving core will get their catches when it counts!!
Defensively, the Steelers' game plan will be to BLITZ, BLITZ AND MORE BLITZ!! That's it -- simple defensive game plan and Dick LeBeau knows how to get to Hasselbeck. The Steelers will try not to let Hasselbeck to get comfortable in the pocket and they will play their corners tight so that the Seahawks dump-off passes will not be as effective! Joey Porter will be coming from the outside blitzing and then there is TROY POLAMALU!! THIS GUY IS SUPER PHENOMENIAL!! HIS TENACITY AND SPEED TO GET TO THE BALL IS INCREDIBLE!! Polamalu will be all over the field covering Juriviceius and Engram. Then he will come with a disguised blitz on the side to catch Hasselbeck!! Watch for Polamalu to be the standout as well as Joey Porter to be the standout on defense for the Steelers. The rest of Steelers secondary has also stepped up and they will play tight coverage all on the field!
In the end, the STEELERS DEFENSE will have too much speed for the Seahawks offense!! The Seahawks will not be able to run effectively throughout the game, the Steelers will also execute their two man defensive line and drop back 9 (I love this defensive scheme) and then catch Hasselbeck off guard with a MAX BLITZ!!! In the end, Hasselbeck will not have enough time to execute any long plays and will be forced to throw on the edges or run to the edges with Alexander!! This is where the Seahawks gameplan will not be able to handle the Steelers gameplan thereby allowing the Steelers to take control of this game by the middle of fourth quarter!! Yes, by the middle of the fourth quarter, the Steelers defense will be executing at a very high level (causing more turnovers) and confusing the Seahawks offense even more! Yes, even the STEEL CURTAIN OF THE 70s (Mean Joe Greene, L.C. Greenwood, Ernie Holmes and Dwight White) will be proud of the new STEEL CURTAIN (Aaron Smith, Casey Hamilton, Kimo von Oelhoffen). Yes the Steelers are playing a 3 - 4 defense and the Seahawks are not used to playing a 3 -4 defense!! THIS DEFENSE WILL CHANGE HOW OTHERS PLAY DEFENSE NEXT YEAR -- THEY WILL PLAY THAT GOOD!!

Overall the final score: STEELERS 27 - SEAHAWKS 13!

THAT'S MY GAMEPLAN AND I'M STICKING TO IT!!

NFC and AFC CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES - I HAVE THE ANSWER WHICH TEAMS ARE GOING TO THE SUPERBOWL!!

NFL PLAYOFF GAMES - NFC AND AFC CONFERENCE TITLE GAMES

CAROLINA PANTHERS VS SEATTLE SEAHAWKS - UPSET SPECIAL!! - Panthers win by 3 points because of Steve Smith!! That's right, I picked the Panthers over the Seahawks for this NFC Championship game. This will be a classic match-up between two teams that deserve to be in the NFC Championship game and each team is playing their best ball! Yet I still have to go with the effect and impact of Steve Smith who has single handingly put the Panthers on his back and carried them this far and now to the Superbowl. There is no defensive back or defensive scheme that can control Steve Smith now!! He is unstoppable whether in open space or double-covered. He makes things happen and no defensive backs are playing up to his level. In particular, the Seahawks defensive backs will not be able to stop him. Granted, they do play a physical corner and cover pretty well, yet when it comes to covering Steve Smith, they will not be able to contain him throughout the game. As you know, it will only take that one play for Steve Smith to break it for a long touchdown!! Oh yeah, there are other players on the Panthers team like Jake Delhomme! Jake must come into this game with a level head and not get too hyped about this game. I believe he will and it appears that Jake is more confident than ever and executing his passes much better. Although Deshaun Foster is out the rest of the year at running back, Goins will step up and take his place and execute on most of the running plays! So don't dismiss the Panthers running attack. As for the Panthers defense, it is GOOD!! They are very strong on the front line with Peppers leading the way!! The linebackers are solid and their secondary makes the hits and the picks!! All in all, Headcoach John Fox has truly stepped this team up BIG TIME and he is taking calculated chances to get this team to the Superbowl. Well guess what -- it's paying off!! That's why I give the edge to the Panthers.
Yet the Seahawks are definitely the team that is the favorite. The Seahawks are playing at home and the Seahawk fans are great!! They truly have a major advantage playing in this rowdy stadium with nothing but Seahawk Green!! Headcoach Mike Holmgren has done a masterful job of getting all his players to believe in themselves and elevating their game. Perhaps the best example of Holmgren's philosophy and style is Matt Hasselbeck!! Hasselbeck truly impressed me last week when Stephen Alexander went down and Hasselbeck carried the team for a win! Hasselbeck executed when the Seahawks desperately needed him to step up and he did!! Additionally, the Seahawks defense has been very impressive and they have one of the most impressive rookie middle linebackers!! Tatupu (?) is already and will become a major Superstar in this league!! Wow -- this guy is real good! Keep an eye on Tatupu to make a pivotal play in this game! Yet the Seahawks secondary is their weakspot and that will cost them in the end!!
This will be a great game even better than all of us think it will be!!

PITTSBURGH STEELERS VS DENVER BRONCOS - Broncos win by 3 points because of homefield advantage. Now this will be a superclassic game between two of the best well-known coaches in the league -- Mike Shanahan verses Bill Cowher! First, I have to say that Cowher and his staff did an excellent game plan against the Colts last week and surprised me with an outstanding game plan offensively and defensively! I'm sure this week Cowher and his staff will have another excellent game plan against Jake Plummer and the well-balanced Denver Broncos offense. The Steelers offense has stepped it up and my boy Big Ben Roethlisberger, (Go Miami U - Oxford, OH) will execute again with an air of confidence!! Ben has matured even more this past few games and is getting the ball where it needs to be!! He is showing signs of a true veteran quarterback and makes the plays again and again just when you think he can't do it!! Well, Big Ben will do it again. He will give the ball off for the running attack and then hit Hines Ward and my boy Randle El for the controlled passing attack. Then there is the Bus -- Jerome. The Bus is Mr. Dependable (yet last week he almost blew it on the goal line if it wasn't for Big Ben's tackle!) and of course Jerome will make a couple of crucial first downs for the Steelers!! -- No doubt about it!! Yet all in all will the Steelers score enough points to win this game!! I don't think so! The reason why --- THE BRONCOS DEFENSE!! As for the Steelers defense, they are a very good bunch who know how to put on the hits -- particularly with -- Joey Porter and Troy Polamalu!! Watch for these two guys to get to Jake Plummer on several occasions!! Talk about blitzing from the edges -- the Steelers will attempt to contain Plummer on his roll-outs!! Yet it will not be enough!!

As for the Broncos, it will all come down on Jake Plummer's shoulders. This is the game and the year for Jake Plummer. This veteran quarterback looks very comfortable in the pocket and particularly when he is rolling out left and right!! In the middle of season, I didn't know if Jake could continue this run, yet now he has proven it a bit and looks even more comfortable in the Broncos offense. Headcoach Shananhan believes in Jake to make big plays and now with a very solid running attack (Anderson and Bell), Jake can do. Of course, my boy Rod Smith will do some serious damage as well as Lelie!! The key for the Broncos offense is movement right, left and screen passes!! If the Broncos keep their offense diversified, they will move the ball down the field!! If not, it maybe a long day for the Bronocos offense. The most important thing for the Broncos is not to press, if their offense doesn't click at first. Be patient and wait for the game to come to them. As for the Broncos defense, there will be two guys who will make a difference -- JON LYNCH and CHAMP BAILEY!! Jon Lynch is playing his best safety in several years and will be in mixing up the blitzes and coverages to confuse Roethlisberger on several occasions!! Lynch will be that X factor on the defense!! Lynch is in a groove right now and he playing with alot on instinct!! That's scary! In addition, another player who playing with alot of instinct is my boy and distant cousin --- CHAMP BAILEY!! YES, CHAMP BAILEY WILL GET ANOTHER INTERCEPTION IN THIS GAME AND TAKE IT TO THE HOUSE!! Champ is playing out of this WORLD so watch him cover either Randle El or Hines Ward and make a play! Yes, there will be a time where Champ gets burnt, but before you know it, Champ BAILEY WILL MAKE A KEY PLAY!!

In the end, the Broncos kicker -- Jason Elam -- will kick the final 3 points to win the game for the crazy, wild Broncos fans!! CLASSIC GAME NO MATTER WHICH TEAM YOU PICK!!

LET'S GET THE GAME ON!!!
NOW ENJOY THE GAMES THIS WEEKEND!! I KNOW THAT I WILL!!