On a slow news day in the sports world, the Super Bowl Media Day on Tuesday was the biggest sports story going and it got as much, or more attention than it usually has in years past. It's always somewhat of a circus, both literally and figuratively. Some reporters came dressed in costumes; one dressed in a super-hero's costume. Selected players from both the Packers and the Steelers had individual hour interview sessions on the podium for the first media day to answer any and all questions that the reporters could muster. Some questions focus on the game, but most are purely irrelevant blatter to generate story lines and sell papers.
Players were asked a myriad of questions and few answers raised much attention as they were the standard and uniformed responses one would expect to keep both teams laying low of potential distractions. The players were mostly saying anything that the media couldn't make a spin story out of and hassle the players with throughout the week leading up to the big game.
Of all the questions asked and answers given by the player, there were three that were at least worthy of note...
Most relevant to the game is the question of center Maurkice Pouncey's status. You can see my previous blog for the information on this. In short, it was reported over the weekend by ESPN's NFL reporter, Adam Shefter, that Pouncey was out for the game according to his sources. Pouncey has now personally refuted that report and says his chances of playing are 75%.
Less relevant to the game, and mostly unimportant to those who choose not delve in the never-ending mellow-drama that weaves it's way into anything NFL related and former quarterback, Brett Favre, was brought up in Aaron Rodgers' hour session. Of course, reporters just had to know if the current Packers' QB had received any form of communication from his former mentor in Green Bay. When asked if he had any communication with Favre, he simply replied, "No". He went on to explain that he had a wonderful working relationship with Favre and that he did not expect he would hear from the former Packer legend and future Hall of Fame inductee.
Neither relevant to the Super Bowl game itself nor relevant to Brett Favre, yet still very relevant in the grand scheme of the NFL were the statements made by the usual Pittsburgh media lightning rod; the candid and outspoken Hines Ward. Ward made the biggest headlines on the day with a report of his opinions on the NFL's seemingly contradictory approach to player safety that will be published in the upcoming issue of GQ magazine. It wasn't his first expressed concern about the topic on the season as he has been well documented on his position on the matter, but he was never more direct than he was in this article.
In regards to the NFL's policy on helmet-to-helmet hits and their seemingly hollow position on player safety, namely concussions, Ward blasted the NFL for a disingenuous approach to both in the GQ article.
Ward says in his interview, "We don’t know what they want. They’re so hypocritical sometimes. They came out with these new helmets that are supposed to stop concussions. If they care so much about our safety, why don’t they mandate that we wear the new ones? If they’re so worried about what concussions will do to us after our careers, then guarantee our insurance for life. And if you’re going to fine me for a hit, let the money go to veteran guys to help with their medical issues. To say the league really cares? They don't give a fu** about concussions. And now they want to add on two extra games? Are you kidding? Come on, let’s be real.”
On media day, Ward was asked to comment further. He offered clarification by telling reporters that he was not insensitive to concussions and noted that Aaron Rodgers had a couple of concussions this season and that he doubts Rodgers thinks about his life in ten years as a result of the injuries. His point was that though concussions can be reduced by rules for safety, hitting in the NFL should not be over-legislated by the league and that if the league was so concerned with player safety, they wouldn't be concerned with adding more regular season games to the schedule for extra revenue. Ward says of the money the NFL and even the players will make from the extra games, "Not all money is good money".
In relation to Ward's issues with the leagues policies on concussions and helmet-to-helmet hits, teammate James Harrison ,who was fined a grand total of $100,000 for late and illegal hits, offered some advice to the NFL and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, personally. Harrison stated, "Lay pillows down where I tackle them(quarterbacks) so they don’t get hurt when they hit the ground, Mr. Goodell”.
He also stated, on the NFL's prospect of expanding player safety while also trying to add two regular season games to the new collective bargaining agreement, "You know this game is a dangerous game. If you care, why would you add two more dangerous games for a long career in a violent sport? You’re contradicting yourself".
I personally can see where the NFL thinks it can make more money while also keeping players healthy enough to finish seasons and have long, productive careers with their new approach to cracking down on hits that are, what Commissioner Goodell called, "life-altering" hits. The NFL thinks if they clean up some of the hard hits in the game, that they can squeeze two more regular season games out of the players while suffering minimal collateral damage and maintain low level of player injuries across the league. It's like the new hitting policies will counteract the amount of vicious hits that the players will be subject to over a season that is a couple of games longer thus canceling each other out yet still generating more revenue.
Just because I can see the rationale for the NFL's position, doesn't mean it's not a pipe dream. The expectation for players to be able to alter their style of play to conform to hitting policies that are simply impossible to stay within because of the speed of the game, will not save enough people from taking hard blows to justify making them play two more regular season games. The league should not move to an 18 game season, but it looks inevitable that it will in 2012.
Showing posts with label Super Bowl XLV. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Super Bowl XLV. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Getting to Know Doug Legursky
It was reported today that Steelers rookie standout center, Maurkice Pouncey will miss Super Bowl XVL due to a broken ankle he suffered in last week's AFC Championship game versus the New York Jets. Pouncey, drafted with Pittsburgh's 1st round pick out of University of Florida in 2010, started all 16 games as Ben Roethlisberger's battery.
With Pouncey's absence, the Steelers will turn to undrafted, second-year center Doug Legursky to handle the snaps for Ben and the offense. The German born Legursky, was twice released in 2008 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall by these same Steelers. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad this year after starting guard Kendall Simmons was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He played in 8 games this season, filling in for a Pittsburgh offensive line that has suffered from the injury bug this year and serves as the Steelers' fullback on short yardage situations in their Jumbo personnel package. With the injury to Pouncey, he is now thrust into his first start at center this season, in the Super Bowl.
Though this injury and replacement is far from the lead of the Super Bowl news blotter this week, it will have a more profound effect on the game than the average fan may observe.
The first concern that develops from this news is the center-quarterback snap exchange. Quarterbacks become comfortable with the timing and rapport they develop with their center and the snap exchange mechanic they are both familiar with. It only takes a small amount of timing to be off for a center-quarterback exchange to be mishandled or fumbled. With Legursky's inexperience at center with Roethlisberger and the intense pressure of playing in the Super Bowl , look for a possible turnover on the exchange.
Another concern the Steelers will face with Pouncey's absence will be the offensive blocking scheme checks at the line of scrimmage. It is the job of the center to make line blocking adjustments based on the defensive front that is presented at the line. This is crucial to getting blitzes picked up and makes sure that all the offensive line gaps are protected. Because of Legursky's inexperience in making line audibles and reading defensive fronts at the NFl level, the wrong protection could be called leaving the Packer's speedy linebackers, gaps to rush in on Roethlisberger and the running backs. Look for a couple for Packer sacks and/or tackles for loss due to a few misread protections by Legursky.
Possibly the worst of the Steelers' concerns, outside of the pre-snap protection checks that Legursky will have to call and the unfamiliarity of the center-quarterback exchange that he and Roethlisberger have, Legursky will have to block one of the most athletic and best nose tackles in the NFL. Opposite Legursky is Green Bay's B.J. Raji. You may remember him if you watched the NFC Championship last week in Chicago. Raji became the answer to an NFL postseason trivia question when he intercepted an attempted underneath pass by Chicago's Caleb Hanie and returned it for a touchdown becoming the heaviest player in NFL postseason history to score a touchdown at a robust 337 pounds.
It's not just the sheer size of the Boston College product that will be an enormous challenge for Legursky to handle but also his freakish athletic ability for a very large man. Few nose tackles move the line of scrimmage backward like Raji, which will be a real key to Pittsburgh's rush-oriented offense. He is one of the best at shooting the gaps, stuffing up running lanes at the first level and has the raw strength to get off of blocks and make tackles. If Raji can keep himself playing on the the Steelers' side of the ball against Legursky, it will hamper Rashard Mendenhall's chances of making a difference in the ground attack. It's the Steelers' ground attack, that draws in those linebackers and safeties, that give Hines Ward and Mike Wallace those open areas of the field in the intermediate and deep passing game.
The matchups between Legursky and Raji and the Packers' ability to create confusion in their blitzing schemes verses Lugersky's ability to make the appropriate line checks could very well be the difference in whether or not the Steelers will have full functionality on offense. They will need it to keep pace with a Packer's offense that finished 4th in the NFL in rushing yards per game(118.0) and 5th in passing yards per game(251.0) in the regular season and have only increased their offensive production in the postseason.
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| Pittsburgh's starting center Maurkice Pouncey leaves the 2011 AFC Championship game with a broken ankle |
With Pouncey's absence, the Steelers will turn to undrafted, second-year center Doug Legursky to handle the snaps for Ben and the offense. The German born Legursky, was twice released in 2008 after signing as an undrafted free agent out of Marshall by these same Steelers. He was re-signed to the team's practice squad this year after starting guard Kendall Simmons was placed on season-ending injured reserve. He played in 8 games this season, filling in for a Pittsburgh offensive line that has suffered from the injury bug this year and serves as the Steelers' fullback on short yardage situations in their Jumbo personnel package. With the injury to Pouncey, he is now thrust into his first start at center this season, in the Super Bowl.
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| Legursky as a member of the 2010 Steelers, photo courtesy: Steelers.com. |
Though this injury and replacement is far from the lead of the Super Bowl news blotter this week, it will have a more profound effect on the game than the average fan may observe.
The first concern that develops from this news is the center-quarterback snap exchange. Quarterbacks become comfortable with the timing and rapport they develop with their center and the snap exchange mechanic they are both familiar with. It only takes a small amount of timing to be off for a center-quarterback exchange to be mishandled or fumbled. With Legursky's inexperience at center with Roethlisberger and the intense pressure of playing in the Super Bowl , look for a possible turnover on the exchange.
Another concern the Steelers will face with Pouncey's absence will be the offensive blocking scheme checks at the line of scrimmage. It is the job of the center to make line blocking adjustments based on the defensive front that is presented at the line. This is crucial to getting blitzes picked up and makes sure that all the offensive line gaps are protected. Because of Legursky's inexperience in making line audibles and reading defensive fronts at the NFl level, the wrong protection could be called leaving the Packer's speedy linebackers, gaps to rush in on Roethlisberger and the running backs. Look for a couple for Packer sacks and/or tackles for loss due to a few misread protections by Legursky.
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| Doug Legursky points out a blitzing linebacker in a game vs. Tennessee when he was a center at Marshall. Will he be able to make effective line checks versus the Packers? |
Possibly the worst of the Steelers' concerns, outside of the pre-snap protection checks that Legursky will have to call and the unfamiliarity of the center-quarterback exchange that he and Roethlisberger have, Legursky will have to block one of the most athletic and best nose tackles in the NFL. Opposite Legursky is Green Bay's B.J. Raji. You may remember him if you watched the NFC Championship last week in Chicago. Raji became the answer to an NFL postseason trivia question when he intercepted an attempted underneath pass by Chicago's Caleb Hanie and returned it for a touchdown becoming the heaviest player in NFL postseason history to score a touchdown at a robust 337 pounds.
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| B.J. Raji returns an interception for a touchdown in the 2011 NFC Championship |
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| B.J. Raji(90), celebrates after a tackle for loss against the Atlanta Falcons in the 2011 NFL playoffs |
It's not just the sheer size of the Boston College product that will be an enormous challenge for Legursky to handle but also his freakish athletic ability for a very large man. Few nose tackles move the line of scrimmage backward like Raji, which will be a real key to Pittsburgh's rush-oriented offense. He is one of the best at shooting the gaps, stuffing up running lanes at the first level and has the raw strength to get off of blocks and make tackles. If Raji can keep himself playing on the the Steelers' side of the ball against Legursky, it will hamper Rashard Mendenhall's chances of making a difference in the ground attack. It's the Steelers' ground attack, that draws in those linebackers and safeties, that give Hines Ward and Mike Wallace those open areas of the field in the intermediate and deep passing game.
The matchups between Legursky and Raji and the Packers' ability to create confusion in their blitzing schemes verses Lugersky's ability to make the appropriate line checks could very well be the difference in whether or not the Steelers will have full functionality on offense. They will need it to keep pace with a Packer's offense that finished 4th in the NFL in rushing yards per game(118.0) and 5th in passing yards per game(251.0) in the regular season and have only increased their offensive production in the postseason.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Clay Matthews; An NFL All-Pro with Football in his Genes and a Hair Stylists Dream
In these days leading up to Super Bowl Sunday, few players are being talked about more than Green Bay Packers linebacker Clay Matthews and not for his play on the field, which as been at a pro-bowl level all season. Matthews had 60 tackles and 13.5 sacks(good for 4th most in the NFL) in 2010 and had an outstanding postseason to help lead his Packers into Super Bowl XLV. Still this is not the biggest topic of conversation swirling around Matthews in this year's playoffs.
What has the media and the country abuzz about this ferocious, quarterback devouring 6'3", 255lbs. linebacker?
His hair!
It's actually the Super Bowl opponent Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu who has the most famous hair in the NFL sporting a multitude of "Head and Shoulders" shampoo commercials that have aired across all games every Sunday of the NFL season and it's Polamalu who has a $1M insurance policy on his flowing curly locks, but there's been great debate amongst who's hair is better; Polamalu's or Matthews.
When he runs around the field to make plays, his mass of blond hair that extends about a full 12 inches out of the back of his helmet, make him highly distinguishable on the field. In a league where players wear helmets, it's often difficult to stand out to the masses despite great play. But when you see him out there, he reminds you of an intense, bone-crunching version of Fabio. But even Fabio would be jealous of this hair... and this kind of manliness.
It's the hair that has everyone talking about him, but it's what he's done for the Packer team that is relevant. He's the defensive MVP of this team and is very likely to be named the NFL's defensive league MVP, which is an honor only three Packers can claim in the franchise's storied, 92 year history. It's not just his play that garners so much respect, but his leadership and work ethic. Those intangibles he possesses are no surprise to his family though. He comes from a lineage of great NFL players.
Clay Matthews is actually Clay Matthews the third. His father, Clay Matthews Jr., played 19 seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Cleveland Browns as did his uncle, Bruce Matthews, a 19 year veteran who's been enshrined in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a center playing all of his years as for the Tennessee Titans franchise(formerly known as the Houston Oilers). His grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., was a member of the San Francisco 49ers for 4 seasons as well. Coming up along with Matthews III are his cousins and his younger brother. His cousin, Kevin, like Bruce before him, is a center for the Tennessee Titans and his second cousin, Jake, is a starting right tackle for the Aggies of Texas A&M. Meanwhile, his brother Casey was a staple at linebacker for the Oregon Duck's national championship run that came up a hair short against Auburn and Cam Newton.
Like the family's tradition of great NFL players, the hair is also a tradition. Matthews Jr., his father, played his career with long hair, as does his younger brother Casey. It was his father, Matthews Jr., who pressed his sons from a young age to keep the Matthews tradition of long hair. Perhaps there's an undertone of the Herculean biblical hero Samson's approach to hair with the Matthews family. It was, after all, Samson who made having long hair not just a metaphor for inhuman strength, but a literal sense to strength in hair as the narrative goes where Samson is given the strength of God but only if he is to never cut his natural born hair. Samson, of course, goes on to having his hair cut in his sleep and loses all of his strength. I think the Matthews take this biblical reference of Samson to heart and may feel that the Matthews' strength is in the mane.
Matthews III was never meant for greatness it seemed. On his California high school football team, his position coach thought so little of his play that he didn't start him for most of his high school career. That coach was his dad, Clay Jr. On a list of the top 250 high school linebackers as college prospects, he didn't make the list. Even with his father and uncle being former All-Americans at USC, he was offered no scholarship and Clay III had to join the Trojans as a walk-on. Even as a player on the team, it took Clay more than 4 of his five years at USC to get a starting position on the team.
In just over half of a season as a collegiate starter and a blitzkrieg of the NFL scouting combine where he posted the second fastest 10 yard burst in his 40-yard dash time, something rarely ever seen in a linebacker, Clay III became a first round draft pick and has been trying to prove himself still, even with the success he's had on such a high level.
Clay Matthews III, or "Little Clay," as he is known around the Matthews family has a hard time gaining the respect of his family members, but he's quickly gaining the respect of everyone in the football world(and in hair salons) not named Matthews. Come a win on February 6th, 2011, he'll have the one thing that his Matthews elders could not achieve even in their 42 combined seasons in the NFL; an NFL Championship.
What has the media and the country abuzz about this ferocious, quarterback devouring 6'3", 255lbs. linebacker?
His hair!
It's actually the Super Bowl opponent Pittsburgh Steelers' Troy Polamalu who has the most famous hair in the NFL sporting a multitude of "Head and Shoulders" shampoo commercials that have aired across all games every Sunday of the NFL season and it's Polamalu who has a $1M insurance policy on his flowing curly locks, but there's been great debate amongst who's hair is better; Polamalu's or Matthews.
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| Clay Matthews celebrates his hair being so awesome |
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| Troy Polamalu - Still thinks his hair is the best in the NFL |
When he runs around the field to make plays, his mass of blond hair that extends about a full 12 inches out of the back of his helmet, make him highly distinguishable on the field. In a league where players wear helmets, it's often difficult to stand out to the masses despite great play. But when you see him out there, he reminds you of an intense, bone-crunching version of Fabio. But even Fabio would be jealous of this hair... and this kind of manliness.
 |
| Fabio with his date; a bouquet of flowers and a heart-shaped box of chocolates |
It's the hair that has everyone talking about him, but it's what he's done for the Packer team that is relevant. He's the defensive MVP of this team and is very likely to be named the NFL's defensive league MVP, which is an honor only three Packers can claim in the franchise's storied, 92 year history. It's not just his play that garners so much respect, but his leadership and work ethic. Those intangibles he possesses are no surprise to his family though. He comes from a lineage of great NFL players.
Clay Matthews is actually Clay Matthews the third. His father, Clay Matthews Jr., played 19 seasons in the NFL, most notably with the Cleveland Browns as did his uncle, Bruce Matthews, a 19 year veteran who's been enshrined in Canton, Ohio at the Pro Football Hall of Fame as a center playing all of his years as for the Tennessee Titans franchise(formerly known as the Houston Oilers). His grandfather, Clay Matthews Sr., was a member of the San Francisco 49ers for 4 seasons as well. Coming up along with Matthews III are his cousins and his younger brother. His cousin, Kevin, like Bruce before him, is a center for the Tennessee Titans and his second cousin, Jake, is a starting right tackle for the Aggies of Texas A&M. Meanwhile, his brother Casey was a staple at linebacker for the Oregon Duck's national championship run that came up a hair short against Auburn and Cam Newton.
Like the family's tradition of great NFL players, the hair is also a tradition. Matthews Jr., his father, played his career with long hair, as does his younger brother Casey. It was his father, Matthews Jr., who pressed his sons from a young age to keep the Matthews tradition of long hair. Perhaps there's an undertone of the Herculean biblical hero Samson's approach to hair with the Matthews family. It was, after all, Samson who made having long hair not just a metaphor for inhuman strength, but a literal sense to strength in hair as the narrative goes where Samson is given the strength of God but only if he is to never cut his natural born hair. Samson, of course, goes on to having his hair cut in his sleep and loses all of his strength. I think the Matthews take this biblical reference of Samson to heart and may feel that the Matthews' strength is in the mane.
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| Clay Matthews Jr. (Father) |
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| Casey Matthews(brother) |
Matthews III was never meant for greatness it seemed. On his California high school football team, his position coach thought so little of his play that he didn't start him for most of his high school career. That coach was his dad, Clay Jr. On a list of the top 250 high school linebackers as college prospects, he didn't make the list. Even with his father and uncle being former All-Americans at USC, he was offered no scholarship and Clay III had to join the Trojans as a walk-on. Even as a player on the team, it took Clay more than 4 of his five years at USC to get a starting position on the team.
 |
| Matthews III was known as the most intense player in the weight-room at USC |
In just over half of a season as a collegiate starter and a blitzkrieg of the NFL scouting combine where he posted the second fastest 10 yard burst in his 40-yard dash time, something rarely ever seen in a linebacker, Clay III became a first round draft pick and has been trying to prove himself still, even with the success he's had on such a high level.
Clay Matthews III, or "Little Clay," as he is known around the Matthews family has a hard time gaining the respect of his family members, but he's quickly gaining the respect of everyone in the football world(and in hair salons) not named Matthews. Come a win on February 6th, 2011, he'll have the one thing that his Matthews elders could not achieve even in their 42 combined seasons in the NFL; an NFL Championship.
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