Super Bowl XLIX Preview: Backs and Receivers
Seattle to New England: On the Ground & Through the Air
By: Joe Rokicki
Super Bowl XLIX features two highly touted, yet incredibly different offenses. Tom Brady and the New England Patriots have slashed and smashed their way to another Super Bowl berth thanks to the achievements of a fearless receiving core which had defenses ripped at the seams. The Seattle Seahawks return as the defending champions as well as the NFL’s premier rushing team in the regular season. However, the elusiveness of quarterback Russell Wilson, who prolongs plays and allows receivers like Jermaine Kearse and Doug Baldwin to run circles around the secondary, has rendered an effective passing game as well. This article will highlight the rushing and receiving aspects of both offenses and determine which has the upper hand come Sunday.
Pats: Backs and Stats
Some New England’s success has been attributed to a diverse rushing attack which features late season acquisition LaGarrette Blount, Steven Ridley, Shane Vereen, and Brandon Bolden. However, the backfield has only accounted for nearly 40% of the Patriots offense thus far in the post season. That equals out to 53 rushing plays, good enough for 3.6 yards per play – modestly efficient. Blount has accounted for 33 of those carries and 149 yards (about 4.5 yards a touch) and three touchdowns, all of which came in the AFC Championship victory against the Indianapolis Colts.
While Blount is by far the work house in the backfield as of late, the Patriots have a supporting cast of very capable backs, such as Jonas Gray, who exploded for 201 yards and four touchdowns against the Colts in the regular season. Although effective, the Patriots running game ranked 18th in the league at 107.9 yards per game, and Gray’s performance can dramatically skew those results. Inconsistency is key when discussing this New England ground attack, which was only able to muster 14 yards rushing against the Baltimore Ravens in the Divisional round.
Patriots Air it Out
As usual, the hallmark of the Patriots offense falls on Tom Brady and his blue collar receiving core. Brady has consistently produced regardless of who he has at either side.
Players like Troy Brown, Deion Branch, Randy Moss, and Wes Welker have all shined at the wide receiver position in New England despite notable differences in their playing style. In fact, the Patriots have done fairly well without a “big play,” deep threat receiver since the departure of Moss in 2009.
The Patriots passing game has diversified since then, as tight ends like Rob Gronkowski have assumed the deep threat role and slot receivers like Julian Edelman have flourished. Edelman may in fact be the perfect weapon for Brady due to his durable route running, often executing unscathed by defenders. It harmonizes perfectly with the play of Gronkowski and LaFell. For instance, the trio combined for 248 receptions, over 3,000 yards and 23 of Brady’s 33 touchdowns on the regular season. That’s production. Edelman has 17 catches thus far in the postseason for 172 yards total, which leads the team in both departments.
It’s tough to point to one player out of the Patriots receiving core as the marquis component, but Edelman’s role and ability work so well in this offense; he’s a suitable candidate. The Patriots have tremendous depth at wide receiver, and in the passing game as a whole. Gronkowski’s obvious presence and production aside, there are some key role players of lesser stature, but equal importance. Take Danny Amendola for example, whose six catches rank fifth on the team in the postseason (behind running back Shane Vereen). Two of those catches are also touchdowns which alludes to the overall efficiency of this offense.
Overall, Brady has no shortage of capable targets to pick apart the Legion of Boom.
Land, Air & Seattle
The Seattle Seahawks averaged 172.6 rushing yards in the regular season, the best in the NFL. That success has continued into the playoffs, especially for running back Marshawn Lynch, who has recorded 216 yards and two touchdowns on just 39 carries. Quarterback Russell Wilson is second on the team in postseason rushing with 47 yards off of 14 carries, and second string running back Robert Turbin has only carried the ball nine times for 27 yards.
Thus far, the Seahawks have outrushed their opponents 294 yards to 267 yards. Clearly, Beastmode is in a league of his own (both on and off the field). And after scoring the go ahead touch down in the NFC Championship game (a receiving touchdown to boot), it is doubtful if anything will be able to stop Lynch, who has battered defenses for an average of 5.5 yards a carry. Especially since the Patriots defense struggled so mightily to stop Baltimore’s Justin Forsett, who torched the Pats for 129 yards in the Divisional round.
The running game is by far the most important part of Seattle’s offense, not just because it’s statistically the most productive, but also because of the diversity if offers. Two words: play action. A successful running game means QB waggles, bootlegs and scrambles which allows this offense to improvise amongst a defense in chaos.
Russell Wilson has thrown five touchdowns in the postseason, four of which have been caught by Jermaine Kearse, Doug Baldwin, and tight end Luke Willson (not that Luke Wilson) – by far the three most prominent weapons in Seattle’s passing game. Baldwin leads the team with nine receptions on the postseason. By the numbers, the Seahawks passing attack is nowhere near as impressive as New England’s; however, it is just as effective. Kearse has 164 yards and two touchdowns on just four receptions in the postseason. That’s an average of 41 yards per catch – big play capability. Baldwin leads the team with just nine receptions. It’s almost funny how well this offense compares with, say Pitt’s offense, in that both have a bulldozing running back (Lynch in Seattle, Connor at Pitt) whose hard earned yardage opens up opportunities for a mobile quarterback (the likes of Wilson and Voytik) to connect with a deep threat at wide receiver (Kearse in blue and green, Boyd in blue and gold) for huge gains downfield.
Furthermore, the Seattle passing game is fairly limited, like that of the Pitt Panthers. Baldwin, Willson, and Kearse have also combined for 19 receptions in the post season. The remaining participants in the Seattle aerial attack have combined for 11 catches – that’s including four from Marshawn Lynch and three from receiver Ricardo Lockette. A stark difference from the diverse, revolving door of receivers in New England.
Advantage by Air: New England
The Patriots’ weapons at wide receiver (and tight end) are far too superior, especially when you take in account the system derived in New England. Edelman is capable to slip under coverages and bust out some major yardage after a catch, Gronk and LaFell handle most of the deep routes, and Amendola can close out drives for six. This passing game is a well-orchestrated, militarized attack with specific roles and will be an interesting task for the Legion of Doom.
Advantage by Land: Seattle
This one is simple. Love him or hate him, Marshawn Lynch is one of the best running backs in the league and part of the best running game in the league. If Beast mode is unleashed on Sunday, New England is in for a long night. Not only because of the punishing style with which Lynch delivers week in and week out, but because of the diversity the offense can build from it. Big gains from Lynch will allow the likes of Kearse and Baldwin to scorch a stout New England secondary for Boyd-like big plays. Also, consider the threat of Russell Wilson, a mobile quarterback who can benefit from lapse coverages downfield off of play action, or simply from the pocket. It all branches off the production of a backfield owned by Lynch. It’s a much more lethal offense with him at the helm.
