Super Bowl XLV Betting: Analyzing the Green Bay Packers Coaching and Special Teams

Masthay a Monster: It’s not often that we really talk about a punter being a difference maker in a game, but don’t kid yourself. P Tim Masthay really had an argument to be the Pro Bowl punter this year in the NFC. A Pittsburgh native, Masthay is going to be asked to pin QB Ben Roethlisberger deep inside Pittsburgh territory time after time. He had eight punts last week in the NFC Championship Game against the Chicago Bears, and that came against WR Devin Hester, one of the most feared return men in the game. Masthay dropped five of the eight punts inside the 20 yard line, including uncorking a 65 yarder, the longest punt of his career. Masthay had 25 punts inside the 20 yard line in the regular season, and he did all of that over the course of the last 13 games of the season. Don’t be shocked if he drops a couple inside the 20 in this one as well to help out the Green Bay cause.

Capers the Star of the Show: We know that Head Coach Mike McCarthy deserves a ton of respect for the way that he has built this team from a squad that really looked like it had fallen apart after the first retirement of QB Brett Favre into a team that is on the verge of winning the Super Bowl, but we need to face the facts here. Many head coaches probably could have done the job that McCarthy did overall. There aren’t many defensive coordinators out there that could do what Dom Capers has done with this ‘D’. Green Bay’s defense really stepped up to the plate last year, and though the unit fell apart in the playoffs, it still ranked No. 2 in the league overall. It only ranked No. 5 this year, but this is a ‘D’ that forces a ton of turnovers and will get after the passer at all times. It’s rare that Capers makes a major mistake with defensive play calling, and he is sure to be the man in the booth to watch on Super Bowl Sunday.

Regular Rotation Stars Spotlighting Special Teams: Normally, teams don’t allow their best players to be partaking in special teams activities, especially as return men, but the Packers have absolutely no fear about getting their best bodies out there on the field. WR Jordy Nelson and DB Sam Shields, both of which are starters, have been used in the kick return game, while RB James Starks, who has really taken over primary running back duties, has been the team’s primary kick returner in the postseason. He really hasn’t been a sturdy return man in these playoffs though, as he hasn’t had a kick return for more than 20 yards thus far in the postseason. DB Charles Woodson, who is the only man that knows what it is like to play in the Super Bowl on this unit, has also done some kick returning. Most of the punt return chores are going to the man that has arguably been the defensive MVP of the postseason, as DB Tramon Williams will do all of that work. Williams might not have a punt return for a score this season, but as we saw with that 70 yard pick six against the Atlanta Falcons, he has all sorts of capability to do damage when he gets in the open field.