New York Giants vs New England Patriots Superbowl 46 X-Factors

Everyone everywhere has an opinion on the game this week so I don’t want to go into details about those well publicized issues (like the Giants DL vs the Patriots OL for instance). What I want to do instead is look at three players on each team that people are not really discussing that could play a huge role in this game.

Most people have X-factors as “Mario Manningham”, Victor Cruz, Vince Wilfork. We’re going much deeper here.

Let’s start with New England

RB Danny Woodhead

Although the Giants haven’t had a really difficult time this year covering running backs that has been a problem that has plauged them for a long time. Their DE are so fast and so agressive that they get up the field very fast, Woodhead is the kind of guy who could get into the secondary quick and take off 40 yards down the field or take a screen pass a long ways. The other thing is the Giants have struggled covering kickoffs at times over the past few seasons (with the new rules this year it hasn’t been as much of a problem). I expect there to be a high percentage of touchbacks in this game because kicking conditions are absolutely ideal. Still I think Woodhead could be a player that no one is talking about that makes one or two big plays in this game that could ruin the Giants game.

Kyle Arrington CB

Everyone has mentioned the Patriots secondary numerous times, but in a backhanded the Patriots secondary is awful kind of way. Eli Manning has been playing great, but he is still prone to interceptions at times when trying to make a big play. Arrington gets beat a lot, but also makes a lot picks, I can definitely see Arrington ending up with a pick in this game

Rob Ninkovich, LB, New England Patriots

The Giants blocking isn’t that great and Ninkovich is a decent pass rusher. Ninkovich has 1.5 sacks in the playoffs and 12 tackles and a few pressures. Everyone gets through the Giants offensive line Ninkovich could be a player who swipes away a ball from Eli Manning at some point.

For the New York Giants

Jacquian Williams, LB, New York Giants

If you’re following me @NFLmocks you know that I think Williams is integral to what the Giants want to do in the game. Williams is a terrific athlete who struggled with understanding his assignments last year, but towards the end of the season is looking much, much better. He’s made a lot of big third down stops for the Giants in pass defense, and had the big forced fumble last week. He’s getting closer on sacks in the few opportunities he blitzes and looks like a nice sub-package player for the long-haul. Watch Williams in this game, he’ll be tasked with covering the Pats tight ends and is very important for this game.

Will Blackmon/ Jerel Jernigan Return Men

The Giants haven’t made a play on Special teams it seems since Dave Megget was their return man in the 80’s. Can Jernigan who is the kick returner and #4 Wide receiver touch the ball on Sunday. I expect a lot of kick returns. Blackmon scares me a bit sometimes with his catching ability on punt returns and I hope he doesn’t try to do much and just catches the football.

Jake Ballard, TE

Jake Ballard is finally getting healthy after being injured for a portion of the Giants playoff run. I’m not kidding here when I write this despite all of the Superbowl coverage I’ve watched this week I have not heard Jake Ballard’s name mentioned ONCE this week. All of the talk is about the WR trio of the Giants and the Tight Ends of the Patriots, but no one has mentioned the TE of the New York Giants. A Tight end who had a really nice season for the Giants. He’s not a great player, but he might make a great play or two in the Superbowl.
Other x-factors

The Field Surface

I think the fact that this is an indoor game with a fast track really benefits both offenses because both teams have players who make a ton of yards after the catch. I think it favors the Giants on defense who have a lot of speed on defense and they should be able to play at their highest speed especially along the defensive line.

Secondary tackling

Both teams have players who can rack up the yards after the catch if you miss one tackle players like Hakeem Nicks, Victor Cruz, Gronk, Hernandez will take it 40 yards down the field in a blink of an eye. The team that does the best tackling in the secondary can win this game.

How the referees are calling the game.

The Giants want to get physical with the Patriots offensive weapons, but if the referees are touchy with their calls it could be a long day for the Giants secondary.

There are some things to think about for this game.
What are your predictions out there?

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