Packers vs Steelers Super Bowl RB Edition: Who has the edge?

The Facts:  Both the Steelers and the Packers need their running backs to play their best in the Super Bowl if either team wants to win the “Big Game”. Both teams need a balance offensive attack. Both teams love to throw the ball but in order to set up the play action play they need to be able to run the ball effectively. The Steelers and Packers both have good solid depth at the running back position. Let’s find out who these workhorses are.

Rashard Mendenhall, Mewelde Moore, Isaa Redman, Jonathan Dwyer and David Johnson:   Rashard Mendenhall has turn out to be a good solid running back the Steelers envisioned when they drafted him 23rd overall in the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Illinois.  Mendenhall’s rookie season was plagued by a sever shoulder injury that landed him on injured reserve. He had a solid second season (rushing for 1,108, 7td’s, with a 4.6 average per carry). This past 2010 season has been Mendenhall’s best season (1,273 and 13 touchdowns). Mendenhallis a good runner, he runs with power and has the speed to get to the edges. He is also a solid pass catcher out of the backfield.

Mewelde Moore is a stalwart third down  running back who is versatile, he can catch passes out of the backfield and return kicks. Moore was drafted by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2004 NFL Draft and played college football at Tulane.

Isaac Redman is the Steeler’s primary goal-line back.  He was signed by the Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2009 and played college football at Bowie State University.

Jonathan Dwyer is rookie running back for the Steelers and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech. Dwyer has struggled this year getting on the field due to his work ethic. There was one point in the preseason it appeared the Steelers were going to cut Dwyer, but he came on late and the team realized it probably wouldn’t be able to get him to the practice squad if he was waived.

David Johnson is the Steelers fullback and was drafted in the 7th round of the 2009 NFL Draft. Johnson played college football at Arkansas State.

James Starks, Brandon Jackson, Dimitri Nance, Korey Hall, Quinn Johnson, and John Kuhn:   James Starks is a rookie running back who was drafted in the sixth round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He played college football at Buffalo. Starks  was injured during training camp and was placed on the Physically Unable to Perform list. He was activated off the PUP list on November 10th, 2010, and made his NFL debut vs San Francisco on December 5th, 2010 where he had 18 carries for 73 yards. Starks has played well in the 2011 playoffs and rushed for over 120 yards in the Packers playoff opener against the Eagles. Starks runs hard and plays with a lot of confidence.

 Brandon Jackson was drafted by the Packers in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft and played college football at Nebraska. Jackson has had an up and down NFL career filled with a lot of inconsistencies. Jackson was named starter of the 2010 season when star running back Ryan Grant was placed on IR with a severe ankle injury. Jackson rushed for 703 yards this past season.

Dimitri Nance is an undrafted running back for the Packers. He played college football at Arizona State. I do expect Nance to get on the field in the Super Bowl, he will probably be on the sidelines cheering on his team.

Korey Hall is a fullback for the Green Bay Packers and was drafted in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He played linebacker at Boise State. The Packers converted Hall to a fullback because of his smallish size and had hopes that he could become an impact special teams player.

Quinn Johnson is a fullback and a special teams ace for the Packers. Quinn was drafted by the Packers in the fifth round of the 2009 NFL Draft and played college football at LSU.

John Kuhn is probably the most versatile fullbacks I have ever seen. He does it all, block, carries the ball, and catches the ball quite well. Kuhn was originally signed by the Pittsburgh Steelers as an undrafted free agent in 2005. He played college football at Shippensburg University.  Kuhn is also a fan favorite in Green Bay, mainly due to his abilities to pick up first downs on third and short, either through the air, or on the ground. When Kuhn carries the ball, the Packers fans yell out “KUHN!.”

The Edge:    The bottom line is whoever can run the ball more effectively will win. Both of these two teams play excellent run defenses so there will be a lot of times in this game that both teams will struggle running the ball. But both teams shouldn’t abandoned the running game. I like the Steelers running game to be more effective than the Packers. Mendenhall is turning into a young star. He has great vision and cut back ability. Look for the Steelers to control the clock with Mendenhall to keep the Packers pass happy offense of the field.