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Robin PottratzBreaking down the Super Bowl 43 Running Backs
January 25th 2009 15:42
In this article I will break down the running backs in Super Bowl 43 for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals. Running backs have often played an important part in championship football in the NFL. Marcus Allen, John Riggins, Franco Harris and Emmitt Smith among many others brought their A game to the Super Bowl. All stats in this breakdown of the Super Bowl 43 running backs come from NFL.com.
Breaking down Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs for Super Bowl 43
The Steelers are a run first team and always have been, so the running backs are very important to this franchise. With backs like Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier and Jerome Bettis, the Steelers have always seemed to have good runners.
“Fast” Willie Parker got the name because he runs like a scalded cat when he gets in the open field. Injuries limited his effectiveness this season but he is still a dangerous big play threat in Super Bowl 43. In 2008 Willie Parker ran for 791 yards on 210 attempts in 11 games. He had 5 rushing touchdowns including his longest run of the 2008 NFL season, 34 yards. Parker has had 3 seasons however where he rushed for more than 1,200 yards in the NFL.
Mewelde Moore was found wanting in Minnesota because Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson were on the depth chart ahead of him. Pittsburgh signed him to a free agent contract before the 2008 NFL season. When Parker went down to injury Mewelde Moore stepped up. Moore rushed for 588 yards on 140 carries in the regular season. He rushed for 5 touchdowns and added 40 catches for 320 yards and another score. Like Parker he is a fast back but a little slower. But he is a better inside runner and receiver than Parker.
Gary Russell is listed 3rd on the depth chart on the Pittsburgh Steelers website. He is something of a power back with a terrible (less than 3 yards) per attempt average. But he did rush for 3 touchdowns in the 2008 regular season.
Fullback Carey Davis is a non factor other than as a blocker for the other backs.
Breaking Down Arizona Cardinals Running Backs for Super Bowl 43
Make no mistake about it, the Arizona Cardinals are a pass first team. Kurt Warner along with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the important pieces of this offense for the NFC champions. The running game was a non factor during most of the season. However Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt knows he has to have at some success with the rushing attack to win Super Bowl 43.
Edgerrin James has over 12,000 career rushing yards, most of them with the Indianapolis Colts. James had been almost a bust with the Arizona Cardinals and caused distractions this season pouting over being benched. But he came on pretty well in the last regular season game and in the post season. Edgerrin only rushed for 514 yards in the regular season but he is fresh and motivated. James has a Super Bowl ring that was given to him by the Colts AFTER he left the team. He wasn’t on that winning team and this may be his last chance to earn a ring.
Tim Hightower is a rookie who put James on the bench in 2008. He ran for 399 yards and a terrible 2.8 yards per carry average. But he did rush for 10 touchdowns and added 40 receptions. He is a power back and will come off the bench to supplement James.
J.J Arrington is a pure speed running back who has been missing practice due to an injury this week. If healthy he can break a long play if he gets on the field other than as a returner.
Fullback Terrell Smith is a non factor as a ball carrier, with no attempts in the 2008 regular season. He is however a great blocker and could spring one of the backs on a big run. Thus he has his role to play as a running back in Super Bowl 43.
Breaking down Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs for Super Bowl 43
The Steelers are a run first team and always have been, so the running backs are very important to this franchise. With backs like Franco Harris, Rocky Bleier and Jerome Bettis, the Steelers have always seemed to have good runners.
“Fast” Willie Parker got the name because he runs like a scalded cat when he gets in the open field. Injuries limited his effectiveness this season but he is still a dangerous big play threat in Super Bowl 43. In 2008 Willie Parker ran for 791 yards on 210 attempts in 11 games. He had 5 rushing touchdowns including his longest run of the 2008 NFL season, 34 yards. Parker has had 3 seasons however where he rushed for more than 1,200 yards in the NFL.
Mewelde Moore was found wanting in Minnesota because Chester Taylor and Adrian Peterson were on the depth chart ahead of him. Pittsburgh signed him to a free agent contract before the 2008 NFL season. When Parker went down to injury Mewelde Moore stepped up. Moore rushed for 588 yards on 140 carries in the regular season. He rushed for 5 touchdowns and added 40 catches for 320 yards and another score. Like Parker he is a fast back but a little slower. But he is a better inside runner and receiver than Parker.
Gary Russell is listed 3rd on the depth chart on the Pittsburgh Steelers website. He is something of a power back with a terrible (less than 3 yards) per attempt average. But he did rush for 3 touchdowns in the 2008 regular season.
Fullback Carey Davis is a non factor other than as a blocker for the other backs.
Breaking Down Arizona Cardinals Running Backs for Super Bowl 43
Make no mistake about it, the Arizona Cardinals are a pass first team. Kurt Warner along with Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are the important pieces of this offense for the NFC champions. The running game was a non factor during most of the season. However Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt knows he has to have at some success with the rushing attack to win Super Bowl 43.
Edgerrin James has over 12,000 career rushing yards, most of them with the Indianapolis Colts. James had been almost a bust with the Arizona Cardinals and caused distractions this season pouting over being benched. But he came on pretty well in the last regular season game and in the post season. Edgerrin only rushed for 514 yards in the regular season but he is fresh and motivated. James has a Super Bowl ring that was given to him by the Colts AFTER he left the team. He wasn’t on that winning team and this may be his last chance to earn a ring.
Tim Hightower is a rookie who put James on the bench in 2008. He ran for 399 yards and a terrible 2.8 yards per carry average. But he did rush for 10 touchdowns and added 40 receptions. He is a power back and will come off the bench to supplement James.
J.J Arrington is a pure speed running back who has been missing practice due to an injury this week. If healthy he can break a long play if he gets on the field other than as a returner.
Fullback Terrell Smith is a non factor as a ball carrier, with no attempts in the 2008 regular season. He is however a great blocker and could spring one of the backs on a big run. Thus he has his role to play as a running back in Super Bowl 43.
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