I see the most important matchup in the Super Bowl being Thuney/Andrews/Mason vs. Donald/Suh. Three on two.
Suh has the potential to be a wrecking ball. Big, fast, quick, and strong. But it feels like his actual production has never matched his physical ability. Career-wise, he's been an underachiever. That said, he still has the potential to be a devastating force. Donald, of course, is the best defensive lineman in the game - able to disrupt running plays and sack the quarterback (leading the league in sacks). He's impossibly quick for an interior defensive lineman, he makes for an incredibly difficult matchup.
The Patriots will employ three high quality interior offensive linemen against Suh and Donald: Joe Thuney, David Andrews, and Shaq Mason. All three are good at run blocking and are stout in pass protection. This is probably New England's best OL interior that they've had during this run - maybe the best since the Hannah-Brock days.
I think the tackles will be on their own - maybe getting help from the TE or RB - which puts NE's three interior O-linemen against Suh and Donald. All it takes is one or two big plays by the defenders to make a huge difference in the game. Thuney/Andrews/Mason will need to bring their very best game in order to keep these two monsters from wreaking havoc.
I believe this is the key matchup in the game.
Suh has the potential to be a wrecking ball. Big, fast, quick, and strong. But it feels like his actual production has never matched his physical ability. Career-wise, he's been an underachiever. That said, he still has the potential to be a devastating force. Donald, of course, is the best defensive lineman in the game - able to disrupt running plays and sack the quarterback (leading the league in sacks). He's impossibly quick for an interior defensive lineman, he makes for an incredibly difficult matchup.
The Patriots will employ three high quality interior offensive linemen against Suh and Donald: Joe Thuney, David Andrews, and Shaq Mason. All three are good at run blocking and are stout in pass protection. This is probably New England's best OL interior that they've had during this run - maybe the best since the Hannah-Brock days.
I think the tackles will be on their own - maybe getting help from the TE or RB - which puts NE's three interior O-linemen against Suh and Donald. All it takes is one or two big plays by the defenders to make a huge difference in the game. Thuney/Andrews/Mason will need to bring their very best game in order to keep these two monsters from wreaking havoc.
I believe this is the key matchup in the game.