Niners 1st Half
If you like the Niners, you have to especially love this play.
The 1st quarter in championship games, especially the Superbowl, is nuts. Nerves are sky high, extremely hard to catch your breath. On turf, even more so.
What better Offense to have, then one where you can attack them via the run? And misdirection to boot. Ravens will be on roller skates back there. Sprinkle in a couple of play action passes and you got a deadly offense.
Truly - Niners Offense kind of reminds me of Alabama's and Ravens D reminds me Notre Dame's.
Good, slower Middle-linebacker. Nice D-line and suspect secondary.
A fumble or Kapernick playing just horrible up is the only thing that messes this up.
Again, nerves, high emotions. What is the best position to play in these scenarios? D line, where you can attack the QB. Not wondering if he has the ball or not, if he is going to give or take the ball. Think Giants and their success against Brady. This kind of emotion is great when your job is simple: get QB. Emotion = great fuel when you don't have to think. Aldon Smith will have fun going after Flaco... and their running game is not quite the attack one the Niners possess.
Ravens have been starting a little slow lately, or at least content to keep it close. Also, their better three wide receiver Offense seems to never make an appearance until the 2nd half.... Flaco seems to get better as game goes along as well. Doesn't really come out hot, although, he did throw one nice bomb early in the Denver game.
Bottom line -Niners attack style is better suited for a Superbowl, especially early. Ravens Offense is not exactly finesse, but I think the aerial game is it's strong suit. I've seen better aerial games falter early in the SB. Think Favre, The greatest show on turf, Brady, and then Warner with the Cards, just to name a few recent ones.
Ravens seem to be the more emotional team in that this Superbowl as the goal is such a loaded one for so many of them. Ray, Reed, it just feels emotional for them. Which is good in most games, just not a fan of it in the Superbowl. Usually, that kind of emotion pays off in the 2nd half, but with the eternal halftime, you almost don't that benefit either.
I think it was good that Steve Young was in such a "system" with an uber talented team around him to never let it get to the "nervy" point.
I think turnovers will be needed for the Ravens to win first half and that could happen, but you can't really cap for that.
** FWIW - I still like the Ravens to win game, but that is a heart hope more so than a head analysis.
The 1st quarter in championship games, especially the Superbowl, is nuts. Nerves are sky high, extremely hard to catch your breath. On turf, even more so.
What better Offense to have, then one where you can attack them via the run? And misdirection to boot. Ravens will be on roller skates back there. Sprinkle in a couple of play action passes and you got a deadly offense.
Truly - Niners Offense kind of reminds me of Alabama's and Ravens D reminds me Notre Dame's.
Good, slower Middle-linebacker. Nice D-line and suspect secondary.
A fumble or Kapernick playing just horrible up is the only thing that messes this up.
Again, nerves, high emotions. What is the best position to play in these scenarios? D line, where you can attack the QB. Not wondering if he has the ball or not, if he is going to give or take the ball. Think Giants and their success against Brady. This kind of emotion is great when your job is simple: get QB. Emotion = great fuel when you don't have to think. Aldon Smith will have fun going after Flaco... and their running game is not quite the attack one the Niners possess.
Ravens have been starting a little slow lately, or at least content to keep it close. Also, their better three wide receiver Offense seems to never make an appearance until the 2nd half.... Flaco seems to get better as game goes along as well. Doesn't really come out hot, although, he did throw one nice bomb early in the Denver game.
Bottom line -Niners attack style is better suited for a Superbowl, especially early. Ravens Offense is not exactly finesse, but I think the aerial game is it's strong suit. I've seen better aerial games falter early in the SB. Think Favre, The greatest show on turf, Brady, and then Warner with the Cards, just to name a few recent ones.
Ravens seem to be the more emotional team in that this Superbowl as the goal is such a loaded one for so many of them. Ray, Reed, it just feels emotional for them. Which is good in most games, just not a fan of it in the Superbowl. Usually, that kind of emotion pays off in the 2nd half, but with the eternal halftime, you almost don't that benefit either.
I think it was good that Steve Young was in such a "system" with an uber talented team around him to never let it get to the "nervy" point.
I think turnovers will be needed for the Ravens to win first half and that could happen, but you can't really cap for that.
** FWIW - I still like the Ravens to win game, but that is a heart hope more so than a head analysis.