Super Bowl Special Teams Preview

The special teams match-up for this year's Super Bowl isn't as close as most people would think. In this report we will examine all of the key special teams players for both teams, starting with the kickers. Kickers become much more important in the playoffs than they are during the regular season. When better teams are matched up with each other, the games begin to be a lot closer towards the end, which means that the Kickers play a huge role.

New York's Kicker, Lawrence Tynes, isn't a great kicker, but he has shown a lot of guts as of late with his 47-yard field goal in overtime for the win in the blistering cold of Lambeau two weeks ago. This, after missing his previous two chances late in the game to give the Giants the lead, boosted his confidence level sky high. The confidence that he gained was also gained by his teammates and coaches. Tynes went 23 for 27 in the regular season. I expect him to have a successful game on Super Sunday,

New England's Kicker, Stephen Gostkowski, had a very successful 2nd season going 21 for 24 in his category, but I truly believe that his lack of experience in the playoffs will show at some point in the big game. He is 1 for 2 so far in these playoffs and I am pretty sure that he is hoping that the Patriot's offense has a great game, thus relieving him from many opportunities to show this inexperience.

New England's Punter, Chris Hanson, is a mediocre player. Of course, with the success of the Patriot's offense, he doesn't see much playing time. With only 44 punts in the regular season, Hanson averaged 41.4 yards per punt. I do not think he will be much of a factor on Sunday. On the other hand, the Giant's Punter, Jeff Feagles is one of the best in the league at pinning the ball inside the 20-yard line with his pinpoint accuracy. Although he had almost double the attempts as Hanson, 71, he only averaged around 40-yards per punt. Despite his low yardage average, I see his accuracy making a couple of key appearances sometime during the game on Sunday.

Now on to the Return specialists for both teams, who have very different attributes. The Giants put both of their back up tailbacks deep for the kickoffs, Amhad Bradshaw and Reuben Droughns. Both of these guys are very powerful and relentless runners who have a knack for securing the football. Neither guy is much of a threat to take it to the house, but security in special teams can be very important. The G-Men's Punt Returner, R.W. McQuarters, is a solid returner who can run one back every now and then. He is a speedy guy with a good knowledge of the game. I wouldn't call him an "x-factor" but he could have some big returns that set-up the Giants with good field position. If only they can get the Patriots to punt.

The Patriots usually go with a little more speed in their return game with Ellis Hobbs and Wes Welker back deep for their kickoff returns. Both guys are speedy and can be very elusive. Welker enjoyed success as a return man for Miami last year. Either one of these guys can take one back any given time that they touch the football. Welker also returns punts for New England. Although he hasn't returned a punt for a touchdown since his rookie season for Miami, he has averaged almost Ten yards per return this year for New England. He is always a threat to score with his speed and shiftiness.

When looking at the Special teams in the Super Bowl as a whole, I really do not think that they will be much of a factor, besides in gaining decent field position for each team. I think that this game will come down to the Giants defense and how they try to stop Brady and the Patriots' offense. If I had to grade each team's Special Teams as a whole, I would give the Giants a B and the Patriots a B-.