The co-founders of The Sports Union are at it again, and this time it is all about the Super Bowl.   The guys will preview the match-up for the big game on Sunday and will give you their picks at who wins the Lombardi Trophy (and gets bombarded with all that annoying ticker tape).  Today, Kevin Patra will talk about the Colts offense, while J.David will breakdown the Saints defense.

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Kevin Patra: Colts Offense

The only team to stop Peyton Manning all season has been the Indianapolis Colts. In Indy’s only losses of the season Manning was relegated to water boy by games end. Manning had one of the best seasons of his career, throwing for 4500 yards with 33 TDs and a career best 68.6 completion percentage. I don’t need to bother you with the litany about how he is the motor of the Colts engine, that has been splashed about by the main steam media for the past, oh, 12 years.

The key to the Super Bowl is Manning’s ability to stay upright and avoid mistakes. The Saints clobbered Brett Favre in the NFC Championship game, and they will be after Manning again. The key for any defense against the Colts is to get Manning off his spot in the pocket. Unfortunately that key is harder to find than Bilbo Baggins’ ring. If (cough, cough, when) the Saints find they can’t disrupt Manning in the pocket they will be forced to bring more pressure leaving their defensive backs vulnerable to the less than heralded bunch of receivers.

Some joke that you could throw a one-handed midget as wide receiver and Manning would be able to find him on an out-route. (Can we please see this? It could be next years skills challenge at the Pro Bowl. Wouldn’t you love to line up all the NFL quarterbacks and see who can complete the most passes to one-handed midgets? Does anyone know any one-handed midgets?…I digress.) Besides Reggie Wayne the Colt’s receiving corp came into the season as question marks. But the emergance of Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie have provided depth and skill, and they have punished teams that key on Wayne and TE Dallas Clark. Garcon could play the Santonio Holmes roll for the Colts and make some big time catches against an average Saints secondary.

The Cots running attack is about as scary as a horror film staring Teddy Ruxpin. Joseph Addai is the teams best runner between the tackles but has been often injured and not as effective as his first two seasons in the league. Rookie Donald Brown was drafted to bring depth and explosiveness this season, but he too has been injured. Then there is mighty mouse Mike Hart who is too small and lacks great speed, but could be one of the best running backs picking up the blitz in the league. There is really only one thing you need to expect from the Colts running game: the draw. They run the draw about a around a half-dozen times a game and use it effectively when they the defense begins to get too far up field rushing Manning. Addai should have an opportunity to gain good chunks of yardage in these situation as the Saints defense will look to pound on Manning.

As long as Manning IDs Darren Sharper on every play he can slice up the Saints defense like he’s auditioning to be the next Dexter. And with seven fourth-quarter comebacks this season, even if the Colts can’t stop Drew Brees, Manning and Co. will never be out of the game.

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