Top 10 Players in the Super Bowl

Well, it is that time of year again now. Finally, it is the week of Super Bowl 50, and this Sunday will mark the game that people wait the whole NFL season to see. This game features a two ferocious defensive lines, quarterbacks on opposite ends of the spectrum and pulling in different directions, two head coaches who were highly doubted throughout the season, and one highly explosive offensive attack. While the game itself presents a number of intriguing matchups, the players in the game are some of the most elite players at their positions. I have compiled a list of the top 10 players in this game, with some omissions that people may not agree with, but these are the cream of the crop as we head toward Super Bowl 50.

10. Derek Wolfe, DE, Denver Broncos

Wolfe had a dominant game against the Patriots in the AFC Championship Game, (then again who didn’t from that defensive front) but let’s not pretend that was his only good game. Wolfe has slowly matured into an excellent pass rusher in Wade Phillip’s 3-4 scheme, as he is able to hold up against the run, while also putting pressure on the quarterback and not being able to be single blocked most of the time. Wolfe has excellent strength at the point of attack and the extension he signed (4 years for $36 million) is below what he could have commanded on the open market. Wolfe has a lot of talent and can take over games if there isn’t a solid guard-tackle combo on his side. Wolfe is especially dominant when playing the three-technique (lined up in between the guard and center) where he can use speed and power to shoot the gap, or disrupt a pulling guard.

9. Thomas Davis, OLB, Carolina Panthers

Davis is a true success story. Davis has had three torn ACL’s and yet here he stands as one of the best linebackers in the game, playing in the Super Bowl for one of the best seasons a team has ever had. Davis can do it all as he is solid in coverage, great against the run, and is an excellent blitzer, especially from the A gap (right up the middle on the side of the center). Luke Kuechly gets a ton of publicity and rightfully so as he is perhaps the best linebacker in the game, but Davis is not far behind and his smart combined with his blitzing ability separate him from others. He also broke his arm in the NFC Championship and had surgery already, meaning there is doubt he can be his normal self.

8. DeMarcus Ware, OLB, Denver Broncos

Ware was someone I had trouble figuring out where to put him. On one hand his bull rush is undoubtedly one of the most feared moves he has as his power and strength in his lower half is really unmatched for a linebacker, lineman hybrid. Combined with his speed and technique, it is no wonder why Ware has made a career out of tormenting offensive tackles. Throw in the fact with Von Miller on the other side, Wolfe and Malik Jackson on the inside, all cannot really be single blocked, and you have the makings of an excellent pass rush. Ware has really taken advantage of the tackles single blocking him this year, but there are still questions regarding his durability, specifically with his back in mind. When healthy though Ware is one of the most feared rushers in the league and in the last 10 years.

7. Josh Norman, CB, Carolina Panthers

Norman really exploded onto the scene this year as a shutdown corner and he has backed up his talk all season long. There was a slight drop off at the end of the year as he went from being the best-ranked corner in the league according to Pro Football Focus, to outside the top 10 within six weeks, but Norman can still shut down the opposing top targets with ease. Norman will likely draw the assignment of Demaryius Thomas, but that really shouldn’t be very challenging as Thomas has not looked like himself recently with a high number of drops and inability to separate. Norman has excellent ball skills and very good straight line speed which combined with instincts and ability to read his man when the ball is coming, help him avoid pass interference penalties. Norman is the best of the corners in this game, which is high praise, especially with the players on the Broncos side.

6. Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers

Olsen was acquired by Carolina for a third round pick from the Chicago Bears when Mike Martz was the offensive coordinator because Martz “did not really utilize tight ends in his offense”. Well that was their loss and the Panthers gain as Olsen is one of the top tight ends in the game, and broke the 1,000 receiving yards barrier once again this season. Olsen has durability, speed, and separation ability, which combined with great hands make him a tough cover, and basically guarantee he is open when he is not bracketed or doubled. Olsen is a key to this offense as he patrols the middle and seams, and you can ask the Seattle Seahawks what a nightmare cover he is. There is a solid chance Phillips puts Bradley Roby or Aqib Talib on him or uses a linebacker and safety combination to bracket him, but there also has a to be a spy for Cam Newton and make sure he doesn’t run, making this a tough matchup.

5. Malik Jackson, DE, Denver Broncos

As good as Wolfe is, and he is extremely productive, Jackson is better. Jackson is practically unstoppable when he is single blocked with devastating lower body power, and considering how low he plays, there is a very little chance of stopping him when he gets going. Jackson routinely pushes the pocket back into the quarterback’s lap, and eliminates any space for him to step up, making it that much easier for the outside rushers (Ware and Miller) to reach the quarterback and even go for strip sacks. Jackson will easily command north of $10 million per season this offseason, and is an elite force in the pass rush and defending the run game. The good news for the Panthers is they have an experienced all-pro caliber center with Ryan Kalil, who should be able to help out in calling out stunts and avoiding confusion, but either way, Jackson will be single blocked most of the time, meaning it will be difficult for the downfield routes to have time to develop.

4. Kawann Short, DT, Carolina Panthers

Short is one of the best defensive linemen in the league, and him along with Geno Atkins for the Bengals and Aaron Donald for the Rams might be the best 4-3, penetrating defensive tackles in the league. Short is stout against the run and is able to still rush the passer making him a rare commodity these days. A truly elite four down player. Short had 11 sacks penetrating from the inside tackle position, which is almost unheard of for a defensive tackle. There should be a great matchup on hand as the Broncos best lineman this season was left guard Evan Mathis, whom Short will be lining up almost right in front of whether it is the one technique or the three technique. That matchup could decide if the Broncos can run the ball, and more importantly if Manning can have time in the pocket as his ball already lacks velocity even stepping into his throws.

3. Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers

Some may be surprised about how low Newton is, and I know how well he has played, but this is his first year or elite production. The two people above him have had elite production almost since they entered the league. Newton is a force on offense, being able to run the ball with power and taking hit after hit. In fact, Newton weighs more than a certain member of the Panthers linebacking core (Kuechly: 238 lbs, Cam Newton: 245 lbs). Newton has also really developed this season being able to audible at the line in pre-snap reads, and the most impressive thing to me is how accurate he has become, even possessing the ability to sidearm the ball by a defensive lineman’s arm, around a cornerback into the receivers arms. Newton has truly had an elite season as there is no greater compliment to a player than saying he brought up the talent level of his supporting cast.

2. Luke Kuechly, LB, Carolina Panthers

The best Panthers player, however, belongs to Kuechly who has been the face of a mean, tough, and ferocious Panthers defense since he came into the league. Kuechly is a tackling machine who is always in the right place at the right time, never takes a wrong step, and can play in coverage against almost any tight end of running back. Kuechly’s ability to set up his teammates in the presnap reads makes this game like a chess match between one of the smartest quarterbacks to ever play the game in Peyton Manning. Kuechly has had a pick six, interception return for a touchdown in each of the Panthers playoff games this postseason, and I think he gets one in this game as well. Kuechly is the best linebacker playing in the NFL right now as he can do it all.

1. Von Miller, OLB, Denver Broncos

The best player in the Super Bowl, however, belongs to Miller. Miller is as disruptive a pass rusher as we have seen in the past 10 years, using nearly every move in the book. Miller’s best move is the speed rush however as he routinely jumps the snap count and beats the tackle of his stance, giving him an easy run at the quarterback in the pocket. Newton will need to alter the snap count a lot to make sure Ware and Miller do not get jumps on it. Another part of Miller’s game that has developed though is the ability to drop into coverage within five or ten yards and play hook to curl, or short option routes. Miller is a truly elite talent, and him alone can change the face of a pass rush. If Miller can play like he did last game against the Patriots ( a big if, considering how he was able to jump the snap count, and how he was borderline unstoppable) then this game will drastically shift in favor of Denver.

Others considered (in no particular order): 

Ryan Kalil, C, Carolina Panthers

Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos

Aquib Talib, CB, Denver Broncos

Chris Harris Jr., CB, Denver Broncos

Trai Turner, RG, Carolina Panthers

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers

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