Green Bay's offense presents problems for Steelers

written by Gary Wingfield Jr.  
Pittsburgh Steelers, meet Green Bay Packers’ run offense. 
Although I think much more of Steelers’ defensive coordinator Dick LeBeau than what I am about to say, I would be remised without mentioning this.  Do not sleep on James Starks.  Do not sleep on this Packers rushing game. 

It’s almost like Packers head coach Mike McCarthy perfectly planned this rushing sneak attack.  James Starks did not play his senior year of college due to a shoulder injury.  As a rookie this year he missed eleven games with a hamstring injury. 
Essentially no team in the NFL took their running game seriously, especially with throwing targets like of Driver, Jennings, Jones and Nelson, this mindset was not a surprise.

The Packers stubbornly ran the ball.  Game after game, they lulled their opponents to sleep with rushing stagnancy, seemingly buying time each run play to set up for another slant pass.
Then, the playoffs started, and so did James Starks.  Enter a legitimate Green Bay Packers run offense.
In the wild card game, Starks highlighted an Eagles’ defensive squad that in years past was the cornerstone of the team.  He ran for 123 yards, and Aaron Rodgers threw for 180 yards.

Against the Falcons in the divisional playoff game, Starks added 66 yards rushing, complementing a near perfect statistical game by Rodgers.  Starks provided short, tough yardage around first downs, and more importantly added a legitimate dimension.
In their final test before the Super Bowl, Starks ran for 75 yards and a touchdown run, complementing a less than stellar performances by Rodgers.

Stark’s performance against the Eagles was not only a rookie record performance, but also a dominant performance. His other two performances have proven that although the Packers primary option may still be to throw they can also successfully run the ball with James Starks. 
Now this will be the best and ultimate test for rookie Starks, against a terrorizing and tantalizing defense that has managed to contain almost every run offense they have faced.
The Steelers held the New York Jets to under one hundred total yards in the first half; they held the Jets run offense to 70 total yards.  They turned the Jets into the one dimensional team that resembled the Green Bay Packers of the regular season.

Now Aaron Rodgers led that regular season Green Bay Packers team to the pinnacle of their sport, a game where the winners’ prize bears the name of the omnipotent heart of the Green Bay Packers.
There are far too many nearly unreal storylines for this game to not be magical. 
The starting quarterback for one of these two teams nearly went to prison, and spent and a fraction of this year’s suspension by the league.

The starting quarterback for a 21st century Green Bay Packers super bowl team is not Brett Favre.
Statistically, both teams’ divisional championship games performances make them look like fraternal twins.
Does anyone notice a striking resemblance between a certain 20th century Steelers’ linebacker and Packers linebacker on the current squad?
How about the etymological similarities between Lambeau and LeBeau?
Regardless of which team succeeds next week, fans will see greatness.

written by Gary Wingfield Jr.