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Super Bowl Sunday

Mind games and old guys: Joe de Wolk predicts how it will go down.

By Joe de Wolk

This year’s Super Bowl is a football fans’ sweetest dream. The top-rated defense facing off against the top-rated offense for the world title. What could be better? The Buccaneers’ defense is rock solid from top to bottom: Great D-line, great linebackers, and great secondary. So is the Raiders’ offensive unit: versatile, underrated RB Charlie Garner, MVP Rich Gannon at the helm, and one of the all-time great receiving corps including Jerry Rice, Tim Brown, and brash young Jerry Porter.

And the other side of the ball isn’t bad either: Brad Johnson ended the year with a passer rating of 92.9 and lately the Bucs have put up points using Mike “Fumble-Waiting-To-Happen” Allstot and Keyshawn "If you don't like Keyshawn Johnson, you've got a problem with yourself" Johnson (that’s right, he said that). But the Bucs have destroyed the last three teams (Bears, Niners, Eagles in that order) they faced on both sides of the ball, limiting all teams to 10 points or under and scoring at least 15.

The Super Bowl also has its share of drama, with hated personalities such as Al Davis, Keyshawn Johnson and Bill Romanowski, not to mention that it’s 15-year veteran and future first ballot hall of famer Tim Brown’s first championship appearance. The man is so excited the security had to ask him off the premises at Tuesday’s Super Bowl Media Day.

This year also features John Gruden. Yes, the offensive coaching genius otherwise known as Chucky as a result of his youthful, frightening facial contortions. One year ago Gruden was traded by Raiders’ owner Al Davis for draft picks to the Buccaneers. Gruden hired Raiders current head coach, Bill Callahan, and helped design the NFL’s top-rated offense last year. And since this year’s team is almost identical to last years, he knows every player personally and intimately. Not only does this type of showdown set up a grudge match, it also sets up a great gridiron chess match that could very easily make or break the game.

So, who’s gonna win? Let me break it down for you…

The Deciding Factors

1. Surprise!
Jon Gruden knows the Raiders. Bill Callahan knows Jon Gruden knows the Raiders. Jon Gruden knows Bill Callahan knows Jon Gruden knows the Raiders. Bill Callahan and Jon Gruden know each other. This is the kind of thing the head coaches of both teams will have to think about thoroughly before hitting the field Sunday. Should the Raiders come out with a totally different run-oriented offense? Or maybe will Gruden be expecting that, in which case maybe they should come out in their same old offense. Should the Bucs continue using the Cover-2 defense they have practically perfected, or switch it up? This Super Bowl will be one heck of a mind game, and the winner will have a huge, undeniable advantage.

2. Old Pirates, Young Pirates
The Raiders are old. So old that people predicted they would tire down the stretch, and maybe not even make the playoffs. For example, the clearly ageless Jerry Rice is 40 years old and still the number one receiver in the league’s best passing offense. The Raiders finished the season strong, and have won four in a row. Now their age kicks in as an advantage; it morphs into experience. Bill Romanowski, aside from being a grade A jerk (and from what I've heard, an alleged racist), has four Super Bowl rings and 14 years under his belt. Jerry Rice has three rings and 17 years. The Bucs on the other hand are young, and this is their first ever franchise appearance in the Super Bowl. They don’t have the experience, and it’s questionable whether they can even compete with the Raiders in the biggest sporting event in the world. The Bucs also have numerous players known for falling to pieces in big games (Keyshawn Johnson and Brad Johnson to name a few). Any falling apart and the Bucs are done for.

3. Mister Charlie Garner
This man is the Super Bowl X-Factor. He gets no credit for his 5.3 yards per carry, and his 91 receptions on the year. Not only can the guy catch, he can run. The Bucs are weakest against the run, and if the Raiders are going pull out offensively on the Buccaneers, Charlie Garner is going to be a big part of that. For their part, the Bucs have to contain him to stay in this game against a strong Raider defense.

— Joe de Wolk is a senior in high school.