This year’s Super Bowl will feature two offensive juggernauts. If either team can get just a few big stops, it might be the difference between winning and losing. But how do you do that? Cornerback Chris Harris Jr. of the reigning Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos (who played both teams last season) provided some insight.
“When we played Atlanta, we played a lot of man, Cover 1, Cover 2,” Harris told the NFL Network. “Still, you have to lean that safety over to Julio [Jones] because you never know what he’s going to do; but it’s not smart to double [Mohamed] Sanu at all. No.
“A lot of teams don’t have the defensive back depth that we do. So it’s hard to game plan for Atlanta; but I wouldn’t double-team Sanu.”
Sound advice from one of the best defensive backs in the NFL. As for the Patriots, very few have had more success slowing down their offense over the last couple of years than the Broncos. So what would Harris recommend?
“You can’t play soft on the edges, that’s what Pittsburgh did,” said Harris. “Their receivers were able to run wild; but you have to be able to put your hands on them. You have to man up, be physical and get pressure on Brady. It sounds easy, but (laughs).”
The Broncos had success against both the Falcons and the Patriots last season, holding them to 23 and 16 points, respectively. Worth mentioning however, is the fact Denver lost against both teams, scoring a combined 19 points.
