Johnson’s defense will pressure Brady

It’s second down and nine in Super Bowl XXXIX. New England running back Corey Dillon just ran… It’s second down and nine in Super Bowl XXXIX. New England running back Corey Dillon just ran up the middle for one yard and was stopped by Eagles linebacker Jeremiah Trotter.

Patriot quarterback Tom Brady stands under center, scanning the Philly defense.

“Red 17!” he shouts, looking to his right. He sees linebacker Dhani Jones is sneaking toward the line of scrimmage. So is safety Brian Dawkins. Brady points them out so his offensive line can protect him.

He continues with the snap count. Jones has backed off, but now Trotter and linebacker Keith Adams have snuck toward the line of scrimmage. Brady checks again with his offensive line and then snaps the ball.

One step. Two steps. Three steps and Brady plants his back foot. Wideout Troy Brown is open. Brady sets to throw.

Wham!

Free safety Michael Lewis just blindsides Brady, knocking him to the ground.

“Seven-yard loss,” is heard from the stadium loudspeaker.

Brady shakes off the dirt and the blades of grass as he catches a glimpse of a smile on a 63-year old man’s face.

It’s Jim Johnson, the defensive coordinator, who will throw all that he has at you. Truly one of the best defensive coordinators in the league, Johnson draws up great game plans and knows exactly how to find and attack a team’s weakness.

The Patriots’ weakness (and yes, they have one) is their MVP quarterback. How can this be? Simple: their weakness is rarely exploited by other teams. Johnson — and the Eagles — will change that.

Brady has trouble running the offense efficiently when under pressure. With a defense swarming around him, he freezes like the New England winter and makes mistakes.

Remember Miami back in December? Dolphins 29, Patriots 28. Jason Taylor, who had recorded a sack earlier in the game and had been in Brady’s face all night, was again in full pursuit of the Michigan alum late in the game. Taylor grabbed on to him, and Brady stupidly threw one of his four interceptions in the game — which allowed the Dolphins to come back and win the game.

Remember the Steelers game (the first one)? Joey Porter recorded three sacks and was kicking up dirt in the backfield all day. Brady threw two interceptions and — surprise, surprise — the unbeatable Patriots were beaten.

The fact is that Brady is successful for one reason: great timing. If his timing is messed up, his pass will be too, if it even leaves his hands.

Jevon Kearse and Hugh Douglas will be closing in from the ends, and Darwin Walker and Corey Simon will be pushing up the middle. And who knows who else will be coming, but someone, or two, will be coming.

The Patriots, too, do not have any slackers on their defense, and they will be coming after Eagles’ quarterback Donovan McNabb. He, however, does not base his success on timing (it helps, but it’s not key).

McNabb, unlike Brady, can make time with his feet. Sometimes up to 14 seconds worth of time, as seen in a game against Dallas earlier this year.

He also has many weapons to utilize. Terrell Owens, Freddie “I’d like to thank my hands for being so great” Mitchell, L.J. Smith and, most importantly, Brian Westbrook.

He is my automatic game-breaker for the Super Bowl. One, because he can run the ball (4.7 yards a carry and 812 yards rushing, with three touchdowns). Two, because he can catch the ball (9.6 yards a catch and 703 yards receiving, with six touchdowns). And three, because he’ll reportedly be returning punts, a duty that he gave up this year because he was the feature back.

But all is on the line on Sunday, and Westbrook is putting it out there. In 2003, he averaged 15.3 yards a return and he scored two touchdowns.

In a game that could be dominated by defenses, field position will be key, and with Westbrook returning against one of the worst cover teams in the league (11.9 yards allowed per return and a touchdown), the Patriots’ defense could find themselves with their feet on the goal line several times.

One of those times, an 81-percent healthy T.O. is going to catch a touchdown, and Andy Reid will have lost his bet, which he extended when T.O. went down.

Reid said in December that if Owens came back for the Super Bowl and caught a touchdown, he’d wear the horrific spandex pants.

Someone better call Under Armour. We’re going to need a XXXIX Large.

Jimmy Johnson is the sports editor of The Pitt News. As the Eagles will wear the No. 92 sticker on their helmets, I would like to dedicate this column to the best defensive player to ever play in the NFL — Reggie White. He’ll be watching Sunday and, like him, no matter the outcome, I’ll be smiling. Go Eagles.