Super Bowl XLV is a Battle of the Defensive Coordinators

Dom Capers, the Defensive Coordinator of the Green Bay Packers and Dick LeBeau who holds the same position with the Pittsburgh Steelers came together by chance in 1992.  Bill Cowher, who was coach of the Steelers at the time hired both to serve on his staff in Pittsburgh.

Dom Capers and Dick LeBeau  got along well, working with Cowher and linebackers coach Marvin Lewis to craft a defense that would take the Steelers to a pair of AFC Championship games and one Super Bowl in four seasons before success broke up the combination.

Capers moved up, he become the first head coach of the Carolina Panthers following the 1995 season, with LeBeau replacing him as Pittsburgh's defensive coordinator. Lewis, meanwhile, went to Baltimore to become the defensive coordinator of the Ravens before eventually becoming head coach of the Bengals.

"All that brainstorming, all that brain power, all those defensive schemes," said Green Bay assistant coach Kevin Greene, who joined the Steelers as a linebacker in 1993. "Just great defensive minds."

Two of those great defensive minds will meet Sunday when the Steelers play the Packers in Super Bowl XLV.

Needless to say, there are plenty of similarities between the Steelers' defense run by LeBeau and that of the Packers directed by Capers.

"This is probably the only Super Bowl in which the players from either team could jump in the defensive huddle and understand the terminology and probably run the defense," said LeBeau, who is in his second stint as defensive coordinator in Pittsburgh.

"I'm sure the nomenclature is different, but they could figure it out. Certainly, if you gave them two days of practice, either team could run the other's defense."

That's because everything LeBeau and Capers do with their defenses has is rooted in their days together in Pittsburgh. Capers still has in his possession a handwritten playbook from his Steelers days.

That playbook Capers and LeBeau drew became the bible of so many of the zone-blitz, 3-4 defenses used in the NFL. The zone blitz might have started with the Bengals, but it was perfected by Capers and LeBeau with the Steelers.

The zone blitz was born out a need to counter the pass-oriented Run 'n Shoot and West Coast offenses that dominated the 1980s and '90s. The defense is used in some fashion by nearly every NFL team.

The Super Bowl will be a showcase of the defense born from the work that began in Pittsburgh in 1992.

It's a rarity, only four Super Bowls have pitted the league's two stingiest defenses - in terms of points allowed - and Sunday will be the first such meeting since 1982. The Steelers allowed the fewest points in the league and Green Bay was second.

Even though both defenses are very stout, I'll think we'll see a good amount of points scored on Sunday.

Dom Capers

iPad Free App of the Week: Super Bowl Program

I love getting programs from sporting events.  I usually don't even look at them while at the event, I save them and read them later. 

The official Super Bowl XLV program is contained in an app and it's free.

This appears to be the same program you can buy at the game.  The photography is amazing and there are more facts and information in here that you can retain.

Also great stories about past Super Bowls and the people who played in them

Great pictures of both teams.  This program will get you ready for Super Sunday.

Get this free app.

iPad Free App of the Week: Super Bowl XLV Official Guide App

The FREE official Super Bowl XLV Guide app.  It’s your mobile companion for Super Bowl Week!

Navigate a 3D map of North Texas and discover places to eat and drink with reviews for each place

Browse Cowboys Stadium and find parking, concessions, and restrooms.  it's a big stadium, so don't get lost.

See who is checking in and where.

Find and attend the official Super Bowl Week Events.  This will be updated right until the game starts.

Lots of interactive maps and screens to play with.  This will enhance your Super Bowl XLV experience.

A Super Bowl Ring Possible for Al Harris

I don't expect former Green Bay Packer Al Harris to be far from all the action come Super Bowl Sunday.  He may be watching on television, or may even be at Cowboy's Stadium watching the action.

With the emergence of young Packers Tramon Williams and Sam Shields, Al Harris may be gone, but he is not forgotten by Packer fans or his former teammates.

Harris, who was a cornerstone of the Packer's secondary for years was released after coming off the unable to perform list this season.  He was later signed by the Miami Dolphins, but was released by them as well. 

Packer fans loved Harris.  I know why.  Even though he had long dreadlocks that made him look like he should be playing steel pans in a reggae band at a dance hall outside of Montego Bay, he gave nothing less than 100% every time he set foot on the field.  Packer fans eat that up.

When he was released he received nothing but compliments.  

“We want to thank Al for his contributions to the Green Bay Packers,” said Packers General Manager Ted Thompson in a statement. “His hard work, dedication and professionalism have been the keys to his success. During his time here, he has been a valuable member of our organization and our community. We wish him the very best in the future and he will always be a part of the Packer family.”

Harris started all 102 games he played in for the Packers over seven seasons (2003-09) after being acquired from Philadelphia. He had 14 interceptions and 108 passes defended during his time in Green Bay.

After the release was final, Harris being the class act he always is took out a full page ad in the Milwaukee newspaper to thank the Packer faithful.  That is unheard of, but it shows how much Harris appreciated his time in Green Bay.  Harris might still be a sought after free agent this offseason, so his football days might not be over quite yet,

Is it the Packer's turn to send Harris some thanks?  No fruit baskets or boxes of candy here.  Winning the Super Bowl and awarding Harris a much deserved ring would be a perfect thank you gift.