The Guys Up Front! Who has the better Offensive Line?

"In the trenches," a place where many football games are won and not even noticed by the casual football fan, but a position that is extremely important. The Pittsburgh Steelers have long been known for having huge, physical linemen to protect the quarterback, but this team in Super Bowl XLV, has a bit of a different look due to injuries.

Starting center, rookie Maurkice Pouncey will not play after breaking his ankle in the AFC championship game and will be replaced by backup Doug Legursky. Two of "Big Ben's" other key protectors, Max Starks and Willie Colon were lost to season-ending injuries during the regular season. Undrafted free agent Ramon Foster was signed to fill in at right guard and Jonathon Scott was brought in to fill the hole at left tackle.

Chris Kemoeatu is the only starter from Super Bowl XLIII that will be playing in Super Bowl XLV. So up front the Steelers will line up with Legursky at center, Foster at right guard, Kemoeatu at left guard, Scott at left tackle and veteran Trai Essex or Flozell Adams at right tackle.

With Green Bay's pass rush, and Pittsburgh's depleted o-line, Roethlisberger will have to keep his head on a swivel to avoid getting crushed by the likes of Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji.

As for the Packers, their "big boys" are led by veteran Chad Clifton from Tennessee, who is 34 years old and anchors the Green Bay o-line at left tackle.

Clifton has protected some of the game's greatest in Peyton Manning (in college) and Brett Favre, and say now that he is continuing to protect a great one in Aaron Rodgers.

Joining Clifton up front are right guard Josh Sitton, veteran left guard Daryn Colledge, star rookie right tackle Bryan Bulaga out of Iowa, and center Scott Wells.

With Green Bay's depth chart the same as it was in week one, I have to give a huge edge to the Packers with the offensive line. When healthy, Pittsburgh's is right there with the league's best, but because of injuries, they just aren't ready to be considered dominant like Green Bay's.

I look for Rodgers to be sacked a couple of times by the Steelers' great defense but make no mistake, Green Bay will be able to keep Dick Lebeau's vaunted "D" off of Rodgers long enough for him to make plays.