SUPER BOWL : It’s Really Montana vs. Elway, and the Game Could Be a Close One

Jack Faulkner is administrator of football operations for the Rams, who lost to the 49ers 30-3 in the NFC championship game. He wrote this Super Bowl scouting report with AP Sports Editor Darrell Christian.

Don’t look for the San Francisco 49ers to jazz up this Super Bowl. They don’t take chances, on the field or on Bourbon Street.

They’ll leave that to the Denver Broncos, who have not found the Big Easy so easy. In the Broncos’ two trips to New Orleans since 1970, they lost the Super Bowl to the Dallas Cowboys in 1978 and were blown out 42-0 by the Saints during the 1988 season.

Now, as double-digit underdogs, the Broncos will have to throw off Joe Montana’s rhythm and catch the 49ers out of position if they are to become the first AFC winners in six years.

No Big Easy task.

The 49ers have all the big advantages--quarterback, secondary, wide receivers, depth--but the outcome could well turn on big plays. For instance, don’t be surprised if:

- John Taylor breaks a punt return for the 49ers. That’s one of the big pluses for San Francisco. Taylor, who runs the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, averaged 11.6 yards on 36 returns this season, and the artificial turf in the Superdome will just make him faster.

- Denver blocks a 49ers’ punt. Chuck Thomas, the long snapper for the Niners, is slow, and punter Barry Helton’s net average this season was only 31.2 yards. The Broncos may decide to go after him.

- Denver tries a fake punt or field goal, or quarterback John Elway tries a quick kick off a shotgun formation.

This doesn’t shape up as one of those cliche games that will be decided in the “trenches.” The lines are pretty even.

The passing game is the big factor. The 49ers had the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL, and the Broncos had the No. 3 defense against the pass.

Montana set the NFL record for passing efficiency, completing 70.3%, while Elway struggled through his worst season since he was a rookie, hitting just 53.6% and ranking 23rd in the league. And the most glaring statistic: Montana threw just eight interceptions, Elway had 18.

Otherwise, the keys to Denver’s offense are Bobby Humphrey, the rookie running back with the cracked ribs, and Vance Johnson, the leading receiver, who will have to be a big return man as well.

On defense, the Broncos will have to take away the short 8- to 12-yard passing game and force Montana to throw outside and deep. Tackling well is a must. Jerry Rice, Roger Craig and Taylor are among the best in the game at breaking tackles.

And Montana can be had. He was sacked 33 times this season, only two fewer than Elway in two fewer games--a startling statistic for a quarterback in a controlled passing game.

The key to San Francisco’s offense is its versatility, especially blocking back Tom Rathman. He caught 73 passes, more than most receivers. Compare that to just 46 combined by Denver’s running trio of Humphrey, Melvin Bratton and Sammy Winder. And don’t forget Craig, who had 49 catches.

On defense, the 49ers will try to keep Elway in the pocket and take away his deep passing threat. A key will be nose tackle Michael Carter, who came back in the NFC championship game after missing more than two months with a sprained right foot. If he’s healthy, he can almost single-handedly ruin the Broncos’ inside running game and give the 49ers the inside pass rush they need to disrupt Elway.

San Francisco has a decided edge in the secondary. Free safety Ronnie Lott is the Montana of the defense, a master at the big play, and the backup corners, Eric Wright and Tim McKyer, are better than the Broncos’ starters. If Elway decides to pick on anybody, it might be left corner Darryl Pollard.

On the other side, Broncos right corner Wymon Henderson could be in for a hard time against Montana.

If it comes down to a kicking game, the Broncos may have a slight edge. Denver’s David Treadwell and San Francisco’s Mike Cofer were about even most of the season, but Cofer had a bad December compounded by two missed field goals and a missed extra point against the Vikings in the playoffs.

On paper, the 49ers are much the better team, but this one comes down to Montana vs. Elway, smart and steady vs. strong and scrambling. If both play well, it could be close after all.