Photo by: Rich Graessle
Composed of undrafted and unheard of players, Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks have created the model that every single NFL team should follow for the future. Super Bowl XLVIII MVP Malcolm Smith wasn’t even invited to the NFL Combine and was drafted in the seventh round coming out of USC back in 2011. Smith’s massive 69-yard pick six in the second quarter propelled the Seahawks to a 43-8 rout of the best statistical offense in NFL history.
Smith is just one of the many Seahawks on the 53 man roster who was overlooked by all 32 teams and overshadowed by other players coming out of college.
“We just have a great group of guys,” Smith said. “Guys that feed off of each other well. Guys that have the same kind of attitude and approach towards the game…and guys with chips on their shoulders,” Smith added.
Photo by Rich Graessle
From the opening snap of Sunday’s blowout victory, Seattle set the tone and absolutely manhandled the Broncos throughout the game. After the errant shotgun snap by center Manny Ramirez that resulted in a safety, Denver should have done themselves a favor and called it quits then and there.
Seattle scored in all three phases of the game before Denver put a single point on the scoreboard at MetLife Stadium. The Seahawks were also the first team in Super Bowl history to record a safety, an interception return for a touchdown and a kick return for a touchdown.
With all of the hype of the number one defense squaring off against the number one offense in football, Seattle showed that defense truly does win championships.
“I told y’all we the best defense,” Seattle’s defensive end Michael Bennett said. “We coulda played anybody today and did the same thing,” Bennett added.
It’s hard to argue that sentiment after making Peyton Manning look like a high school quarterback on Sunday. Although Manning broke the amount of completions made in Super Bowl history with 34, he only threw for 279 passing yards with two ugly interceptions and was out-dueled by second year quarterback Russell Wilson.
Photo by Rich Graessle
The loss can not be entirely placed on Manning’s shoulders, as Denver’s defense was carved up early and often by Seattle’s game plan that featured end arounds and plenty of chances for Wilson to use his mobility. It didn’t help that Percy Harvin returned the opening kick of the second half to the house just as Denver needed to shift momentum.
That momentum shift never came, and the Seahawks never looked back from their 2-0 lead earned just :12 into the game.
Following the game there was a large number of reporters surrounding Richard Sherman’s podium expecting-or at least hoping-to hear vivacious quotes, a la the NFC Championship game. That moment never came as Sherman did nothing but praise his teammates.
“I think Malcolm Smith was overshadowed last week, with all the noise, with my rant and everything, all the attention it got,” Sherman said. “People lost track of Malcolm Smith making an incredible interception that sealed that game. And today I think he really put his stamp on the game.”
After such a remarkable defensive showing, if the Seahawks can keep their core players together for an extended period of time, the NFC’s road to Super Bowl Sunday may consistently pass through CenturyLink Field.
