By Matthew Bowker
Correspondent
The Seattle Seahawks shocked the world by demolishing the Denver Broncos by a score of 43-8 in Super Bowl XLVIII. Their defense held the highest scoring offense in NFL history to only eight points.
And they’re just getting started.
The Seahawks management has put together a team that has the potential to become a dynasty.
If defense wins championships, then the rest of the league is in big trouble. The Seahawks had the No. 1 overall defense in 2013. In a pass-happy league, the Seahawks’ legion of boom allowed a mere 172 passing yards per game. The Seahawks are set to return 10 out of 11 players on the defensive side of the ball, including all four members of the best secondary in football. Of the 10 players under contract, nine are under 30 years old. As long as they stay healthy, this young but experienced defense will continue to dominate the league for years to come. When all is said and done, this defense could become one of the best of all time.
Quarterback Russell Wilson, a steal in the third round of the 2012 draft, led the team to its first Super Bowl in franchise history, in just his second year in the league. Some argue that Wilson is overrated and is simply a game manager. In reality, Wilson is one of the most efficient quarterbacks in the NFL. Wilson boasts a 101.6 passer rating over his first two seasons, which is third to only Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning since 2012. At only 25 years of age, Wilson will continue to grow as a more complete quarterback and lead the Seahawks for years to come.
The Seahawks front office and coaching staff are also some of the best in the business when it comes to talent evaluation. All Pros Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor were both drafted in the fifth round and have quickly developed into superstars. The team took a risk trading for an injury-prone wide receiver, Percy Harvin, who iced the win Sunday with an 87-yard kickoff return to start the second half. They traded for problematic running back Marshawn Lynch in 2010. Since then, Lynch has developed into a star. In his four years as a Seahawk, Lynch has the third most rushing touchdowns in that timespan, behind only Adrian Peterson and Arian Foster. Give credit to the coaching staff, led by head coach Pete Carroll, for eliminating Lynch’s off-the-field problems.
With a young and talented group of players, along with smart management and great coaching, don’t be surprised to see the Seattle Seahawks hoist the Lombardi Trophy for years to come.
