How the Super Bowl changed my Draft philosophy

**Mr Anderson** · 02-03-2014, 04:16 PM

Originally Posted by bleedpurple

I see your point... I still think we need a QB.. not mortgage our future... but without Wilson, Seattle would have lost to San Francisco and never even been in the Super Bowl....

Manning is also a choker in key games.. has been since Tennessee.... They were just completely unprepared and overmatched... but your point is a valid one.

Manning choked because "they" were unprepared and overmatched. So team failure = a QB choke?

And I agree. Go defense. Seattle's depth at defensive end won that game. Fresh legs for Clemons, Avril, Bennett and Irvin kept the pressure up. I read earlier that in 51 dropbacks Seattle only blitzed 6 times.

If Allen and Williams are willing to stay, I think the front office would be mistaken to let them go. Even add another pass rusher in the draft.

Secondary help is obviously needed as well, but I'm not sure Seattle's back 4-5 ever broke a sweat last night.

**Caine** · 02-03-2014, 05:09 PM

I think Denver failed as a team. I said before, the last time I saw such a lopsided Superbowl was Tampa Bay and Oakland.

Seattle came to play and it showed.

But I also think that the key to long term success is a STRONG Defense and a capable Offense. That's what Seattle has. Their D can shred you...and when it doesn;t, the Offense keeps you honest too. There is no magic pill like versus Denver or Green Bay where all you have to do is shut down one aspect of their game.

Right now, we have neither.

Caine

**midgensa** · 02-03-2014, 05:16 PM

Originally Posted by RK.

I heard the comment several times that they built most of the defense with 7th and 8th round picks not first or second round guys. Obviously their GM knows how to evaluate talent.

Well ... they didn't do it with 8th round picks ... those don't exist.

They did draft VERY well though.

Bryant - 4th Round
Mebane - 3rd Round
Irvin - 1st Round
Wagner - 2nd Round
Malcolm Smith - 7th Round (Super Bowl MVP!)
Sherman – 5th Round
Maxwell – 6th Round
Chancellor – 5th Round
Thomas – 1st Round

McDaniel, Clemons - Free Agency and Trade

So ... nine in-house players ... four of which were taken in the 5th, 6th or 7th rounds!

All that ... and they had a major bust mixed in with Aaron Curry fourth overall in 2009.

I would have no problem with our draft being VERY defensive oriented. We could use a QB of course ... and some guard depth ... but all the rest should be defense.

**marshallvike** · 02-03-2014, 05:25 PM

This goes to show what good coaching, ( which includes developing players) can do.

**Purple Floyd** · 02-04-2014, 09:48 AM

Originally Posted by tarkenton10

Manning didn't choke, he was harassed the whole game. Not many QBs would have done better, the one INT wasn't his fault he got hit as he was releasing the ball. He was hit and hurried all game. The line had a bad game if you want to point fingers as to who choked.

I agree to an extent but dammit all we heard all year and leading up to the game was how it was Manning that was a coach on the field, who could read a defense and Omaha them into submission with his cerebral superiority. So if the success was because of him and not those around him then the failures need to be seen the same.

**i_bleed_purple** · 02-04-2014, 09:59 AM

One thing to keep in mind about Seattle's D.

As awesome as they were, Defenses get old fast. They're built with alot of young draft picks, and some great cheap free agent signings (Bennett, Avril). They will not be able to keep that group together for long. Those guys will get paid somewhere else, and they'll be back to a good but not great defense in no time.

So yes, while drafting for defense is definitely something we should look towards doing, we can't put all our eggs in the defense basket, same way we shouldn't just reach for a QB either and hope our problems are solved. To get a GREAT defense, it will take a few years of smart mid-late round drafting.

As somebody mentioned, Carrol coached alot of these kids in university, or coached against them, and has a bit of first hand knowledge about them. Something our team cannot say. That probably gives them a bit of an advantage when it comes to scouting.

**mountainviking** · 02-04-2014, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by Purple Floyd

I agree to an extent but dammit all we heard all year and leading up to the game was how it was Manning that was a coach on the field, who could read a defense and Omaha them into submission with his cerebral superiority. So if the success was because of him and not those around him then the failures need to be seen the same.

That is why I LOVE how this game played out. All the talking heads on TV want to talk about is the QB, like he is the whole frickin team. Well, guess what, he's not. The Best TEAM won the Superbowl on Sunday, not the best QB with the best offense in history.

Seattle won in all three phases with better special teams, good coverage and consistent pressure on defense and as it turns out, a mediocre offense will almost always prevail over a mediocre defense.

I live in CO and was rooting for the Broncos, but I'm happy to see that Old School DEFENSE Still Wins Championships!!!!

SKOL VIKINGS!!!

**rockymtdan** · 02-04-2014, 12:48 PM

The value defensive players is going up this draft.

**tastywaves** · 02-04-2014, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by mountainviking

That is why I LOVE how this game played out. All the talking heads on TV want to talk about is the QB, like he is the whole frickin team. Well, guess what, he's not. The Best TEAM won the Superbowl on Sunday, not the best QB with the best offense in history.

Seattle won in all three phases with better special teams, good coverage and consistent pressure on defense and as it turns out, a mediocre offense will almost always prevail over a mediocre defense.

I live in CO and was rooting for the Broncos, but I'm happy to see that Old School DEFENSE Still Wins Championships!!!!

SKOL VIKINGS!!!

Thank you mountain man. Tried to make that point throughout our dismal season when no one could get off the QB issues. We had QB issues for sure, but the real problems ran much deeper.

There are many ways to build a winning team and it's not just following the last successful team that everyone seems to always fall into. In the end it's about playing better than the guy matched up against you. Seattle beat their matchups in most aspects of the game and is why they dominated.

Talent paired with good coaching and a bit of a twist on how they built their team. Next year it will be someone else with another approach.

Hopefully Zimmer is that guy for us that has enough vision and coaching talent to put a winning formula together and not just another me too tired approach.

**jargomcfargo** · 02-04-2014, 03:08 PM

Originally Posted by tastywaves

Thank you mountain man. Tried to make that point throughout our dismal season when no one could get off the QB issues. We had QB issues for sure, but the real problems ran much deeper.

There are many ways to build a winning team and it's not just following the last successful team that everyone seems to always fall into. In the end it's about playing better than the guy matched up against you. Seattle beat their matchups in most aspects of the game and is why they dominated.

Talent paired with good coaching and a bit of a twist on how they built their team. Next year it will be someone else with another approach.

Hopefully Zimmer is that guy for us that has enough vision and coaching talent to put a winning formula together and not just another me too tired approach.

Right on point, as usual. Need to be the innovator, not the guy who attempts to emulate the innovator.