If (when) the Denver Broncos try to utilize “pick plays” against the Seattle Seahawks defense during Super Bowl XLVIII on Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks will be ready for it.
The Seahawks’ secondary is capable of playing tight man-to-man coverage against opposing receivers. Against man coverage, the Broncos frequently employ the use of crossing routes that can leave trailing defenders caught up in traffic. But the Broncos man get more than they bargained for against the Seahawks.
“They run a lot of crossing routes but they’re not going to pick us off like that,” linebacker Bobby Wagner said. “We’re too physical for that. We’re not going to just sit there and let them pick us off. We’re going to hit them.”
Broncos receiver Wes Welker injured New England Patriots cornerback Aqib Talib when they collided on a crossing route. No flag was thrown and the league determined it was a legal play, though “pick plays” are illegal and would have been called as offensive pass interference.
Illegal picks or otherwise, Wagner isn’t sure the Broncos will like the result if they try to use crossing routes against Seattle.
“It can be illegal, legal... try to pick Kam Chancellor. See how that works out,” Wagner said.
The chess match between the high-powered, top-ranked Denver offense and brutally physical and athletic top-ranked Seattle defense should be the primary attraction of Super Bowl XLVIII. Some good clean (theoretically legal) hitting between the two teams should only make the battle that much better.