Seattle Seahawks Preview

QB: Russell Wilson: Wilson has just signed a new contract with the Seahawks longterm which should make Seahawks fans excited. Wilson is one of the games most reliable options at QB and has a cannon arm along with good decision making skills and mobility.

RB: Marshawn Lynch: Not much needs to be said about Lynch, he's one of the leagues top backs and has the power and speed that all teams desire. His age may be a concern.

Marshawn Lynch 

WR: Jermaine Kearse, Ricardo Lockette, Doug Baldwin: These receivers are all solid, but all lack that extra "stuff" that can bring them to the level of great receivers. They have reliable hands, but are not athletic freaks like a Dez Bryant or Calvin Johnson.

TE: Jimmy Graham. This is where the Seahawks really improved in the offseasons. They get arguably the top TE (or second) in the business. Graham has been a reliable source for TD's for the Saints for years so it's very confusing of why they would give him up. Wilson will now have a Redzone target that is sure handed.

OL: Max Unger is gone from the Seahawks as he was traded for Graham, but the Seahawks still boast some of the top linemen in the country.

DL: The Seahawks defensive line will still wreak havoc to opposing QB's. Avril and Bennett lead a group of a strong unit.

LB: Bruce Irvin leads a group of some of the best run stoppers in the game. The Seahawks look to stay solid in this department.

DB: The big names of the Seahawks defense are in this group. Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas return to the top secondary in the NFL. This team will shut down receivers and cause panic among QB's.

The Better Corner: Patrick Peterson vs. Richard Sherman

Last week, Madden released their ratings for both Richard Sherman and Patrick Peterson in Madden 15. Here is the EA Sports Insider Instagram post:

Underneath the caption, EA Sports gave the rating of 99 to Richard Sherman, while they gave the rating of 93 to Patrick Peterson. First stumbling upon this, I have tried to come up with reasons that may cause the major separation between the two. I understand that Sherman is arguably the best corner in the game, and there plenty of reasons to believe so. He has shutdown/ slowed down some of the greatest receivers in the game. Sherman has had 8 interceptions in each of the past two seasons.  No other corner has that many interceptions within the past two seasons. In the past three seasons, Sherman has had a total of 20 interceptions.  He is also one of the most clutch players in the game, making the game saving pass deflection against the 49ers in the NFC Championship game.  I could see why Sherman is a 99. He is like no other when it comes to the definition of a shutdown corner. 

With that being said, Patrick Peterson is toe for toe in the running with Richard Sherman for the title as "best corner in the NFL". In the past three seasons, Peterson has a total of 12 interceptions. In addition, Peterson has 8 fumble recoveries and 4 punt returns taken for a touchdown. On the defensive end , Peterson has been seen playing both corner and safety for the Arizona Cardinals. Peterson is Mr. Everything for the Cardinals. What also helps Peterson make a case to be considered the best is the fact Peterson will literally go to whichever side that the receiver he is covering goes to. Based on the scheme that the Seahawks use, Sherman only stays on the offense's right side of the field. Whether it's considered a fair judgement or not, Peterson truly following the opposite's best receiver is a more challenging scheme that he happens to do very well.

In my opinion, Sherman should be rated a 97, while Peterson should be rated a 95. They are both great at what they do, and I do not believe that they are a differential of 6 in Madden. 

Six Players to Watch in Superbowl XLVIII: 5. Richard Sherman

#25, Richard Sherman, Seattle Seahawks.
Cornerback.
6'3, 195lbs.
Madden Rating: 99.

The last Seahawk to watch for Superbowl XLVIII is none other than the loud, talkative, talented, intelligent cornerback Richard Sherman. In just 3 short years, Sherman has managed to become the best cornerback in the league and was able to piss alot of people off in the process.

In the past two years, Sherman has been able to get a total of 16 interceptions, 8 in each of the past two seasons. He has made his mark as being the best corner in the league. Sherman has a style of play that is crafty , in which alot of people do not have. In sports, there is always trash talking. With that being said, most people either do it because they can't play well, or they end up distracting themselves from playing their best. To have the ability to play as well and talk as much trash as he does, Sherman is a really tough corner for any receiver to go against. He usually distracts some of the best mentally, which hurts their physical game. In the Superbowl , Mr. Sherman will be toe-to-toe with one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, Demaryius Thomas. Peyton Manning is one of the best at knowing exactly when and how to throw the ball to his receivers, so Sherman will get some action. The question will really be how much and how will it effect the game. During the conference championship game, the 49ers were driving down the field trying to win the game in the fourth quarter. With one last pass in the endzone, Colin Kapernick threw a great pass to Michael Crabtree... but Richard Sherman leaped and knocked the ball just out of the reach for Crabtree. That play allowed the Seahawks to now play for a  Superbowl this coming Sunday.

The Seahawks will be looking for ways to confuse Manning, so look for them to do different things with Sherman. For most of the game, Sherman and Thomas will go head-to-head. If Sherman can get to Thomas and lock him down, trouble will be coming Denver's way.