Last taste of football

Hernandez joins TRMC staff
January 29, 2014
The Pro Bowl still stinks … but here’s my mock draft
January 29, 2014
Hernandez joins TRMC staff
January 29, 2014
The Pro Bowl still stinks … but here’s my mock draft
January 29, 2014

Will this Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVIII yield the first-ever Lombardi Trophy for the Seattle Seahawks?

Or will New Orleans native and Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning take home his second Super Bowl ring?

Most local prep football coaches think the latter is the most likely scenario for the big game.

Like most sports fans across the area, the Tri-parish high school coaches admitted this week their excitement for Sunday afternoon’s anticipated tilt between the NFC Champion Seahawks and the AFC Champion Broncos.


But while Las Vegas betting experts predict a nearly even battle, most of the coaches tout that it is the Broncos who hold the advantage when the teams take the field for the game.

“I think Denver has the advantage in this one,” Covenant Christian Academy head coach Randy Boquet said. “I really believe the old man is going to get another one. I think Peyton Manning and those guys are going to pull it out. It’s a true battle of offense versus defense, but I think Peyton Manning is playing at such a high level right now. I think he’s going to come out and have a big day.”

“I like Denver,” Ellender coach Terry Washington said. “They are playing at such a high level right now. Seattle is a great team. This is going to be an excellent game. But I think the Broncos just have what it takes to bring it home.”


Pretty much everyone in the Broncos’ camp said that it’s all about Manning for Denver.

The veteran quarterback received praise from the area’s coaches because of his dominance throughout the season.

Central Catholic coach David Fuhrer said he thinks Manning has elevated his game to a new level since being cut by the Indianapolis Colts and being signed by the Denver Broncos.


Fuhrer added that he thinks Manning will have a big day on Sunday because he’s still hungry to avenge his Super Bowl loss to the New Orleans Saints – a defeat sealed with a Manning interception returned for a touchdown by then-Saints’ defensive back Tracy Porter.

“I think he’s on a mission,” Fuhrer said. “I think he’s due for it. I don’t know if he’s ever gotten over that last one against the Saints. I think he’s put in the work and he has the weapons capable of giving Seattle problems.”

Those weapons had the local coaches drooling with envy.


Boquet said the Broncos have a perfect blend of veteran guys like Wes Welker and Eric Decker to mix with youngsters like Julius Thomas and Demaryius Thomas in their offensive mix.

The CCA coach said Manning’s sheer football IQ alone is good enough to give a team a fighting chance.

When combined with lethal weapons? Look out.


“He takes average receivers and he lifts them up and makes them very good players,” Boquet said. “So when he has the level of talent like he has now, it’s just something that’s fun to see. I wouldn’t want to coach against those guys – that’s for sure.”

So what does Seattle have to do to stay afloat in a game widely forecast to belong to the Broncos?

Running the ball and controlling the clock will help.


Fuhrer said he expects the Seahawks’ offense to try and slow the game down with Marshawn Lynch.

“It’s probably going to be similar to the plan you see teams use often against the Saints, quite honestly,” Fuhrer said. “Get first downs and trust that if you have the ball, Peyton Manning doesn’t.”

By doing that, the Seahawks will also be able to ease second-year quarterback Russell Wilson into the game.


Boquet said he admires the maturity and composure Wilson has shown throughout his career, but added that he would run easily executable plays early to make sure he calms his nerves.

“He’s amazing,” Boquet said. “He hides it well. He’s doing things that he shouldn’t be doing at this stage of his career. But even though he hides it well, the truth is that he’s still a baby. So I’d be a little bit nervous. I’d try and do things to make it easier for him – especially early.”

If able to successfully turn the game into a defensive struggle, the Seahawks can their dominant defense work.


Washington said he expects Seattle to try and get pressure on Manning to disrupt Denver’s rhythm.

“They are going to want to get hits on the quarterback,” he said. “No doubt.”

To do that, Seattle will likely look for elite and outspoken defensive back Richard Sherman to play man-to-man coverage against a variety of Broncos’ receivers.


“That’s their best chance,” Fuhrer said. “To take Denver out of their game offensively and make it an ugly game.”

The weather could be Seattle’s best friend, too.

It was virtually unanimous that a snow/sleet/wind game would benefit Seattle because it would slow down Manning and the Broncos’ receivers.


“It has to favor Seattle,” Boquet said. “They want to take Denver’s receivers and slow them down. They are a little bit more dedicated to their bruising power running game. I think that if the game gets messy, they are the team that benefits the most from soggy, frozen conditions.”

The thought of a white Super Bowl also sparked emotion from those asked.

“This commissioner has done an injustice to the NFL and the fans across the world by putting this game in the Northeast,” Washington said. “No Super Bowl should be played outside anymore with some of the wonderful indoor facilities we have in this country. I think it’s a bad call altogether. These guys work hard all year to get to this point. Once there, the better man should win. Not the man who best can handle playing in the snow.”


“I think they should be played inside or in states where you’re pretty much guaranteed warm weather,” Fuhrer agreed. “It’s just making a difficult experience for fans who are spending a lot of money to go to the game.

“But weather or no weather, this is going to be a great game with two great teams. I’m excited to see it.”


Sunday’s Super Bowl XLVIII pits arguably the best quarterback of all-time against a youngster ready to make his place in history. But when talking to local prep football coaches in the Tri-parish area, those questioned tout that Denver Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning (pictured) will win the big game because of the experience factor he holds over Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson.

AP PHOTO