Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll. Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks are used to going all out, all the time. Super Bowl Sunday is a unique beast relative to the typical NFL game day with extended breaks that force teams to tap the brakes.
The team will arrive more than three hours before the scheduled 6:25 p.m. ET kickoff, waiting through pregame concerts, split warmup schedules and after kickoff, longer commercial breaks and a halftime break about three times as long as the typical Sunday.
“As we finish the week, we’re dealing with that so that we can prepare our guys and actually practice the time frames,” Carroll said Thursday from The Westin Jersey City at his final press conference at Seattle’s hotel.
That doesn’t mean significant changes to the usual midweek routine. After Competition Wednesday — a live scrimmage atmosphere with starters against starters, a scoreboard and time clock — the Seahawks turned to Turnover Thursday, a 90-minute practice focused on turnovers. For the offense, it’s about limiting fumbles and interceptions. For the defense, the opposite.
“We think turnover ratio and results of turnovers is the most compelling stat. It’s the No. 1 emphasis in our program,” Carroll said.
For good reason, quarterback Russell Wilson said he calls it “No Turnover Thursday.”
The proof is enough for the Seahawks to push the ball-hawking intensity in practice. The Seahawks led the NFL with a turnover ratio of plus-20, and a league-best 39 takeaways (28 interceptions, 11 fumbles).
“It’s intense,” Sherman said. “We go really hard at practice. The defense has won most of the time and I think that’s manifested itself. I think the last three have been ended by (rookie cornerback) Akeem Auguste. Turnover Thursday is really the embodiment of our program. It’s the embodiment of what we do.”
Auguste, a practice squad player out of South Carolina, went undrafted and signed with the Seahawks in November. He’s the latest in a growing line of underdogs rising to the occasion in Seattle. Carroll said it all sprung from the basic plan for his coaches to always get every player in their best position to succeed.
“We run this program with extraordinary standards,” Carroll said. “We’ve created an environment where not only is that at the top of the charts. We’re just trying to get the best out of our guys. It doesn’t mean you’re going to win. We may play exceedingly well (Sunday) and still not win.”
Sherman described practice intensity as off-the-charts Wednesday leading into his favorite day of the week. Sherman got his hands on 24 passes this season, with an NFL-high eight interceptions and 16 passes defended. He senses confidence in growing with every day and echoed quarterback Russell Wilson’s line, “preparation is separation.”
“There’s a tenor, there’s a focus that you can feel,” Carroll said. “I know it well enough, we’ve been doing it this way for a long time, you can sense when it’s on. The players can feel it too. … If anything, we have to take care of each other as we’re flying around. But we’re going to have a rocking day today.”
One player who was elated to get to the practice field Thursday was Marshawn Lynch. Carroll said “I’ll be relieved some,” when Lynch finishes his Thursday interview session and no longer is forced to meet with the mobs of media. His next scheduled mandatory press obligation is following the Super Bowl.
“It’s going to be good to get back to football. Real good,” said Lynch, who was more conversational Thursday
NOTES: Carroll said the Seahawks hoped to simulate game day in every practice but the team would remain indoors at the New York Giants’ practice facility in East Rutherford, N.J., about nine miles from the team hotel. … K Steven Hauschka and P Jon Ryan worked out at MetLife Stadium, getting comfortable with footing, and will be two of the first on the field Sunday. Carroll said not having them practice outdoors before Sunday will not be a factor. If the game comes down to a field goal, the Seahawks consider it automatic. “Hey, he’s Hausch Monday,” Carroll said. Hauschka was 33 of 35 on field goals this season. He missed just once in 15 field-goal tries over 40 yards.
