The old saying that defense wins championships has not been reflected by the head coaches who have led their teams to the Super Bowl in recent years. But Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald and Patriots coach Mike Vrabel are changing that.
Macdonald and Vrabel both coached defenses before they became head coaches, making them the first defensive-oriented head coaches to lead a team to the Super Bowl since Bill Belichick’s final Super Bowl with the Patriots, seven years ago.
The last six Super Bowls have featured Andy Reid five times, Kyle Shanahan twice, Nick Sirianni twice, Bruce Arians once, Sean McVay once and Zac Taylor once. All are offensive-oriented coaches.
The last time both Super Bowl head coaches came from a defensive background was in 2017, when Belichick and the Patriots came back from a 28-3 deficit to beat Dan Quinn’s Falcons in overtime.
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye missed practice on Friday with an illness and a right shoulder injury. Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald does not think that will have any impact on Super Bowl LX.
Macdonald was asked Friday how much he takes Maye’s health into account in preparing for the Super Bowl.
“None,” was Macdonald’s one-word answer.
Macdonald is expecting to see Maye play at the MVP level that he played at during the regular season.
“He is a tremendous player. He really is. He’s strong, he’s fast, great arm talent, great decision making. We’ve got to be on our stuff,” Macdonald said.
During the two-week run-up to the Super Bowl, every issue that could potentially affect the game draws heightened scrutiny, and Maye’s health will be no different. But there’s no reason to believe Maye won’t be good to go on Super Bowl Sunday.
Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had another limited practice on Friday.
He has not had a full practice since injuring his left oblique on Jan. 15.
Darnold, though, does not have an injury designation.
The Super Bowl teams are required to do injury reports on the off week between the championship games and the Super Bowl, and players are given designations based on the game being played Sunday instead of Feb. 8.
The Seahawks list backup offensive tackle Amari Kight (knee) as doubtful after he didn’t practice all week. He missed the NFC Championship Game with his injury.
Fullback Robbie Ouzts (neck), fullback Brady Russell (hand) and linebacker Chazz Surratt (ankle) received questionable designations. Ouzts and Russell were listed as limited all week. Surratt, who is in his 21-day return-to-practice window, was estimated as a full participant in all three practices.
The Seahawks added cornerback Josh Jobe (foot) to the injury report Friday as a limited participant.
Left tackle Charles Cross (foot) and tight end Eric Saubert (hamstring) did not practice all week, but did not receive a game status.
Super Bowl LX won’t be played until Feb. 8. The Seahawks and Patriots, though, are required to release an estimated injury report with designations for this week, as if the game was played Sunday.
So, the fact that quarterback Drake Maye is listed as questionable with a right shoulder injury and an illness is not a big deal. It is next Friday’s injury report that will reveal more about his status.
The Patriots listed eight other players as questionable.
Running back Terrell Jennings (hamstring/cleared concussion protocol), linebacker Harold Landry (knee), offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (knee/illness) did not practice Friday. Landry, Munford and Spillane did not practice all week.
The other four players who are questionable are defensive lineman Joshua Farmer (hamstring), tight end Hunter Henry (rest), wide receiver Mack Hollins (abdomen) and offensive tackle Morgan Moses (rest).
The fact that Henry and Moses are questionable tells you how seriously the Patriots took the report.
Patriots rookie offensive tackle Will Campbell has faced plenty of criticism for his play, but head coach Mike Vrabel thinks the AFC Championship Game was a good sign of Campbell’s growth.
Vrabel said Campbell had a better game against a tough opponent in Broncos edge rusher Nik Bonitto, and he hopes to see more improvement against the Seahawks in Super Bowl LX.
“I thought he played better against a really good rusher. We’ll need to keep improving, and we’re excited he has another week to do it,” Vrabel said.
The Patriots took Campbell with the fourth overall pick in the draft and immediately made him their starter at left tackle, protecting Drake Maye’s blind side. He’ll be one of the most important players on the field in the Super Bowl, and his ability to keep Maye upright will go a long way toward determining whether the Patriots can beat the Seahawks.
