The Seattle Seahawks’ defensive backs, led by loquacious cornerback Richard Sherman, play physical, in-your-face, knock-the-snot-out-of-you football.
Broncos wide receiver Eric Decker said Friday that the Broncos must be prepared for that challenge when they face the Seahawks in the Super Bowl on Feb. 2 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
“I think all around, they have the best defense in the NFL and they get after opponents,” Decker said after practice at the Broncos’ Dove Valley headquarters. “I think you have to play from the first snap. You have to be physical, because these guys are going to get you at the line, they are going to get you at the top of routes and they will come down to hit you. So you have to make sure you bring it to them as well.”
Because quarterback Peyton Manning is sacked so rarely, and because he gets rid of the ball so quickly, many defensive coordinators believe their best chance to beat Denver is to disrupt its receivers’ routes. Decker expects to see exactly that from the Seahawks.
“Schematically, defenses around the league have different plans, but when you have a quarterback like Peyton, the way to (defend) is to have a lot of press coverage. You see that across the board. So for us, it’s about putting ourselves in the right position.”
On the other side of the ball, veteran cornerback Champ Bailey, playing in his first Super Bowl after 15 seasons in the league, said the Broncos must be wary of explosive Seattle wide receiver Percy Harvin.
For the third time this season, Harvin is ready to play after missing time because of injuries. Harvin cleared concussion protocol this week and has been cleared to play in the Super Bowl. He has played in only two games this season because of a hip injury and a concussion.
“That’s a dangerous man right there,” Bailey said. “He can change the game if you allow him to. I remember playing him when he was in Minnesota, and he’s one of the most explosive guys coming off the ball.
“I don’t know how they are going to use him. We don’t have a lot of tape on him, if any, but they are going to use him. You don’t have a weapon like that and not use it.”
On the injury front, kicker Matt Prater, who missed Thursday’s Super Bowl practice because of a virus, was a no-show at Friday morning’s practice as well. Running back Knowshon Moreno (ribs) was once again a limited participant, and defensive tackle Mitch Unrein also was a limited participant.
Prater, who kicked a record-setting 64-yard field goal this season against Tennessee, and also booted a 54-yarder against New England in the AFC championship game, has been one of the Broncos’ most reliable weapons.
Coach John Fox said that he was keeping Prater away from teammates to make sure Prater didn’t spread his illness, but said “he’ll be fine.”
In stark contrast to Thursday’s cold and snow, the Broncos took the field Friday under sunny skies with a temperature of 46 degrees. When Denver began practice on Thursday it was just 10 degrees.
Denver will hold one practice on Saturday morning and then leave on Sunday for New Jersey.
Patrick Saunders: psaunders@denverpost.com or twitter.com/psaundersdp
