Pete Carroll: ‘This is not time to change’
Jan 27, 2014, 11:27 AM | Updated: Jan 28, 2014, 9:24 am
By Brent Stecker
The Seahawks may be practicing for the biggest game in franchise history, but they’re doing their best to keep it business as usual.
After the Seahawks’ first practice in New Jersey prior to Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Broncos, Seattle coach Pete Carroll said Monday on “The Pete Carroll Show” on 710 ESPN Seattle that the emphasis is on playing the same way that brought the Seahawks within a game of a title.
“At this point, I think it’s a good message to share with our guys that what we’ve done to get to this point has put us in position here at the Super Bowl, so this is not time to change,” Carroll told 710 ESPN Seattle’s Brock Huard and Danny O’Neil. “This isn’t gonna be different. Once the ball gets kicked off, it’s gonna be football, and we want to rely on all of the times that we’ve banked on the preparation and the process and the mindfulness that we have.”
The Seahawks’ push for continuity was helped by the returns of running back Marshawn Lynch (knee) and wide receiver Doug Baldwin (hip) to practice after sitting out last week.
“Both those guys looked great today. They went full-go and were fine,” Carroll said. “We’re in really good shape at this point and very, very fortunate to be feeling that way.”
That even extends to wide receiver Percy Harvin, who played just once during the regular season because of lingering soreness from hip surgery, then suffered a concussion in the Seahawks’ first playoff game.
“(Harvin) is looking great. He’s in great shape, and he looked terrific in practice so he’s full-go and will be involved in the game plan in all phases,” Carroll said.
