Five Super Bowl Questions With Seattle's Steve Sandmeyer, Jason Churchill
BOSTON (CBS) -- It's Super Bowl week, and though there are plenty of sound bites and side stories, what often gets lost is that there's an actual football game to be played.
Those of us in New England know plenty about the Patriots, but to help get a better understanding of the Seahawks, we asked some questions to Steve Sandmeyer and Jason Churchill (sort of) from The Steve Sandmeyer Show on 1090 The Fan in Seattle. Our own Bob Socci answered questions for Seattle, while Sandmeyer's and Churchill's answers are below.
1. Obviously, the big story in football over the past week has been "DeflateGate." What are folks in Seattle making of it, and do you think it will have any effect on the game?
Sandmeyer: The Seattle attitude about DeflateGate is "that's your problem, not ours." I don't think it will impact the game in any way, shape or form on Seattle's side, and I doubt that it's going to impact the game on New England's side.
Churchill: I'm just here so I don't get fined, boss.
2. Richard Sherman says that he's going to be 100 percent for the game, but that injury didn't look too good against Green Bay. Is there worry in Seattle that Sherman might not be his normal self?
Sandmeyer: No. Richard Sherman can still run and can still utilize his anticipation, his quickness, his smarts, his savvy. And if that elbow is a little sore, I don't think it'll will impact the way he plays one bit.
Churchill: I'm just here so I won't get fined.
3. Everyone knows that when you face the Patriots, you face Tom Brady. But aside from Brady, who are the one or two Patriots players who are of most concern to Seattle?
Sandmeyer: LeGarrette Blount is one: 30 carries for over 140 yards, three touchdowns against the [Indianapolis] Colts. And the other one is Rob Gronkowski, who is the best tight end in football.
Churchill: I'm just here so I won't get fined.
4. On the flip side of that, New Englanders are well aware of Russell Wilson and Marshawn Lynch on offense, and the vaunted Legion of Boom on defense. Outside of the big names, who are the one or two players from Seattle's roster who may end up being the key players of the game?
Sandmeyer: Middle linebacker Bobby Wagner, who is the glue that holds that defense together; and Michael Bennett – number 72 – who is the most versatile and underrated defensive lineman in all of the National Football League.
Churchill: I'm just here so I won't get fined.
5. Why -- why?! -- do Seahawks players keep insisting that Rob Gronkowski is not going to be a problem? Is this something they do to all of the 6-foot-6, freakishly strong, borderline unstoppable tight ends they face? Are they on the next level of playing head games that they can do that?
Sandmeyer: The Seahawks are confident they'll stop Rob Gronkowski because they will do it as a team. It won't be only Kam Chancellor – it'll be one of five, maybe six, different players and maybe two at one time to stop him. They are confident because they have a plan as a team – a team that has the No. 1 defense in the league.
Churchill: I'm just here so I won't get fined.
Thanks to Steve Sandmeyer and (sort of) Jason Churchill for providing the Seattle insight for Super Bowl XLIX.
Tune in to Super Bowl XLIX on 98.5 The Sports Hub — the flagship station of the New England Patriots. It's the only place to hear Bob Socci & Scott Zolak's local call of the game!