Linebacker Bobby Wagner isn't really the loudest player on the Seattle's defense
Seattle Seahawks cornerback Richard Sherman is the broach the sports world now. Free security Earl Thomas is a candidate for NFL protective player of the year.
Defensive lineman Michael Bennett, and his R-rated, Elvis-like celebration dance, is a pressure up front for the Seattle protection. Solid safety Kam Chancellor is a highlight-reel player that makes recipients desire they had actually taken up an additional profession.
They all have come to be superstars on the No. 1 defense in the NFL, however it's the man in the middle which makes it all work.
On Super Dish Sunday, some casual supporters will certainly discover about center linebacker Bobby Wagner for the first time. He is the great unknown of Seattle's protection, and the man this unit cannot live without in order to work at maximum capacity.
Wagner is overshadowed by a protection with big talkers, big dancers and large hitters, yet he is the adhesive that holds everything with each other. And he's ALRIGHT if a few of his teammates get the majority of the glory.
"I believe we're all really skilled at the positions we're playing," Wagner shared. "We don't seem like anybody matches us. So when we play any kind of group, we constantly feel like we're visiting appear victorious.".
Wagner, an Ontario, Calif., local that played college soccer at Utah State, is completing his second NFL season after being chosen by the Seahawks in the second round of the 2012 draft.
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At the time, there was a bunch of "Bobby who?" amongst some Seahawks fans. However that really did not last many days. Wagner began 15 games last period and established the franchise business record for takes on by a newbie with 140, in addition to 3 interceptions and 2 sacks.
With all that, he still was overshadowed by one more newbie-- Carolina linebacker Luke Kuechly, a first-round draft pick who had 164 tackles last season.
Nothing new for Wagner, but the Seahawks understood they had a stone in the middle of their protection for several years to come. That rock, however, showed a younger split previously this year.
Wagner experienced an unpleasant high-ankle strain against Indianapolis on Oct. 6. It appeared the injury would keep him out for a month or additional, but Wagner returned after missing two games.
It was prematurely. He pushed himself to recuperate, however didn't play well in his initial game at St. Louis where the Seahawks quit 200 lawns rushing.
"I was playing in some discomfort," Wagner said. "Yet it had not been like I felt I could not do the job. I would like to be out there and I felt I can aid the group.".
There was some roaring about exactly what's wrong with Wagner? Well, absolutely nothing as it ended up, when his ankle healed.
"When Bobby returned from the injury, he was still banged up," Seattle protective coordinator Dan Quinn said. "There was a game there where he didn't play as quick as we 'd like him to. After that it clicked where he got back into his tempo. That made all of the difference for us.".
Because the beginning of November, Wagner has actually had at the very least eight takes on in every game, featuring 10 or even more tackles in four getaways. Possibly his best general game of the period was available in the NFC Championship Game against the 49ers.
Sherman, in the national limelight that night for his postgame tirade on national TELEVISION, knew how well Wagner had actually played.
"Bobby had 15 takes on," Sherman stated. "He had a fantastic game, like a lot of our men. The tales would have been about them. To make sure that's the only thing I feel type of regretful about.".
Wagner is as fundamentally sound a tackler as you will certainly discover. He isn't really showy, but does everything at a high degree. He has 5 sacks, two interceptions and 6 passes defensed this season. He's likewise the quarterback of the defense.
"He's someone we definitely rely on to do a lot of things," Quinn shared, "not just from the attitude that he brings, yet making decisions.".
Ensuring the Seahawks are in the right protection at the best minute, something that will be vital versus Denver's hurry-up infraction with Peyton Manning, is Wagner's duty.
"Bobby has actually really played well since the 2nd one-half of the period," Seattle coach Pete Carroll claimed. "He has actually merely gotten on board of every one of the commands of the defense and the calls and the adjustments that he has to make. He's actually playing quick. I think it's simply a natural process of how he's increased and exactly how this protection has actually expanded.".
The Seahawks have a defense filled with celebrities, however Wagner is the guy that puts them ready to shine. And he merely may have a number of sparkling moments himself on Sunday.
