Former Wilkes-Barre Meyers High School star Qadry Ismail is the only player from the Wyoming Valley to win a Super Bowl.
He won his ring with the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XXXV when they defeated the New York Giants, 34-7, in Tampa.
Ismail also played for the Minnesota Vikings, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints and Indianapolis Colts.
He works as a Baltimore Ravens gameday analyst for WJZ in Baltimore.
For the 17th straight year, Ismail took time to break down the Super Bowl for The Citizens’ Voice earlier in the week with staff writer Steve Bennett.
Super Bowl LX between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots is Sunday at 6:30 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.
Before we get started. What are your thoughts on what has happened in Baltimore since the regular season ended: It was an interesting year because from the beginning the owner, Steve Bisciotti, was saying he wanted to win now. He made that statement while he sat next to John Harbaugh at the owners meetings. It was as if he was saying we got the team, everything is in place. They start the year 1-5 and they were supposed to be Super Bowl champs. Change needed to be made. Clearly you now look at a fresh beginning with Jesse Minter who has ties with John and Jim Harbaugh. He has his own ideas of how he will be doing things. I believe he will restore the excellence that is the Ravens and the defense is what they have been known for since the beginning of the franchise.
Are you more surprised the Patriots are here or the Seahawks are here: I am shocked the Patriots are there. Just the way in which they won games on the road. That speaks to the excellence of Mike Vrabel and what he has done for the team. At the beginning it looked like it would be a rebuilding year. All of a sudden you see the defense in consecutive weeks start to play together. Drake Maye had a phenomenal season. The defensive front is unrelenting. It got to a point they were so good you saw two head coaches in the division getting fires as well as a defensive coordinator and offensive coordinator.
Impressions on Sam Darnold this season: In the NFL its this big splash of who can do it next. You have to have the supporting cast. You better have a good offensive line, offensive coordinator and a quarterback coach who knows how to implement a system to help you. The Seahawks are going to run the ball. It’s not about being flashy but making good decisions. The defense can get you the ball back and give you short fields. He’s been put in a position where he doesn’t flinch. He is ready for the moment.
What about Drake Maye: In just his second season you have seen him dramatically improve. Josh McDaniels is not a great head coach, but you have to tip your cap to him as an offensive coordinator. In the big picture he has a running game that has helped him in critical moments and take pressure off him. There have been times when he’s got the green light to run. You don’t know what you don’t know. He’s not supposed to win on the road that many times.
How difficult do you think it will be facing the Seattle defense when it goes to Cover-6: I saw in Mike Macdonald last year with the Ravens that defense is crazy. You didn’t know where the pressure is coming from. Sometimes the plan is to bring pressure and sometimes he sits back and brings four. You can see where the quarterback is trying to figure out what zone he is looking at. Seemingly they are everywhere and everyone can tackles. It is going to be interesting when it comes to the defense and getting after the Patriots and what Macdonald puts forth.
Will the Seahawks be able to run the ball: I think they will. It will be important to do that. In the Super Bowl the other team is looking at every game you played. They will scout and self scout. For this offense it is all about going out there and playing their brand of football. Clint Kubiak, his heart is in Las Vegas but his brain and legacy is with Seattle. He has the ability to leave on some awesome terms. They will put themselves in position to protect Darnold. When it comes time to make plays in the air I think he will able to because of the threat to run the ball.
Biggest key to the game will be: Which quarterback makes the least amount of mistakes.
For the Patriots to win what will have to go right: Drake Maye will have to throw two touchdowns and when they are in the red zone either run for a touchdown or make a decisive, accurate throw in a tight window for a score. Their special teams best come to play.
For the Seahawks to win what will have to go right: Mike Macdonald is so detailed oriented. It will be what he is going to do that takes Josh McDaniels out of rhythm. Every time Josh McDaniels has been in the Super Bowl with the Patriots he always comes up with some crazy trick play or something you haven’t seen to gain momentum. The Seahawks have to be ready for that.
The one player who will have the biggest impact on the game: (Seattle wide receiver) Jaxon Smith-Njigba. He is my new BFF, my new dude. You know that are going to double him. He is such a clutch player.
Your favorite part. Who wins and why: This is where I have failed. This year I am going middle of the road. It is going to be a back-and-forth first half. Jaxon Smith-Njigba will make a clutch catch in the back of the end zone off Christian Gonzalez. Seattle 30, New England 24.