Since their Super Bowl XLVIII victory in New Jersey last season, the Seahawks' roster has remained largely unchained. The offensive line has just one new starter – rookie right tackle Justin Britt – and the linebackers, cornerbacks and safeties all have the same core players.

The Seahawks are not entirely without change since last February, however, and enter Super Bowl XLIX with an overhauled defensive line and a receiving corps that took significant losses over the year.

The wide receiver changes have been discussed and dissected throughout the year for the Seahawks, who let starter Golden Tate walk to the Detroit Lions in free agency and traded Percy Harvin during the season. These changes forced Doug Baldwin to become the feature wide receiver of the offence and promoted Jermain Kearse to a starter. Baldwin fell just of Tate's 2013 numbers this season, while Kearse had a significant drop off from Baldwin's production.

Yet, where these changes are felt for the Seahawks, are on special teams.  When healthy, Harvin represents one of the significant kick return threat, as evidenced by his 87-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in Super Bowl XLVIII. Against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Championship, Baldwin averaged 19.3 yards per kickoff return with a fumble and punt returner Bryan Walters averaged just seven yards.

Often overshadowed by the losses of Tate and Harvin, are changes Seattle made to create a smaller and more athletic defensive line. The Seahawks lost starting defensive ends Chris Clemons and Red Bryant in free agency to the Jacksonville Jaguars and placed defensive tackles Brandon Mebane and Jordan Hill on injured reserve during the season. Tony McDaniel then remained as the team's lone holdover from their Super Bowl-winning front four.

The transition from Clemons to Michael Bennett was a relatively simple one; replacing one edge rusher with another. But replacing Bryant with Cliff Avril at defensive end represented a significant change in philosophy for the base defence of the Seahawks - trading a 323-pound run stuffer with a 260-pound pass rusher. Though the Seahawks already employed multiple fronts to feature pass rushers, the change in their base package clearly didn't hurt the unit, who once again ranked first in total defence and, surprisingly, improved from seventh against the run to third. The defence did, however, drop from 43 sacks in 2013 to 36 this year.

In more minor changes for the Seahawks, K.J. Wright will start in this year's Super Bowl over last year's MVP Malcolm Smith. Smith started the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl last year in place of Wright, who was battling a foot injury.

On the offensive line, Britt has taken over at right tackle for Breno Giacomini, who joined the New York Jets in free agency. The Seahawks once again kept 10 offensive lineman on the active roster this season, but focused on keeping more interior linemen after keeping six offensive tackles last year (of those, only Paul McQuistan was listed a guard/tackle). Alvin Bailey started for Britt against the Packers in the Conference Championship, but the rookie is expected to start against the Patriots despite a knee injury.

An injury to Zach Miller allowed Luke Willson to take over at starting tight end this season. Willson had four catches on four targets against the Carolina Panthers in the Divisional Round and has become a significant contributor in the offence.

Finally, with Michael Robinson retiring after the 2014 Super Bowl win and Derek Coleman injured, the Seahawks will start former defensive lineman Will Tukuafu at fullback on Sunday. Tukuafu - 6-4, 293-pounds - is a punishing run blocker head-on, but struggles with lateral movement.  
The Seahawks strongest unit from 2013, the secondary or "Legion of Boom," remains unchanged at the starting positions, though Earl Thomas (shoulder) and Richard Sherman (elbow) are battling injuries this year.

See the full roster comparison from Super Bowl XLVIII to XLIX below.

 

Roster Comparison

 
Super Bowl XLVIII Seahawks Position Super Bowl XLIX Seahawks
Russell Wilson QB Russell Wilson
Tavaris Jackson  QB Tavaris Jackson 
  QB B.J. Daniels
Marshawn Lynch RB Marshawn Lynch
Robert Turbin  RB  Robert Turbin 
Christine Michael  RB  Christine Michael 
Derek Coleman RB  
Michael Robinson FB Will Tukuafu
Zach Miller TE Luke Willson 
Kellen Davis TE Cooper Helfet 
Luke Willson TE Tony Moeaki 
Golden Tate WR Doug Baldwin 
Doug Baldwin WR Jermaine Kearse 
Percy Harvin WR  Kevin Norwood 
Jermaine Kearse WR  Ricardo Lockette
Ricardo Lockette WR  Chris Matthews
Bryan Walters WR Bryan Walters 
Russell Okung  OT Russell Okung 
Breno Giacomini OT Justin Britt 
Paul McQuistan OT  Alvin Bailey
Alvin Bailey OT  Garry Gilliam 
Michael Bowie OT  
Caylin Hauptmann OT  
James Carpenter  G James Carpenter 
J.R. Sweezy  G  J.R. Sweezy 
Lemuel Jeanpierre  G  Keavon Milton 
Max Unger C Max Unger 
  C Lemuel Jeanpierre 
  C Patrick Lewis 
Chris Clemons DE  Michael Bennett
Red Bryant DE  Cliff Avril 
Michael Bennett DE  O'Brien Schofield
Cliff Avril  DE Demarcus Dobbs  
O'Brien Schofield DE David King 
Benson Mayowa DE  
Brandon Mebane DT Tony McDaniel 
Tony McDaniel DT Kevin Williams 
Jordan Hill DT Landon Cohen 
Clinton McDonald DT    
Bruce Irvin LB Bruce Irvin 
Bobby Wagner LB  Bobby Wagner 
Malcolm Smith LB  K.J. Wright 
K.J. Wright LB Malcolm Smith 
Heath Fawell LB  Brock Coyle 
Mike Morgan LB  Mike Morgan 
Richard Sherman CB  Richard Sherman 
Byron Maxwell CB  Byron Maxwell 
Jeremy Lane CB  Jeremy Lane 
Walter Thurmond CB  Tharold Simon 
  CB   Marcus Burley 
Kam Chancellor    Kam Chancellor 
Earl Thomas  Earl Thomas 
Chris Maragos   Jeron Johnson 
DeShawn Shead  DeShawn Shead 
  S Steven Terrell
Steven Hauschka K Steven Hauschka
Jon Ryan   P Jon Ryan 
Clint Gresham LS   Clint Gresham