The Seahawks obviously had a lot of problems in 2016 — a JV offensive line, a revolving M*A*S*H lineup and too many B.A. Baracus impersonators.
On top of that, they apparently did not want it enough.
“The team was not as hungry as we were four years ago,” Sherman Smith, recently ousted as running backs coach, told 710 ESPN on Friday. “When you have the type of success that we’ve had — you win a Super Bowl, you have a heartbreaking loss in the Super Bowl, you’ve been to the playoffs, what, five years in a row, you have this reputation — guys aren’t as hungry.
“We’ve got to get that hunger that we had when we weren’t winning,” Smith said. “How do you get that back when you’ve won and you’ve got the big contracts and endorsements and everybody loves you? How do you get that back? I think there’s only so much Pete (Carroll) can do, but the players … (have) got to do some things themselves.”
Obviously, it would help if they stayed healthy. But the make-or-break questions for this franchise this offseason: Were the injuries the reason for the lack of so-called hunger? Or has Carroll’s message simply grown stale? And, if it’s the latter, what can Carroll do to regain the interest and control of his team?
A year ago, the Seahawks needed a new left tackle to replace the departing Russell Okung. Most people (probably even George Fant) would say they didn’t find one, which is why there is a lot of speculation about them checking into the several veteran tackles being let go.
It has been three years since the Seahawks reached the NFL’s summit and stood at the peak of franchise history. The next year, they were a mere yard from the top, looking like they were going to conquer the mountain for a second straight year and set up a climb toward a dynasty.
Are the Seahawks “in the middle of it” or coming to the end of it? That is the big question after three straight disappointing playoff seasons.
It’s that time of year again — when disenchanted fans get to hope some team hires away Tom Cable or Darrell Bevell.
Pete Carroll knows his team has to keep trying to run the ball if it is going to keep winning. That was true vs. the Rams and certainly will apply in the playoffs.
