Tag Archives: Pete Carroll

Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them

October 26, 2015 cc Leave a comment

It’s a good thing the Seahawks are finishing the first half of the season with a couple of struggling teams, because their offense still has its own issues to reconcile.

Sure, the Seahawks finally finished an opponent Thursday, dominating the San Francisco 49ers like they did last year, but the Seattle offense still functioned only about half as well as it should. And Pete Carroll knows things have to change if the Seahawks are going to win another Super Bowl this season.

Russell Wilson was sacked five times and Marshawn Lynch had to fight too hard for most of his 122 yards. While the line gave the running back some good cutback lanes early on the first drive, it took five tries for him to score from the 3-yard line. In fact, about half of Lynch’s 27 runs went for three yards or less. That explains why his teammates were so fired up by his performance — he did most of it himself.

Carroll thinks Seattle’s mostly neophyte line is getting better at run blocking, based on Lynch’s best game of the season and the 200-yard rushing day at Cincinnati a couple of weeks ago. But the simple fact is the unit is still far too inconsistent. And it is pathetic at pass blocking.

Continue reading Offense still has big problems, but Carroll has a plan to fix them →

CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At San Francisco

October 23, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The day after the 20-3 win over the 49ers, Pete Carroll told 710 ESPN the Seahawks didn’t do anything they weren’t supposed to do. He also talked about Russell Wilson’s interceptions, among other things.

The Legion of Boom talked about yet another dominating defensive performance vs. the 49ers.

Marshawn Lynch had his best game, despite hurling on the sideline. “We’re going to go as far as he takes us,” Doug Baldwin said.

Michael Bennett had a career-best 3.5 sacks — though he made a good point he should have gotten partial credit for a fourth.

Will Tukuafu played a lot, as fullback and defensive lineman, and six defenders played every snap.

The Seahawks still have plenty to prove, Dave Boling correctly says.

The great rivalry between the Hawks and Niners is dead, as the teams head in different directions, Danny Kelly writes.

CHAWK LINES, Week 7: At San Francisco

October 22, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Bobby Wagner will return and Fred Jackson talked to the team about his car crash.

Anquan Boldin and Carlos Hyde were listed as questionable for the 49ers.

Bucky Brooks explains what we have said since last season: The Seahawks are vulnerable to short passing games.

Unlike previous seasons, Seahawks-49ers is less must-see TV than it is must-win TV.

Key matchups for the Seahawks vs. the 49ers tonight, via Seahawks.com.

Five things to watch for, from NFL.com.

The Seahawks are 13-2 in prime time under Pete Carroll.

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State of the team, Week 7: At San Francisco

Can Carroll recapture his ‘distracted’ team?

October 21, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As the Seattle Seahawks seemingly sleepwalk through this season, with little sign of their previous hunger to win and killer instinct, it is fair to wonder whether the players have tuned out Pete Carroll and whether he can regain their ear before the season really does spin out of control.

Back-to-back Super Bowls, contract concerns and Carroll’s game-losing call in the last title game all could be culprits in the Seahawks’ late meltdowns that have resulted in a 2-4 record.

Carroll surely lost some players with his ill-fated decision to throw the ball rather than run it with Super Bowl XLIX on the line, and it is clear he has not gained back the confidence of all of them.

On top of that, he has a new defensive coordinator and the Legion of Boom has not been itself.

Kris Richard, the DC, took the blame for the communication breakdown that resulted in Carolina tight end Greg Olsen being wide open to win the game Sunday.

“I stand up and I absolutely accept full responsibility for what happened at the end,” Richard said. “It will not continue. We must get better and we are examining each and every single possible thing we can do to fix it, again, starting with me.”

On the field, though, it starts with the Legion. And, as Earl Thomas said, “We’re not being ourselves. I think we’re distracted.”

Continue reading Can Carroll recapture his ‘distracted’ team? →

CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Carolina

October 19, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Pete Carroll debunked today’s rumor that he might return to USC: “That’s not happening. We’re in good shape here.”

Carroll talked about the defensive breakdown vs. Carolina and losing again despite winning the turnover battle.

Carroll also said, “We should be 6-0 and we should be rolling right now.’’

The coaches are the culprits in these collapses.

The Seahawks have gotten good pressure on quarterbacks the past two games.

Meanwhile, they are the worst red-zone offense in the NFL.

The Seahawks will reinstate Derrick Coleman, although it might not be this week.

49ers coach Jim Tomsula is satisfied with the condition of Levi’s Stadium turf.

Schedule, State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Odds look bad, but Hawks can still win NFC West

October 19, 2015 cc 1 Comment

“This league drives you to 8-8.” — Seahawks general manager John Schneider.

John Schneider has said it more than once: The NFL is built for parity and staying on top is a tough task.

Well, at a stunning 2-4, the Seahawks have a long way to go just to get to .500, and their playoff chances, based on history, do not look good. Since 1990, just 14 of 168 teams to start 2-4 have reached the playoffs (per NFL Stats). That’s an 8.3% chance.

But, the Seahawks are a team that has been made for rallies, and Pete Carroll and the players are optimistic they will figure out how to close out opponents and get it going. Plus, the NFC West is still very much within reach.

Continue reading Odds look bad, but Hawks can still win NFC West →

State of the team, Week 6: Carolina

Lynch is back, but does anyone care?

October 17, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Marshawn Lynch is back. But does anyone care?

Lynch was listed as questionable before practice Friday, but coach Pete Carroll said after practice, “He looked really back to full health. … He made it out, looked good, and we’re counting on him playing (Sunday vs. the Carolina Panthers).”

It wasn’t even close to the most compelling storyline for media this week, though. On Wednesday, 11 questions were asked before the topic of Lynch came up. On Friday, Lynch was the 14th question — partly obscured by news that fullback Derrick Coleman had been suspended after his arrest for hit-and-run.

One of the dumb questions asked by a reporter Wednesday: Does Lynch take his old job back? To which Carroll scoffed, “Heck yeah. I think he’s earned that.”

Of course he has. The Seahawks aren’t paying him $12 million this year to have him sit on the bench, especially after he has run for at least 1,200 yards in each of the last four seasons, scoring 56 touchdowns.

But people now seem more interested in whether rookie upstart Thomas Rawls will continue to get playing time.

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CHAWK LINES, Week 6: Carolina

October 14, 2015 cc Leave a comment

The Seahawks waived B.J. Daniels and Rod Smith and were expected to add cornerback Crezdon Butler. Their other addition could end up being a defensive lineman, with Jordan Hill and Demarcus Dobbs down. Also, recall that Paul Richardson can start practicing next week.

What has happened to Russell Wilson’s game-winning magic?

Brock Huard explains how the Hawks need to use Jimmy Graham: Forget the short crap and send him deeper into the middle of the field. We agree.

Some people apparently want to get rid of Graham. No, they just need to use him better.

The Seahawks’ turnover stats are upside-down, but Pete Carroll expects them to turn right side up soon.

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Injury report, Week 5: At Cincinnati

Hill is out two weeks, Wagner could join him

October 12, 2015 cc Leave a comment

Just what the Seahawks’ reeling defense needs: No Bobby Wagner or Jordan Hill.

Both could miss “a couple of weeks” with injuries suffered Sunday in Cincinnati, according to Pete Carroll. Hill left with a strained quadriceps and Wagner missed a couple of plays with a strained chest muscle.

Hill is expected to miss two weeks, Carroll said, and he is hoping Demarcus Dobbs can return after missing the past two games with a shoulder injury. If that doesn’t happen, the Seahawks might need to make a move to help D-line depth.

Wagner also could be out “a couple of weeks if (the muscle) doesn’t respond,” Carroll said. “But he might be able to play this week, so we’ll wait and see.’’

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State of the team, Week 5: At Cincinnati

Despite epic collapse, Seahawks are not ‘dead and gone’

October 12, 2015 cc Leave a comment

As epic a collapse as the Seahawks committed in Cincinnati, for the first time in franchise history blowing a 17-point lead they carried into the fourth quarter, we’re going to go ahead and agree with Pete Carroll:

“Look, we’re not anywhere like we are dead and gone (at 2-3). We don’t feel like that at all. We’ve just got some things we have to get fixed up, and I think we can.”

In 39 seasons plus four games, the Seahawks had been 71-0 (9-0 under Carroll) in games in which they led by 17 or more entering the fourth quarter, according to Pro Football Reference’s database. On Sunday, they became the first NFL team since 2006 to suffer the ignominy of losing such a game. (Mike Holmgren’s Seahawks blew a 17-point lead in 2004, when they scored early in the fourth to go up 17 and then let the Rams rally to win in overtime.)

Seahawks fans have every right to be upset and disheartened by this massive meltdown, but to think it signals the end of the season or the end of Seattle’s Super Bowl window is an emotionally shortsighted reaction.

Continue reading Despite epic collapse, Seahawks are not ‘dead and gone’ →