The Pete Carroll Show: Seahawks’ running game getting back on track

Here are some more highlights from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on “Brock and Salk” Monday morning, a day after Seattle improved to 8-3-1 with a 40-7 win over Carolina:

• Carroll said it was better execution and not any change in game-plan or approach that allowed the Seahawks to run for a season-240 yards against Carolina, which entered Sunday night’s game ranked second in the NFL against the run in terms of yards per game and first in yards per carry. Carroll pointed to third down as being a major difference after the Seahawks went only 1 of 11 there during a disastrous offensive performance a week earlier in Tampa Bay.  “Seven out of 14, fellas,” Carroll said, proudly reciting Seattle’s third-down numbers against Carolina. “It’s all the difference in the world. No matter what’s going on, if we’re not converting on third down, you don’t feel any continuity and you don’t feel the rhythm and stuff. So that was a great effort by the guys last night.” Thomas Rawls had a season-high 106 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries. The Seahawks’ big night on the ground was a continuation of the improvement they’ve shown of late in their running game. After struggling to get that going for much of the season, the Seahawks are averaging 173 rushing yards and 6.41 yards per carry over the last three games. That’s a significant increase from their averages over the first nine games: 77.6 yards and 3.27 per carry. “It’s starting to come,” Carroll said. “That’s enormously important for our overall factor and play and style.”

• Wide receiver Tyler Lockett said Sunday night that Seattle’s terrible showing on offense against Tampa Bay was something of a wake-up call. Asked if games like that can end up being helpful in any way, Carroll said they can. “I hate learning that way, but I’m not so sure that you don’t learn best when it really gets hard like that,” he said. “I don’t want to have to lose to get better, but sometimes it makes a difference. I really was banking on that (being) a good moment for us to grow from and an opportunity for us.”

• With their win over Carolina, the Seahawks are an NFL-best 18-3-1 in prime-time games since 2010, Carroll’s first season in Seattle. The point differential is as staggering as the record: 557 to 295 in favor of Seattle. As he does whenever the subject of Seattle’s prime-time success is brought up, Carroll said it’s a tribute to how the Seahawks don’t consider any one game more important than the next. “I think we have a really good mentality about it. I don’t want to talk too much about it, but we play those games like we play other games and I think we take of advantage of (how) we are very, very comfortable in those moments,” he said. “That’s all part of getting ready for playoffs, too, with those same moments with all of the hype and the buildup around it can factor in, I think we handle that well. That’s why I think if we get a chance to win our division and we’re playing some games at home, we know we have a chance to have a really good run because our guys are very comfortable in those settings.”

• Seattle’s defense forced two turnovers Sunday night, one coming on an interception by Mike Morgan on the first play and the other on a fumble that was forced by K.J. Wright and recovered by Cassius Marsh. That gives the Seahawks 16 takeaways this season, tied for 14th in the NFL. Minus their 10 giveaways on offense, the Seahawks have a turnover differential of plus-6, tied for fifth-best in the league. Carroll wants to see that number reach 10 over the final four games. “We really are doing better. Gosh, we were so close to a couple other ones, too, last night. Great turnover by K.J. That’s a fantastic play to get the hand on that point of the ball and rip it out like he did in such a quick fashion. Great recovery and all that, so yeah, we’re doing alright. Doing better,” he said. “We’ve got to get to double digits, though. Double digits before the end of the regular season, that’s when you know you did a good job.”