The Pete Carroll Show: A ‘really good statement’ by Seahawks’ running game
Dec 21, 2015, 1:03 PM | Updated: 1:54 pm
Coach Pete Carroll joined “Brock and Salk” on Monday as he does the day after every Seahawks game, in this case a 30-13 win over Cleveland. The podcast of their conversation can be found here. A few highlights are below.
Running-back rotation. Carroll called it a “really good statement” that Seattle’s running game didn’t miss a beat even with a rotating cast of rushers taking over for Thomas Rawls, who went down with a season-ending ankle fracture last week. The Seahawks ran for 182 yards Sunday, 137 of which came from the trio of Christine Michael (84 on 16 carries, 5.3 average), Bryce Brown (43 on nine carries, 4.8 average) and Derrick Coleman (10 on five carries, 2.0 average). “That was really important, and I was hoping that that would come through and we could show that we can run the football again with a different makeup because we were forced to and all that,” Carroll said. “That’s a really good statement about our commitment to it and the guys up front doing their job and the play-calling and all of that.” Carroll said the Seahawks will likely proceed with the same plan they employed Sunday, which was to determine the playing-time distribution between those three based on how the game is going and how each player is faring.
Lockett’s touchdown. Carroll called Russell Wilson’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Lockett a “perfect play.” He mentioned the pass protection, Lockett’s route, the way Wilson moved in the pocket and the throw he delivered. Carroll said that play was indicative of the trust that Wilson has with his receivers, explaining that Wilson stepped up in the pocket to buy himself some more time believing that Lockett was about to get behind the defender. Carroll: “Right now, there’s such a great understanding and a trust. He knows how to throw the ball to Jermaine (Kearse) and he knows how to throw the ball to Doug (Baldwin) and he’s got that feel for these guys because we’ve been together for such a long time. They know what’s coming and they know on the route as the look starts whether they’re gonna get the ball pretty much.”
Pettine’s comments on Wilson. Asked if Wilson drew any motivation from Browns coach Mike Pettine saying last week that he’s not in the top tier of NFL quarterbacks, Carroll said he might have and that Wilson is “human and he knew something was out there about him.” Carroll called the story “pretty insignificant” but said that it’s a reminder of why it’s best for coaches to tread lightly while discussing an upcoming opponent. Carroll was asked how careful he needs to be in order to avoid providing any so-called bulletin-board material. Carroll: “I think that’s all part of the job. It goes back to who you are and what you think is important and do you have your act together enough to control your thoughts so that you don’t say the things that get you into a week-long drama. I talked to Mike in pregame and it didn’t work out well for him last week. It didn’t come off good from the beginning and it got worse as the week went on, and he had to deal with it. There’s nobody to look at but himself. I’m trying to stay out of those. You don’t find me in those very often.”