Pete Carroll: Key to Seahawks’ fast start in Shane Waldron’s offense

Throughout the Seahawks’ offseason, caution was stressed about how the team’s offense would perform early on under new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron.

Pete Carroll Show: Hawks’ DL shines, injury updates, rookie flashes

Making a big change on offense can take time to get used to, and all you have to look at for proof is how the Tampa Bay Buccaneers struggled in their first game with Tom Brady at quarterback in 2020 before going on to win the Super Bowl.

Those who were looking for growing pains from Russell Wilson and Seattle’s offense under Waldron in Sunday’s season opener, however, never found them. Instead, the Seahawks scored touchdowns on their first two drives and never looked back in a 28-16 win over the Indianapolis Colts.

Monday on 710 ESPN Seattle’s Pete Carroll Show, the Seahawks head coach had an explanation for why the team got off to such a fast start.

When asked by Mike Salk for an example of something shown in Sunday’s win that exemplifies what Waldron has brought to Seattle, Carroll pointed to how Waldron has bridged the gap between his own philosophy and things the Seahawks have experience with.

“Our ability to sight and pick up the blitz,” Carroll answered. “Why this is Shane Waldron is because he’s open-minded enough to do things that we’ve done in the past. Russell has been able to strike you dead in blitz situations for years and another coach might have said, ‘Well, that’s not the way that I do it.’ (Waldron’s) ability to draw from all of the good things – we scored a lot of points last year and we’ve done a lot of great things here. It wasn’t that we had to start all over again. He was willing to learn and grow and incorporate.”

Utilizing Wilson’s strength against the blitz came up big on the team’s first touchdown, a 23-yard pass to wide receiver Tyler Lockett.

.@TDLockett12 doing Tyler Lockett things.

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“Russ got us exactly where he needed to get us, we picked up the pressure, and then the execution from the years of experience with Tyler where they did that exactly the way it’s supposed to happen was I think an illustration of Shane’s openness and creativity, and really his humility, too,” Carroll said.

The Pete Carroll Show airs at 9:30 a.m. the day after every Seahawks game during 710 ESPN Seattle’s Mike Salk Show. Listen to the podcast of Monday’s edition at this link or in the player below.

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