Two years ago, on January 11, 2010, the Seattle Seahawks announced that Pete Carroll will take over as the team’s head coach, replacing Jim Mora Jr. It was right after a calamitous season for the Seahawks. The team finished with a 5-11 record, losing their final four games and of course, being eliminated from the postseason for the second year in a row.
Pete Caroll was the head coach of the USC Trojans, winning two national championships during his 9-year tenure. When the Seahawks decided to sign him, the obvious demand was stability and progress.
Carroll likes to compete. What he likes even more is competing in his own way. He proved that while coaching at USC and even the bitter ending of his time there was not enough to overshadow his accomplishments.
In his two-year stint with the ‘Hawks, Carroll has revived the team. He won the division in 2010, despite finishing with a 7-9 record and surprised the NFL world with a win against the defending champions, the New Orleans Saints.
The team efforts in the 2011 season was not rewarded with a playoff spot, nonetheless, Carroll and his players enjoyed a fair share of wins. They failed to improve on their previous record, but left the impression that brighter days are ahead.
Pete Carroll is expected to build the bridge that leads to these days. From what I’ve seen, he is more than capable and has the required work ethic to do it.
The Seahawks picked a bunch of talented players in the last couple of drafts. Russell Okung, Earl Thomas, Kam Chancellor, James Carpenter and K.J. Wright – all of them are players that the team can rely on. Paul Allen, the team owner is a guy who likes to be involved in the draft, but these picks have Carroll’s signature too.
Considering that Seattle has not found the much-discussed “quarterback of the future” and that Tarvaris Jackson is nothing more than a middle-of-the-pack player, the flock has been flying closer to the heavens than you might think.
The 2012 NFL draft will have a great impact for the young and rising Seahawks. It might be more important than re-signing Marshawn Lynch. With Carroll at the helm, however, I am confident that the Seahawks will make the right moves to keep evolving.
While we have you here, please take a moment to check out our Forums and Message Boards to discuss everything Seahawks, Mariners, SuperSonics, Sounders and more!
Follow us on Twitter @PaulNovakSSC and Like us on Facebook
Paul Novak
Latest posts by Paul Novak (see all)
- Phil Jackson Would Have Been a High-Ranking Executive With The Sonics – May 23, 2013
- MLB.com on Hisashi Iwakuma – May 18, 2013
- Seahawks DE Bruce Irvin Supended Four Games – May 17, 2013
