RENTON — According to multiple reports, both of the Seattle Seahawks’ top assistant coaches are candidates for open head coaching vacancies, which hardly comes as a surprise given the success Seattle has had over the past two seasons.
The Cleveland Browns, who fired head coach Rob Chudzinski after one season, have asked for permission to interview Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. And as has always been his stance, Carroll said he won’t stand in the way of his assistants seeking to climb the coaching ladder.
The Minnesota Vikings have reportedly also requested permission to interview Quinn as well as offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Bevell, who interviewed for head coaching positions at this time last season, was the offensive coordinator in Minnesota before coming to Seattle. Quinn, who served as Seattle’s defensive line coach from 2009-2010, was the defensive coordinator at the University of Florida for two seasons before returning to Seattle to take over as defensive coordinator this season.
“Bev was involved last year with an opportunity or two last year, and rightly so,” Carroll said. “He’s a tremendous football coach, he’s a great play caller, designer of the offense and all of that. He’s got it nailed. One guy’s a defensive guy and one guy’s an offensive guy, it just depends on what you’re looking for, but both of these guys are fantastic football coaches. They’ve been highly successful and they’re leading really good units and make all the decisions and choices and all the stuff you’ve got to make. … They’re as qualified as anybody can be.”
If either coordinator is to interview before the Seahawks’ playoff run ends, that would likely happen this weekend with the Seahawks on a bye. Carroll wants to make sure his coaches are focused on the playoff run, but he also will do what he can to help them chase whatever coaching dreams they have.
“I’ve always known that if you do well, guys are going to move,” Carroll said. “That’s part of it. … I couldn’t be more fired up for his opportunities. When we’re done playing.”
Last year, the Seahawks lost defensive coordinator Gus Bradley when he became the head coach at Jacksonville.
Injuries
Other than Luke Willson, who suffered a high-ankle sprain in last week’s game, all of the players who were banged up in Sunday’s win over the Rams should practice this week. That list includes Brandon Mebane (groin), Richard Sherman (hip), and Jeremy Lane (shoulder), as well as Jermaine Kearse, who was active with an ankle injury suffered a week earlier, but did not play.
Carroll also indicated that linebacker K.J. Wright, who is recovering from foot surgery, is making good progress.
“He feels great and I think the hope is we’ll take a look at him next week and see where he is,” Carroll said. “From then it’ll be a day-to-day kind of thing. That’s what we hope it’ll be like. That’s really optimistic, but that’s where we are.”
Herald Writer John Boyle: jboyle@heraldnet.com.
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