Here are the highlights from Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s Tuesday morning radio show on 710 ESPN:
– Carroll, as usual, emphasized the positive from Monday’s 31-25 victory over the Buffalo Bills.
– On the offensive side Carroll praised the game plan put together by offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and offensive line coach Tom Cable, in which quarterback Russell Wilson has the leash taken off with regards to taking shots down the field. He also praised the play of tight end Jimmy Graham, who he said had his best game as a Seahawk and is in the best shape he’s been in since arriving in Seattle. In regards to Seattle’s inability to run the ball — The Seahawks had 33 yards rushing on just 12 carries — Carroll said it was largely a product of the pass being available. He said he still remains committed to running the ball, but that Seattle has now shown it can win without running the ball.
– On the defensive side, Carroll raved about the was the defense was able to finish, despite not having a good game statistically. He also said something interesting about the defense’s time on the field. Rather than saying the Seahawks’ defense has worn down under three straight weeks of heavy workloads, he said the defense is getting stronger because they’ve been through so much challenge the past month. An interesting take.
– The subject of Richard Sherman was brought up repeatedly. Sherman was the center of attention on several occasions Monday, from his injuring Bills kicker Dan Carpenter at the end of the first half in trying to block a field goal, to staring down Buffalo coach Rex Ryan, to leveling Bills receiver Walter Powell in the end zone on the decisive fourth-down play at the end of the game.
On the kick block, when he ran into Carpenter after being three steps offsides and sparking a wild sequence to end the half, Carroll said the whistle should have been blown to stop the play before Sherman reached Carpenter, but that he didn’t know if the whistle was blown. If the whistle was blown, then Sherman should have been flagged for unnecessary roughness, but Carroll said Sherman had no intent to injure Carpenter and was just trying to finish the play.
On the staredown, Ryan had some colorful comments about Sherman after the game, saying he told Sherman he was “too good of a player to act like an ass.” Carroll responded by saying he wished Ryan would stick to coaching his own guys.
On knocking down Powell, Carroll said the chuck was a legal play because Bills quarterback Tyrod Taylor was outside the pocket, and that the team coaches the defensive backs to do that.
– On the injury front, Carroll said strong safety Kam Chancellor (groin) will be back for next Sunday’s game at New England. However, running back Thomas Rawls (fibula) won’t be back yet, though Rawls will return to practice this week. Tight end Luke Willson (knee) and tackle Bradley Sowell (knee) have a chance of returning this week.
– As for the Patriots, Carroll described them as the best team in the league. The Seahawks must face New England on a short week, travel across the country, then be greeted by a rested Patriots team coming off its bye. But instead of complaining Carroll said this was the type of circumstance and setting a championship team will have to deal with at some point. He dismissed any idea of the Seahawks seeking revenge from their Super Bowl loss to New England two seasons ago.
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