Amid critics, Carroll ‘excited’ about his Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. — Outdoors expectations for the Seattle Seahawks, together with these of Las Vegas oddsmakers, are decrease getting into the 2022 season than they’ve been since earlier than Russell Wilson was the staff’s quarterback.

Pete Carroll says he does not agree with the pessimism nor does he care about it.

“I do not really feel like that in any respect,” Carroll stated Monday, every week earlier than Seattle’s opener in opposition to Wilson and the Denver Broncos. “I do not really feel like several a part of any of that’s what’s true aside from the truth that that is what folks suppose. I am not in that enterprise now. I am within the enterprise of serving to these guys get able to play with the entire work that we do and the entire mentality and the tradition and the setting that we’re in. We have been averaging 10 wins a 12 months for the final 20-something years [dating back to 2001-2009 run at USC]. You suppose I may suppose something totally different than that? I do not. I do not see any purpose my expectations ought to change in any respect.”

Throughout Carroll’s and basic supervisor John Schneider’s 12 seasons in Seattle, the Seahawks have gained a Tremendous Bowl, appeared in one other, made the playoffs 9 instances, gained the NFC West 5 instances and by no means completed with fewer than seven wins. Their 119 regular-season wins in that span are sixth-most within the NFL.

Most of that success got here throughout Wilson’s 10-year run with Seattle, which led to March when he was traded to Denver. With Wilson gone and Geno Smith rising because the winner of a quarterback battle with Drew Lock, the Seahawks are a well-liked decide to complete final within the division. Per bet365, their projected win complete of 5.5 is tied for the second-lowest within the NFL. It is two wins decrease than some other staff within the NFC West.

“I do not care what anyone says,” Carroll stated. “Individuals have been saying stuff about groups for years. They do not know. They’re simply guessing at this level, after which we go and show it and we see the place we’re … Win an enormous sport within the opener or wrestle and never win an enormous sport within the opener, you have to come again and get going once more and again on observe regardless.”

Requested the same query final week in regards to the low exterior expectations, Schneider supplied a reminder of how most of the gamers who emerged as stars on their Tremendous Bowl groups weren’t well-known from the get-go. And he described a few of their present core items as underrated.

“When I’ve issues on within the background and I see guys like DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett not talked about within the NFL Prime 100 gamers, it blows my thoughts,” Schneider stated. “Jordyn Brooks and what he did final 12 months. I used to be listening to one thing whereas I used to be working and someone’s speaking about, ‘Oh, they don’t have anything on protection. They received Jamal Adams and that is it,’ and I am considering to myself, ‘What about Quandre Diggs?’ There’s numerous enjoyable stuff that we’ve. Al Woods is an unimaginable chief.”

Requested if observers are sleeping on the Seahawks, Schneider stated: “I simply suppose we’re chasing as a substitute of being chased, which I believe is cool. I believe it is thrilling.”

Carroll has referred to as this the quickest staff he is had with the Seahawks. He famous their pace once more Monday when requested how he feels in regards to the staff.

“We’re very hopeful and enthusiastic about it and see nothing however good things occurring,” he stated. “Now we have to go put together prefer it and be sure that we’re prepared after which go carry out prefer it. So I am actually enthusiastic about this staff. I really like the make-up. I really like the best way that they’ve come collectively from method again when. I really like the management. I really like the pace. I really like our fashion in all elements and now we have to exit and present it and stay as much as what the expectations are. My expectations are very excessive.”