Pete Carroll and John Schneider Deserve Awards

Dec 2, 2013; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll (left) and general manager John Schneider prior to the game against the New Orleans Saints at CenturyLink Field. The Seahawks defeated the Saints 34-7. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

In 2010, Seattle was coming off a disappointing 5-11 season with no light at the end of the tunnel. Their star players were getting old, their young players weren’t particularly talented, and Jim Mora didn’t seem to be the answer Seattle was hoping for when he took over for Mike Holmgren as head coach.

Fast forward to just a few years later and Seattle now has one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the NFL. How is it possible that in just a few short years, Seattle could achieve such an amazing turnaround from 5-11 to 12-2 and counting? Many factors have contributed to the Seahawks renewed success but none more than the hiring of Pete Carroll and John Schneider.

Hired just a week apart in 2010, Carroll and Schneider have worked together to recreate the Seahawks roster into the beast it has become. With high draft picks like Earl Thomas and Russell Okung to late rounders like Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor. And of course one of the biggest draft day steals in recent memory, Russell Wilson.

Then there are the big time trades like grabbing Marshawn Lynch from Buffalo and Percy Harvin from Minnesota (he will contribute soon). This roster is barely a shell of its 2010 self. Nearly every personnel move has been flawless the last few years and Pete Carroll and his staff have utilized their ever growing talent to give Seattle the physically dominant identity they currently possess.

That’s why it’s no surprise to see both Carroll and Schneider in the discussion for Coach of the Year and Executive of the Year honors. Who could argue with the results?

Critics of Pete Carroll will likely point to the rash of PED and substance abuse suspensions Seattle has dealt with this season as a reason to give the Coach of the Year award to another deserving candidate. But it seems unfair to judge a head coach based on the actions of a small group of his players. Not to mention the fact that the Seahawks have tried to be as proactive as possible to avoid further suspensions.

They’re really aren’t any reasons to be critical of what John Schneider has done in Seattle. In fact, many people around the league would have made a strong case for him to receive the Executive of the Year award after last season (he placed third in voting). Stiff competition from turnaround teams like the Chiefs and Panthers is the only reason to deny him the award this year. But his efforts the past few seasons should be taken into account as they now are paying off in a big way.

With a couple games still left to be played it’s too early to tell who will end up with the big awards this season. However, it would be fitting for Pete Carroll and John Schneider to win the awards in the same way they came to Seattle. Together.