10 weeks ago, the Seattle Seahawks dominated the Colts 28-16 in week 1 of the 2021-22 season to move to 1-0. The team looked great, played with energy, hit big plays downfield, and got to the quarterback with ease.
Yet, here we are. Now 3-7, the Seattle Seahawks are searching for answers. All life this team appeared to have in week 1 has seemingly vanished. From blowing a 24-9 lead and losing 30-33 in OT against the Titans, to losing 0-17 against the Packers on our way to the first shutout on the Russel Wilson era, this team has continually found ways to lose games.
This may have been a hot take in years past, but it is finally time to admit that this Seattle Seahawk team’s misfortune is absolutely down to coaching, specifically Pete Carroll, and here are the reasons why.
Pete Carroll and the Seattle Seahawks need to go their separate ways
Bad coaching staff decisions
Personally, I am tired of letting Ken Norton Jr. off the hook when it takes his unit half the season to play acceptable defense. KNJ’s defensive units have consistently started seasons playing shockingly bad defense, and a lot of times his defenses have single-handedly lost the Seahawks games.
I would love to know, how many historically-bad defensive starts to seasons will it take for Pete Carroll to let this guy go? If you ask me, one is one too many. This is especially true when considering the sheer amount of talent that the defense possesses.
Ultimately, the decision to keep KNJ disappointing season after disappointing season is Pete’s decision.
Pete Carroll has way too much power
After the unfortunate and tragic passing of owner Paul Allen in October of 2018, team ownership was passed to Paul’s sister, Jody Allen. Throughout her tenure, she has shown a fully hands-off approach, which in turn, has given tyrannical power to Carroll.
Pete Carroll does not answer to anyone. He has the ultimate say in all personnel and coaching staff decisions. This is why every time a questionable personnel or coaching staff decision is made, he should take full blame.
Keeping Ken Norton, Jr., which I already shared my thoughts about, is a Pete Carroll decision. The bad Shane Waldron hire (Seattle averaging 13.5 points in their last 4 games) was a Pete Carroll decision. The atrocious Jamal Adams trade was a Pete Carroll decision. The list can go on and on, and this season has been an amalgamation of all the bad decisions Carroll has made.
No head coach in the NFL should have as much power as Carroll has. Every NFL coach should have to answer to someone, and when they fail miserably, they should be held accountable. Pete Carroll is not being held accountable.
Jamal Adams Trade
I mentioned the Jamal Adams trade, but this is why that trade was so awful for the Seahawks.
The Jamal Adams trade saw the Seattle Seahawks give up 2 first-rounders, a 3rd rounder and a free safety, for a 4th rounder and a strong safety. Giving up this type of haul for a player would imply that the player the Seahawks are getting in return is one of the best at one of the most important positions. This is just not the case.
Per Bucky Brooks, an NFL.com analyst, strong safety is the 18th of out 25 possible most important positions on an NFL team. So already, looking at this as well as the logistics of the trade, it seems we lost. Add on top of that, Jamal Adams has seemingly not been able to drop back in coverage to cover a rock, and it looks even worse. To add even more salt to this wound, with the Seahawks at 3-7, their 2022 first-rounder would be a top 10 pick.
So obviously, this trade was a disaster. It seemed bad when it was first made, but it seems even worse now. And yet again, this trade failure falls squarely on the shoulders of Carroll.
Carroll being 70 years old, saw this trade as a way to boost Seattle into Super Bowl contention immediately, but in reality, he ruined our chances of grabbing elite first-round talent last draft or this draft, which could have helped improve this team’s future outlook.
Does Pete Carroll really love this team? I know he says he does, but actions speak much louder than words, and boy does it seem like his current actions are running this team straight to the basement of the NFL. Because of this fact, I think it is time for Carroll to step down as head coach and retire from the NFL.