After watching the Seahawks lose embarrassingly at home to the last-place Cardinals 27-13, I have just about had enough. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll can no longer adapt to today's game, and I think it's time for him to retire. He's had a great coaching career, winning a Super Bowl and getting to another. He's the greatest coach in Seahawk's history. But he just doesn't have what it takes to be a decent head coach in this league anymore. His in-game decisions are poor, he restricts his offense and superstar quarterback, and at times seems lost during games.
Pete Carroll has never been known for being a great coach with in-game decisions. He challenges what clearly won't be overturned, he calls questionable timeouts at best, and worst of all, he is ultra-conservative and coaches as if he has a journeyman quarterback. Hawks fans have lost track of the number of times he has chosen to kick a field goal or punt rather than go for a fourth down attempt. He's earned the nickname "No Balls Pete" from many Hawks fans. In just this past Cardinals game I referenced, he sent out his field goal unit on a 4th and one from about the 32 yard line. But after the field goal unit got "messed up up front" (his quote), they had to take a delay of game and then punt the ball away. That's a coaching issue, and that's on him. But the point I'm trying to make is that Carroll time and time again won't let his star quarterback make a play on a 4th down attempt. Even when the Hawks go for it on 4th down (which is rare), he'll usually have Wilson hand the ball off, which the defense often sees coming and stops it. Compare that to the Raven's John Harbaugh and Lamar Jackson, who in their game against the Hawks, John actually asked Lamar if he thinks they should go for a 4th down attempt. Lamar said yes, they attempted and converted with Lamar getting the first down himself. Pete instead will take the ball out of his quarterback's hands, whether that be in favor of a punt or field goal, or handing off to a running back.
Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson are both perfect and horrible for each other at the same time. They're perfect because they both stay optimistic no matter what and have a same outlook on the game. However, they're also horrible for each other because Carroll restricts Wilson and doesn't give Wilson the opportunities he deserves. Carroll hired an ultra-conservative offensive coordinator in Brian Schottenheimer, and "Schotty" has largely restricted Russell himself. Carroll has always been a run-first or run-heavy type coach, but his failure to adapt to his star quarterback is costing the Hawks. Carroll and General Manager John Schneider have also failed to surround Wilson with much talent, especially on the offensive line. Since the Super Bowl years, they have still yet to put together even an average offensive line. Instead, Wilson has had to make due with a run-heavy offense and a below average offensive line at best in the five years since then.
Fortunately for coach Carroll, even if the Hawks season ends from this point on in the worst way possible (which would be losing to the 49ers and a first-round exit at the hands of the Cowboys or Eagles), he will be saved because people will point to the massive amount of injuries as to the reason the Seahawk's season, once so full of promise, ended so poorly. But I ask you to look at the Pittsburgh Steelers and their coach, Mike Tomlin. He loses his superstar quarterback for the year, shortly after losing his two best offensive playmakers to other teams. Tomlin also deals with injuries to his team's starting running back, next best receiver, and several other key players. They are still contending for a playoff spot. Think the Hawks would be contending for a playoff spot if they lost Wilson Week 2 and Carson for a few games? Heck no. The injury bug hits the Seahawks and Carroll does not weather the storm as well as Tomlin did.
The Hawks will lose to the 49ers. There is no doubt in my mind. The Hawks will probably play better than they did against the Cardinals, but may still lose by more than one score. The Hawks will then get a #5 seed, and may even beat the Eagles or Cowboys. But they will not beat the 49ers or Saints or Packers in the divisional round. This team is stuck in a state of "pretty good" and have been since Super Bowl XLIX. They're better than the average team because of Russell Wilson, but they can't get any better because Pete is holding them back. We know he can't draft well anymore, and I think he cannot be a Super Bowl-caliber coach anymore. Carroll's best fit is with a team with a great defense and a team built around the run. He can't afford to have money tied up to his quarterback. He'd be a great coach on teams like Chicago or Buffalo. But here, it's just not a good fit anymore.
Edit: Well, the Hawks did lose to the 49ers, but they also almost won. I am still convinced Pete Carroll needs to go. He is unable to get his guys prepared and able to start out strong. We'll see how they do against the Eagles in the playoffs. Technically, the Hawks are still in a rebuild despite still making the playoffs, but without being able to draft capable starters, it's going to be VERY hard to break through and get to a conference championship (or better).
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