Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll – Media Availability – October 7, 2021

HEAD COACH PETE CARROLL

PETE CARROLL: “This was a really disappointing second half for us. First half of the game kind of went like we had hoped. Keep it close and play tough and see what would happen. Had a chance to be up, save the penalty that happened to us right at the end of the half. Really nice two-minute drive would’ve capped it off well. Unfortunately didn’t get that done. In the second half we had one monster play that happened in the game and we were in command of the third and 10 and we were on top of it, and they make a, I don’t know what kind of play that was. Very fortunate play, but it changed the field position and gave them a chance and they scored and took advantage of that. That was a huge play in the game I thought. Unfortunate. Defensively we played really well on third down. That was one of their two conversions in the game, and usually that gives you a really good chance to play well, like we did in the first half. But there was just too many big plays, Stafford hitting both Robert and Cooper over the middle. Those plays were field-changing plays, and they got in behind us in our zones and we didn’t have the pressure to kick the ball to get it dumped down. It’s football stuff. The things we have to fix, we have it clean up, get better at, and make sure we don’t allow that to happen again. The second half was a big explosion for them offensively and we really were in way better control of that, and really disappointed that we let that happen. I thought this is a significant night because Russell wasn’t able to finish the second half. He’s got a badly sprained finger that we need to figure out. There is work to be done in assessing all of that. Russell is one of the great healers of all-time and he’ll do whatever he can to get back as soon as absolutely possible. Geno did a really good job, very much in command. We were able to do all kinds of things with him out there. He handled all the communications beautifully and played really well. You know, we had a chance to win a football game. With all of that we had a chance to win the football game with the ball in our hands and couple minutes to go, and unfortunately we threw an interception when Tyler slips or gets tripped, I don’t know what happened on the play. I couldn’t tell. I do know that they made the big play that changed it. Give them credit. They bounced back from a loss last week and they did a nice job hanging in this game and took advantage of the opportunities when they came. They’re a good club and we know them and know that. So there is stuff for us to fix, stuff for me to fix. There  are areas that just jumped out that when they’re able to throw the ball over the middle like that, they’re getting too much time, and we have to do a better job with our backs and we have to get to the quarterback so he has to dump the football off, and that did not happen in the second half. This has been a very good pass protection team. They have only had three sacks all season and the quarterback doesn’t get hit and they were able to do that in the second half, and that gave them the shot to get back in it and they did it, so more power to them.”

1. Is there any early indication on how long Russell might be out?

PETE CARROLL: No. I wouldn’t put any timeline on it right now.

1. Does Wilson need additional imaging?

PETE CARROLL: We just got here. No time to assess. I don’t have anything for you. They’ll do everything that needs to be done, x-rays and all that kind of stuff.

What was the determining factor that pulled him?

PETE CARROLL: He wasn’t able to hold onto the football the way he needed to, to throw it, because we throw the ball, and we need to throw it all over the place. We didn’t know what he would be able to do. He was just unsure. I trust him that, If he could have, he would’ve.

Did he dislocate the finger at all?

PETE CARROLL: I don’t know that. I’m not going to tell you. I don’t know anything. I really don’t know enough about it. I know it was pretty darn sore.

Once they were really having a lot of success carving you guys up with those crossing routes and your linebackers are having trouble, why not play Ryan Neal more?

PETE CARROLL: That has nothing to do with it. Sorry, that has nothing to do with it. It was first and second downs, you know, and he plays in dime, third down situations. Maybe we will resort to that. That was not in the game plan to be done this time, so that wouldn’t have made a difference. Because you brought it up, I’m going to check it out.

The one monster play on offense, is there frustration five games in about — you want a balanced offense, a rhythm on offense. Are you getting that this year or is it more boom or bust?

PETE CARROLL: We’ve been pretty big-play oriented, which is what we always want, to be like that, explosive and all that. We didn’t feel like we weren’t able to protect him and felt like we ran the ball some. Felt like the game was there for us, until kind of suddenly it wasn’t. Then Russ goes out and things change. We needed to complement better with our play on defense at that time and we weren’t able to do that.

You mentioned Geno a little bit earlier. Obviously didn’t end the way he wanted, but for him to get a shot, as a backup he usually doesn’t get to play.

PETE CARROLL: I went right to Geno afterwards and said, you been waiting a long time for your opportunity. The faith you’ve shown in our program and us to stay with us, so proud that when he got in there, he did great. He really looked good. He’s been working for that. He’s a talented football player. He knows our system. If Geno is going to play for us some as Russ comes back, you know, he showed that we’re in good hands. I was just proud for him and the fact that he hung with us all this time and believed in being part of this program. Then when he got his chance, he did really. That was pretty good.

What was Wilson’s demeanor on the sideline when he came out of this game?

PETE CARROLL: Very calm about it. He was clear that this was not going to be the night to come back in there. He tried and would’ve if he could have, but already projecting forward, you know, I’ll be back. I’m going to get this thing figured out. Just exactly like he does. He knows — that’s where easy goes. He’s not going to sit in the moment and dwell on it at all, and he didn’t.

Seemed like you guys did a pretty good job protecting both quarterbacks tonight. Does that seem like that front held up?

PETE CARROLL: It’s one of the best outings we’ve had. Yeah, I think that’s part of the system and the way we did it. We had some different thoughts this time around and I thought it worked out really well. Guys did very well up front.

Gerald Everett, did he test negative today?

PETE CARROLL: What I’ll tell you about it, I was in all the way until 1:00 today. He tested negative again. His tests will be — the test for today will come back tomorrow, because it had to go to Burbank. He really kind of got caught in the technicality of that because he had been positive — he needed two negative tests back-to-back, but because he had been — the test, the first negative test wasn’t decisive enough. It wasn’t a powerful enough statement about the level that he was at for the docs to okay it. So he was negative and then he was negative the next day, too. So two days in a row, but the first day they didn’t count it. So the next day was today, and I think some stuff will happen here with the league. We realize that we’re in a difficult situation because he couldn’t get the — today’s test to the place in time. There was no way. So I think they’re going to look at that. You know, difficult deal. I really was pulling for him. I just wanted that to happen. I think he had five straight negative tests, five days, but that wasn’t enough.

That was a test he had taken on Tuesday?

PETE CARROLL: The day before that showed up yesterday, yeah. As well as — he tested negative for five days. The reason we’re talking about it is because everybody should understand COVID and how it works whether it’s football or in real life. These tests tell us a lot of stuff, but some tests are considered more accurate than others.

So the way that the tests are evaluated or more clearly assess the level of the load of the virus. In that, they just — it wasn’t quite enough. It was negative but wasn’t quite enough. I hope they’ll learn and figure it out as we all go. All this stuff is brand new. I know what happened and competed with him all the way to have a chance for Gerald to play against these guys. They just couldn’t get there.

Was he still asymptomatic today?

PETE CARROLL: Yeah.

What did you see out of Alex Collins?

PETE CARROLL: I think Alex continues to show good stuff. Everything he does, he shows quickness and play making ability. Very good in the open field. The screen was a beautiful run. Alex is really doing his job. Something we should mention, I don’t know this for sure, but that might have been one of the great plays I’ve ever seen a punter make. I mean, one the great kicking plays in the history of the league, and I’ve been around a lot longer than you guys and seen a lot of football and never seen that happen before. What a remarkable play it was. Not just to kick it again, but to kick it where he kicked it and to get so much out of it. I haven’t seen the film. I don’t know how close it was. It was just a remarkable moment, and Mikey is a pretty darn good football player.

One hand scoop?

PETE CARROLL: Yeah, the scoop was ridiculous. Reminds me of one that Marshawn made years ago. Plucked it. But that was marvelous play we witnessed.

You decided to punt early in their territory, and the next drive you go for it?

PETE CARROLL: The situation was different.

What was different?

PETE CARROLL: I can’t tell you too much. I can’t tell you, sorry. But they were different situations.

What did you think of Jamal Adams tonight?

PETE CARROLL: Unfortunately on the big play he didn’t find his way to the ball. They were very fortunate that that happened. We were over the top and had the guy doubled and all that kind of stuff, and I don’t even know why he threw it. But the fact that they did and they made a play, give them credit. It’s great play by their quarterback and by DeSean (Jackson). You know, I’m not going after any one guy on anything about anything right now. It’s not the time. Go after me first.

Darrell Taylor had his fourth sack in this one. What have you made of the start to his season so far?

PETE CARROLL: He’s really doing well. This is a guy who’s going to have multiple sacks in games. He’s just a factor. We just a got to keep placing and getting him in there. After this break we’ll assess a little bit of the first five games, have a chance here, and maybe spot him even more than he’s already getting and more in passing down stuff because he’s just been one of our most effective guys. It’s no surprise to us. He looked like a beautiful football player coming. He’s just raw and young and getting it figured out. He’s going to be really tough to deal with as we go down the schedule.

The sequence at the end of the first half when you get the long completion to DeeJay Dallas, and then it looked like it took a while for the next play?

PETE CARROLL: We were hoping to play fast there. We just got a little sticky in the call. We didn’t want to stop the clock there and give them a break. We wanted to put the pressure on them. We love to do that. The clock was burning right there. Just took us a while to get set up. But it was 8 or 10, 12 seconds more than we should have. I was counting on it being faster, but it just didn’t quite work out. That was a really beautiful drive, except they got us on the hold. Couldn’t ask for more. But yeah, just expected to get up and down faster than that.

Do you know enough about Russell’s injury to rule out surgery?

PETE CARROLL: I don’t have any idea about that right now.

You called Russ one of the great healers of all-time. Has his durability and ability to bounce back over the years been one of his hidden traits?

PETE CARROLL: Oh, he’s been just remarkably durable, but the marvelous part is his attitude about how he approaches it. I mean, he’s going to heal himself. He is the epitome of what the mentality of taking control of how your body functions. Man, he makes stuff happen. He does marvelous things.

There are a number of players that we’ve had over the years that just heal better than others. Penny Hart, he played with a second-degree knee sprain. There is no way in a short week. He played and was remarkable. Some guys you might be out for three, four weeks. I don’t know how he did it. It was a marvel to everybody. He never was going to miss it.

His mentality is the kind of mentality that exhibits the people that can do stuff like that. Remarkable, and Russell is the epitome of that.

Just to clarify, did Russ tell you when he came off the field after that throw to Parkinson and said, I just can’t throw?

PETE CARROLL: No. He was just trying to figure it out. They were working to figure it out, and took a while, and just could tell that it just wasn’t right to go back out.

Did you have to make the call that he can’t go back out?

PETE CARROLL: No. I worked with the docs and everybody was together on that. I wasn’t going to force him back out. Russ knows his body, what he can do. So we just worked it out.

Was he pushing hard to get back in the game or he knew?

PETE CARROLL: No, he knew. This wouldn’t help us tonight.