Carroll's press conference summary:
Welcome to the 2015 season! The team has been waiting forever and it's exciting to start off with a division opponent. Rams always play the Seahawks tough, and they do a lot of different things schematically that we have to be ready for. They have a lot of team speed on offense, and Nick Foles is a good downfield pocket QB. This is as complex a team as you can play, like the complexity of all the other 31 teams combined. DT Aaron Donald's quickness and speed is rare. This is as good a defensive front as we are going to see this year. It's a great test to see how the offensive line is doing. Rams have speed, versatility, size, and Chris Long's savvy.
We are going to be taking it one week at a time with Kam Chancellor. It's great to have Earl Thomas back. Earl's conditioning is great. He looks as fast as ever. Dion Bailey has been in the DB room for a year, has had a great off-season, and he's ready to start at SS. He is a very natural football player. We are not changing much at all with Bailey at SS, though some things will change based on what happened in the preseason. Cary Williams had a good preseason, we have tested him in every way, and we're really excited to see him takeover. Tharold Simon is another good player, and that competition will remain in place throughout the season.
Offense has some work to do to figure out how everything fits together. Not having Marshawn Lynch play much in the preseason and using Jimmy Graham in a limited way has made it difficult to know how far along the offense will be, although they have seen it in practice and feel confident about it. Tyler Lockett is also going to add something to the offense. Offensive line is physically ready, but they have to be ready to communicate and consistently ready for the Rams' game speed. Drew Nowak has great awareness and has benefitted from playing defense; he has developed very quickly at center. Russell Wilson's focus, preparation, and attention to details is as much as a person can do.
Frank Clark has looked more explosive than they thought he would be. He is also more forceful than they imagined with the ability to bang inside at 280 lbs. Initially, Carroll did not appreciate his incredible motor as much as he does now.
Working with his two sons is really valuable and a great opportunity. They don't pull any punches, unlike his other assistants, telling him exactly what they think. They're not always right, but he appreciates hearing that honesty.
It's unfortunate that it's come to this with Kam, and that he's not here. He's texted with Sarkisian to be there for him after his drunken incident at a USC booster event that led to Sarkisian's apology and decision to ban alcohol from the coaches' locker room.
Some other stuff that I probably missed . . .
