I Remember the Thread

[Largent80]

"Pete Carroll is the target"

This came after the firing of Mora.

I also remember more than 50% of this board in meltdown mode and being against Pete getting the job.

Curious as to how you all feel now.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I have no problem telling everyone that I had big reservations about how Carroll's rah rah college atmosphere would work in the NFL.

I knew the guy was a great defensive minded coach, and knew more about coaching up DB's than anyone in football. But as a head coach with full control? We had already been down that unsuccessful road with Holmgren when he had full control, and that didn't go so well. So yeah, I was not sold at all.

But I did know this, Mora wasn't the answer so I was just glad we made a big splashy move to at least TRY to right the ship..........and right it they did.

 

[dbsn2420]

To be honest, I didn't know much about Pete since I don't really follow college ball. I knew he was an average coach years ago with the Jets and Patriots. I was skeptical at first, especially through season 1. Season 2, I began to see the direction, enjoyed Pete's pressers, really enjoyed seeing him and Schneider through the draft and the direction they were building the team.

Brought in Flynn, drafted Wilson, went to training camp and wasn't impressed with Flynn throwing like his hand was too small for the ball. But damn, Wilson looked good firing the ball around. Then, after Wilson's performance against KC, I was thinking man I hope they go with Wilson, knew it was unpopular but Wilson looked better. Pete makes the announcement, then I was fully in his corner. The rest has just been icing on the cake.

I don't know if you'll find anyone now that doesn't believe PC and JS, are the right guys to lead this team. I am really glad that we didn't lose anyone as far as coaching staff to other coaching positions, even Bevell. I think the longer this group can stay together the greater the chance of a repeat, or Tri-Fecta!

 

[TDOTSEAHAWK]

But I did know this, Mora wasn't the answer so I was just glad we made a big splashy move to at least TRY to right the ship..........and right it they did.

I agree with this last point wholeheartedly.

2009 was a dark place for Seahawks football. I knew that if the team went in that direction much longer - my fanaticism would be greatly challenged. They simply were not fun to watch. No playmakers. No attitude.

At that point I remember being on a trip to Quebec City and hearing about this move hungover - and loving it most of all because the management saw the ineptitude of the current regime.

There was hope.

Once I started to read about Carroll, ignoring the media noise, I knew the dude was legit and became one of the first major supporters of him on this board - joining mostly castaway SC fans.

Once he had his first draft, I was hooked. Drafting Earl Thomas and Russell Okung was exactly the direction I wanted the team to go. Golden Tate was a playmaker and I knew the new regime meant business.

Coming from Toronto - I knew all about Marshawn and loved the trade (what an upgrade from Julius Jones *gag*).

Beastquake came and already this regime had demonstrated that it meant to change the .500 culture that Holmgren partially modified (though our bad division and road woes never really fully shook us from that).

The first couple years were rocky and there was much noise with the signal, owing much to having the worst team in football in 2009 and not having a quarterback but even in 2011 the defense was fun to watch. Faith was generally restored and I knew we would be hunting for Super Bowls the second we got a QB.

Enter Russell Wilson. Loved the pick from day one. Loved that we started him and jettisoned Flynn. The rest is history.

 

[Throwdown]

I'll freely admit, I wanted NO part of Pete. But then 2011 happened and you could see the team coming together and what Pete's vision was and how it was coming together. I literally told people "this guy is going to get us our first Super Bowl" that season... well look what happened on Sunday.

 

[ivotuk]

I loved the idea, mainly because Todd Lieweke was doing the hiring, and because of Pete's prior success.

Then I read Brian McIntyres article pulling for John Schneider to be hired as our GM and jumped on that bandwagon asap!

 

[FargoHawk]

Who's the poster who became the Browns fan because he was so pissed we didn't hire Holmgren?

 

[Sgt. Largent]

I'll freely admit, I wanted NO part of Pete. But then 2011 happened and you could see the team coming together and what Pete's vision was and how it was coming together. I literally told people "this guy is going to get us our first Super Bowl" that season... well look what happened on Sunday.

To be fair to Pete's critics, you really have to get to know Pete before realizing that his zen always compete glass is always half full mumbo jumbo is genuine, and not just an act or fraud.

From a distance as a Husky fan I did think "man, that guy can't be real, running up and down the sidelines like an idiot." But once he got here and I saw that Pete's just a super passionate person who REALLY does care about everyone from Paul Allen down to the guy who mows the VMAC lawns, it's easy to see why he's been so successful.

But yeah, it took a few years for me to realize that.

 

[TDOTSEAHAWK]

Pete Carroll is basically football's Phil Jackson.

 

[Largent80]

It would be great to resurrect that thread for a few days.

 

[Throwdown]

lol Anyone remember when he cut LenDale White after having him for like 3 minutes?

 

[Largent80]

Or the Sims and Josh Wilson trades?

 

[Throwdown]

Or the Sims and Josh Wilson trades?

lol people went NUTS over that Wilson trade.

 

[TDOTSEAHAWK]

Or the Sims and Josh Wilson trades?

I couldn't believe how many people were crying after the Josh Wilson trade. He clearly didn't fit our scheme of press coverage and wasn't great anyway. People were losing their minds.

 

[onanygivensunday]

And cutting Houshmanzadeh... or however you spell it.

Ballsy move... but it sent a clear message.

 

[Sgt. Largent]

lol Anyone remember when he cut LenDale White after having him for like 3 minutes?

This was the first time we learned that Pete was not just a "player's coach." Cutting White like two days after signing him told us all that if you didn't come in here motivated to compete, you were gone, no matter who you are.

 

[Throwdown]

Or the Sims and Josh Wilson trades?

I couldn't believe how many people were crying after the Josh Wilson trade. He clearly didn't fit our scheme of press coverage and wasn't great anyway. People were losing their minds.

To be fair, we were still in the stage of learning just what the hell Pete's vision was.

It wasn't until 2011 that it came fully into focus, specially with the CB's when they signed Browner from the CFL, and drafted Sherman, and Maxwell in the 5th and 6th rounds of the draft that year.

 

[RolandDeschain]

lol Anyone remember when he cut LenDale White after having him for like 3 minutes?

He showed up hungover to practice and BAM.

@Largent80: We can't restore that thread, because main forum threads at that time around here only lasted for like six months before being automatically purged. It's gone, unfortunately.

 

[TDOTSEAHAWK]

Or the Sims and Josh Wilson trades?

I couldn't believe how many people were crying after the Josh Wilson trade. He clearly didn't fit our scheme of press coverage and wasn't great anyway. People were losing their minds.

To be fair, we were still in the stage of learning just what the hell Pete's vision was.

It wasn't until 2011 that it came fully into focus, specially with the CB's when they signed Browner from the CFL, and drafted Sherman, and Maxwell in the 5th and 6th rounds of the draft that year.

People could have read about his defensive philosophy. It still didn't mean that Wilson was the lynchpin of the defense. Outsiders could have mistook Wilson for Revis for that thread alone.

The only thing that took long to come into focus was defensive line pressure. He doesn't like to blitz much so I wasn't sure if he could assemble a defensive line with the capability of getting consistent pressure with just 4, with focus on the LEO. Enter Bennett and Avril for cheap.

I also called a Pro Bowl for Brandon Browner from day one.

 

[volsunghawk]

Who's the poster who became the Browns fan because he was so pissed we didn't hire Holmgren?

Ahh, seesurfers.

I do recall akseahawkfan being vehemently anti-Carroll. I wonder if his perspective has changed over the last couple of seasons? :mrgreen: