On the eve of free agency, just wanted to start a topic that I've been thinking about and talking about with JonRud...
Everyone knows that Pete Carroll is "THE MAN" in Seattle. The head honcho, sheriff, etc. His ComPete and Win Forever philosophies are what drive this organization and the players on the field. Having said that, is Pete Carroll actually #4 on the Seattle football totem pole?
First, let me say that I LOVE Pete and there isn't a guy I'd rather have coaching the Hawks. His youthful exuberance, his charity work, I just think he's a great coach and a pretty cool person. There's nobody else I'd rather have in Seattle. However, is he the best gameday coach around? I don't think so. I know I've personally had many "WTF Pete?!" moments during his time in Seattle. In the end, I get over it because of everything he does for the team and the city. But is Pete Carroll REALLY still the most important man in the Seahawks organization? Here's my list of the "Big 4" and where I rank them relative to their importance to the team.
1) John Schneider - You could argue that Pete should be #1 because he hired John Schneider, but I still think Schneider deserves the majority of the credit for the work he's done constructing this roster. If Carroll were to retire, I think the team would soldier on with a new head coach. However, if Schneider were to leave town for his "dream job" in Green Bay (hypothetically speaking of course), I think it'd be impossible to find an equal replacement. Seattle would definitely take a hit. So let's hope that Schneider NEVER leaves. Make it happen Paul.
2) Russell Wilson - In due time, he'll probably take over #1 on the list. I don't think I need to explain why. He's going to be a Super Bowl champion, probably multiple times, and while Schneider is the reason Russell's in Seattle in the first place, we won't be able to overlook the performance on the field from #3.
3) Paul Allen - Some might rank him #1 on their list and he probably should be because he saved the team from certain death. He's the perfect sports owner in that he backs his team with unlimited resources and stays out of the way. That's hurt him, and the team, in the past on occasion though. Remember the Holmgren/Whitsitt feud? Don't know if there's anything he could have done to avoid that (don't know the backstage politics) but it happened regardless. Then there was also the Jim Mora move. That sucked. Having said all that, Allen is still the man and I'll always be grateful for everything he's done for us. He's a man that can do no wrong in my mind.
4) Pete Carroll - He's the guy I trust the least when it comes to the Hawks "Big 4." His gameday management is sometimes a little shaky but everything else is pretty great with Pete. Like I said, there's no one I'd rather have in charge of the Hawks. I can't wait to see him celebrating a Super Bowl victory with the Hawks, it's going to be incredible and it's going to piss off A LOT of non-Hawks fans. With Sherman and Carroll on board, the Hawks have a serious chance to be "hated on" by mostly anyone who's not a Hawks fan if they start winning some Super Bowl's. They'll be that team that people love to hate. Back to the topic at hand, I just think that Pete is the most replaceable guy on this list which isn't a knock on him but rather a testament to how great Schneider and Wilson have and may (WILL) become.
What's everyone else thinkin?
Everyone knows that Pete Carroll is "THE MAN" in Seattle. The head honcho, sheriff, etc. His ComPete and Win Forever philosophies are what drive this organization and the players on the field. Having said that, is Pete Carroll actually #4 on the Seattle football totem pole?
First, let me say that I LOVE Pete and there isn't a guy I'd rather have coaching the Hawks. His youthful exuberance, his charity work, I just think he's a great coach and a pretty cool person. There's nobody else I'd rather have in Seattle. However, is he the best gameday coach around? I don't think so. I know I've personally had many "WTF Pete?!" moments during his time in Seattle. In the end, I get over it because of everything he does for the team and the city. But is Pete Carroll REALLY still the most important man in the Seahawks organization? Here's my list of the "Big 4" and where I rank them relative to their importance to the team.
1) John Schneider - You could argue that Pete should be #1 because he hired John Schneider, but I still think Schneider deserves the majority of the credit for the work he's done constructing this roster. If Carroll were to retire, I think the team would soldier on with a new head coach. However, if Schneider were to leave town for his "dream job" in Green Bay (hypothetically speaking of course), I think it'd be impossible to find an equal replacement. Seattle would definitely take a hit. So let's hope that Schneider NEVER leaves. Make it happen Paul.
2) Russell Wilson - In due time, he'll probably take over #1 on the list. I don't think I need to explain why. He's going to be a Super Bowl champion, probably multiple times, and while Schneider is the reason Russell's in Seattle in the first place, we won't be able to overlook the performance on the field from #3.
3) Paul Allen - Some might rank him #1 on their list and he probably should be because he saved the team from certain death. He's the perfect sports owner in that he backs his team with unlimited resources and stays out of the way. That's hurt him, and the team, in the past on occasion though. Remember the Holmgren/Whitsitt feud? Don't know if there's anything he could have done to avoid that (don't know the backstage politics) but it happened regardless. Then there was also the Jim Mora move. That sucked. Having said all that, Allen is still the man and I'll always be grateful for everything he's done for us. He's a man that can do no wrong in my mind.
4) Pete Carroll - He's the guy I trust the least when it comes to the Hawks "Big 4." His gameday management is sometimes a little shaky but everything else is pretty great with Pete. Like I said, there's no one I'd rather have in charge of the Hawks. I can't wait to see him celebrating a Super Bowl victory with the Hawks, it's going to be incredible and it's going to piss off A LOT of non-Hawks fans. With Sherman and Carroll on board, the Hawks have a serious chance to be "hated on" by mostly anyone who's not a Hawks fan if they start winning some Super Bowl's. They'll be that team that people love to hate. Back to the topic at hand, I just think that Pete is the most replaceable guy on this list which isn't a knock on him but rather a testament to how great Schneider and Wilson have and may (WILL) become.
What's everyone else thinkin?