On the meddling comments, there are levels to meddling.
There's the "I think we should run it here" over the headset in a critical situation. Which is fine, all HCs do that.
Then there's the OC has already called the play, HC gets on the headset and changes the play after the fact, causing a delay of game in the 4th qtr of the playoffs. Pete did this.
AND… "He's running my offense (even though I'm a defensive coach), and the new OC I just hired is going to add to that." That is what Pete said shortly after hiring Schotty.
They are all instances of meddling, but they are not the same. Levels.
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Pete's beliefs on how to handle the QB position are well documented at this point.
Strategically, he believes in building the team up first to properly support them. Defense, running game, etc. THEN you go get the QB.
Believe it or not most teams do it the opposite. They take the QB with a top pick with nothing around him, then act surprised when they flounder as they then scramble to build around said top pick. That would describe Lawrence, Fields, and Zach Wilson just last year, alone.
I agree with Pete in this area. And was not surprised when they didn't take any QBs in this draft class, as none of them were even remotely worthy of being the exception to that rule.
Skillset wise he is looking for a RW type. That is what is spooky, he had his prototype and he couldn't win a playoff game to save his life.
Once the team is built up: He wants a QB that takes care of the football, has a big arm, is mobile and can extend plays. All that plus can perform when the game is on the line.
Pete has his dogmatic religion, regardless if his players skillsets fit or not, square pegs be damned, we're jammin' 'em in there. it's about running the ball and playing great defense. And the QB plays off that. Meaning there are going to be stretches where the QB is going to be a professional ball warmer, more than they are a QB as Pete wastes 3 qtrs trying to feel out the other team. Pete will call their number in the 4th when he needs them to finally go win the game.
Any rookie QB stepping into that framework in today's NFL will fail, unless they are an absolute Superstar, and can overcome their coach as well as the opponent.
A new trend has formed and I hope Pete hops on the wagon. And that is teams are building themselves up, but instead of drafting a QB, they are going and getting a highend veteran.
2020: TB - Brady
2021: LA - Stafford
2022: DEN - Wilson
I'd like Seattle to trade for a great veteran QB if available, rather than a 20% dice roll on a 1st round rookie QB. Only 1 in 5 QBs taken in the 1st round since 2000 would be qualified as franchise guys. While a veteran Brady, Stafford, Wilson, Montana, Farve, Manning, etc. is 100%.
The narrative out there that Pete is some kinda QB whisperer is odd. College is college. Carson who he had the least amount of time with is the only one who did anything in the NFL. In the pros, no QBs did anything substantive under Pete, or even show massive improvement. Wilson is the one guy in Pete's NFL career you can point to, and he is a unicorn. Unicorn's don't grow on trees, if you will.
This season will be a reminder once again, that you need a QB to win in the NFL, and they are hard to find. If you've been watching the NFL for any length of time, you already know this of course.
You want to see it look like the 2011 season ideally. Where they have a top 5 defense, and a top 5 running game, finish with a mediocre record, but they are just a QB away from being contenders again.