sdog1981":8x1es6lh said:
brimsalabim":8x1es6lh said:
But the offensive line, TE's, and even running backs can whiff blocks and leave free rushers play after play without so much as a critical word from the staff...
This quote from Warren Sapp sums up what is going on with this Seahawks team.
"But he was fired in January of 2002; he was the only head coach in Bucs’ history to have a winning record!"
He was fired for a reason: couldn’t get them over the hump. “He let the offense relax too much,” said defensive captain Warren Sapp.
“It always felt like the offense wasn’t held to the same standards we were held too, and there was tension.”
I remember that quote. Although I had forgotten who to attribute it to.
We've seen this before. Even in reverse with Holmgren. I expect that happens with whatever type of head coach one hires. Holmgren was very tough on his offense. Their standard was one of an offensive mastermind. And truth be told, in Green Bay his style worked because at that time he was a first time Coordinator to HC hire and Fritz Shurmur had far greater autonomy within the structure there as defensive coordinator. And further, Ron Wolf was the ultimate neutral buffer between the two halves of the team. There wasn't an ability to imprint a lopsided identity for the team because the overlord of the organization was neutral.
With our structure here, that will never happen. Whether it was Holmgren as uberlord of operations, or Carroll in the same role.
Seattle plays offense like a defensive team. Everything they do including their approach to winning is aimed to augment the defense's efficacy. Seattle doesn't take risks. Seattle doesn't want to open the offense up. Seattle doesn't want to score 30+ points. They want to control clock. Limit mistakes even at the expense of scoring points, and play field position. All elements aimed at making the game easier for the defense.
Seattle does suffer from this relationship. We see the evidence for it constantly. And pretty much every fan out there can sense the long running tension between the two halves of this team.
Schneider, as good as he is, cannot be a moderating figure between a HC and his coordinator counterpart. Because the organizational structure doesn't allow for it. Schneider is merely the managerial extension of Carroll. There is no real autonomy for our OC. I put that firmly on Pete. He is not Belichick who is equally a defensively focused as Carroll. But he also gives his offensive counterparts autonomy to play offense as they see fit. He doesn't force a mandate down their throats to protect his vested interest in defense.
I'm not suggesting Pete do this per se. The worst thing any coach can do is not be true to their own self. This is part and parcel to the Carroll experience. And that experience has resulting in a great team and organization. But I do believe that the tension and lack of offensive quality begins and ends with Pete's original mandate for how to build his teams. I don't expect it to get better. Nor do I expect any offensive coordinator to have any real prospects to advance in their coaching careers. Because they don't get to put their mark on their product. It's stunted intentionally by Pete.
Ultimately I expect our offense to always be the red headed stepchild in this organization. Much like our defense was when Holmgren was here. Complaints about the offense really should be directed at Carroll himself. Because he intentionally has built a framework to retard the offense in virtually every way. Resources. Talent retainment. Creative license. Confidence and morale.