1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,320 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Seahawks Insiders, can Chanfer comes up 2 00:00:04,320 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: and just unloads, getting you ready for Seahawks football. Every Sunday. 3 00:00:11,160 --> 00:00:13,640 Speaker 1: Russell has time, fires down and got his bag on 4 00:00:13,800 --> 00:00:21,119 Speaker 1: one he isn't touchdown short bow again. Powered by Seahawks 5 00:00:21,160 --> 00:00:24,680 Speaker 1: dot Com. Hello and welcome to this week's edition of 6 00:00:24,720 --> 00:00:28,560 Speaker 1: the Seahawks Insider Podcast. I'm Jen Muller, sideline reporter for 7 00:00:28,600 --> 00:00:33,080 Speaker 1: the Seahawks, alongside John Boyle of Seahawks dot Com. Hello John, 8 00:00:33,159 --> 00:00:35,880 Speaker 1: Hello Jen, how are you? I am? Well, I'm starting 9 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:38,239 Speaker 1: to get into the Christmas spirit. The tree is up 10 00:00:38,240 --> 00:00:42,159 Speaker 1: at the house, Christmas carols are playing almost NonStop on 11 00:00:42,200 --> 00:00:45,240 Speaker 1: my car radio. Well that's good. We're we're getting that 12 00:00:45,400 --> 00:00:48,120 Speaker 1: going at home to the little daughters and dancing near 13 00:00:48,159 --> 00:00:50,960 Speaker 1: the Christmas music every night. So that's fun. Okay. And 14 00:00:51,800 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: not only does it mean that Christmas is right around 15 00:00:54,360 --> 00:00:56,480 Speaker 1: the corner, but it means that the Seahawks are in 16 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,280 Speaker 1: the stretch run of the regular season, which we know 17 00:01:00,480 --> 00:01:03,320 Speaker 1: they excel at. But before we jump into that, a 18 00:01:03,400 --> 00:01:05,840 Speaker 1: couple of questions that come to mind, and the first 19 00:01:05,840 --> 00:01:08,639 Speaker 1: one I think, John, is where are we at? Meaning 20 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,280 Speaker 1: where are the Seahawks at? Right now, and I'm kind 21 00:01:12,280 --> 00:01:15,600 Speaker 1: of looking at that coming off of that game against Carolina. Yeah, 22 00:01:15,400 --> 00:01:17,840 Speaker 1: I think they're in a really good place. I think 23 00:01:18,400 --> 00:01:20,480 Speaker 1: we talked about this last week with the Tampa game. 24 00:01:20,560 --> 00:01:23,679 Speaker 1: There's a lot of people concerned. Understandably, it was pretty ugly, 25 00:01:23,760 --> 00:01:26,600 Speaker 1: the offense didn't really function very well. But what we 26 00:01:26,720 --> 00:01:28,399 Speaker 1: kind of said then and what I feel a lot 27 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:31,039 Speaker 1: stronger about now, obviously after the Carolina game, is that 28 00:01:31,080 --> 00:01:32,959 Speaker 1: really just felt like one bad game. And when you 29 00:01:33,000 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 1: look at the three game winning streak that led up 30 00:01:35,160 --> 00:01:37,760 Speaker 1: to that, how well they played at New England, which 31 00:01:37,800 --> 00:01:40,720 Speaker 1: was a really impressive win on a short week, what 32 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: to the point was probably their most complete game of 33 00:01:43,240 --> 00:01:45,240 Speaker 1: the season in a win over Philly. Then they have 34 00:01:45,360 --> 00:01:47,920 Speaker 1: the clunker, and then they play an even better game 35 00:01:47,960 --> 00:01:51,440 Speaker 1: than the Philly game against the Panthers, really dominant on 36 00:01:51,480 --> 00:01:54,640 Speaker 1: both sides of the ball. I just I really like 37 00:01:54,720 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: the way the way they're playing, but be the way 38 00:01:57,000 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 1: they're playing, knowing that this is a team that always 39 00:01:59,440 --> 00:02:01,360 Speaker 1: tends to get it in high year at the end 40 00:02:01,400 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: of the season, and really we're probably just starting to 41 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:06,120 Speaker 1: see them hit their stride well, and you talk about 42 00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: the turnaround that they had from Tampa to Carolina, and 43 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:11,400 Speaker 1: I think that there was a lot of different factors 44 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,600 Speaker 1: at place. Certainly it's not easy to make a cross 45 00:02:13,639 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: country trip, but they're not going to use it as 46 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,880 Speaker 1: an excuse. But when you look at the offense producing 47 00:02:18,960 --> 00:02:22,360 Speaker 1: a season low two hundred forty five yards in Tampa 48 00:02:22,400 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: and then you'll go a full one eighty and you 49 00:02:25,160 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: record a season high five thirty four against Carolina, that's 50 00:02:29,960 --> 00:02:33,720 Speaker 1: not just oh man, we just barely figured something out. 51 00:02:33,840 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: That is a complete shift in what you're doing in 52 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,720 Speaker 1: the results that you're getting. Yeah, absolutely, and I think 53 00:02:39,840 --> 00:02:42,160 Speaker 1: you know that was obviously an extreme and you can't 54 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: expect two hundred and forty rushing yards every week. But 55 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:47,240 Speaker 1: I do think that was closer to what this offense 56 00:02:47,280 --> 00:02:49,600 Speaker 1: really is than what we saw the week before in 57 00:02:49,680 --> 00:02:52,080 Speaker 1: the previous few games really back that up. And the 58 00:02:52,080 --> 00:02:54,520 Speaker 1: fact that they actually even against Tampa, they ran the 59 00:02:54,520 --> 00:02:56,400 Speaker 1: ball a little bit, and the fact that their running 60 00:02:56,440 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 1: game is going strong these last few weeks. Are over 61 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: six yards of care in the last three games, again 62 00:03:01,800 --> 00:03:05,760 Speaker 1: including that Tampa loss, So they're running the ball is 63 00:03:05,800 --> 00:03:07,919 Speaker 1: a big deal for this offense. We saw them kind 64 00:03:07,919 --> 00:03:10,160 Speaker 1: of functioning without running the ball. But when they're really 65 00:03:10,160 --> 00:03:12,440 Speaker 1: at their best, it's when they have that balance, and 66 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:14,920 Speaker 1: it just it's to me really encouraging for what they 67 00:03:14,960 --> 00:03:17,280 Speaker 1: can be down the stretch. And isn't it funny that 68 00:03:17,400 --> 00:03:20,560 Speaker 1: just a few weeks ago we were contemplating what it 69 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:23,200 Speaker 1: would look like to be in the playoffs and have 70 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,359 Speaker 1: a rushing attack that was averaging about eighty four yards 71 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:30,000 Speaker 1: a game, and we were looking at scenarios of, man, 72 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: how could you control time of possession or get the 73 00:03:32,360 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 1: defense off the field a little bit. And as it 74 00:03:34,720 --> 00:03:36,800 Speaker 1: turns out, when you get back to what this team 75 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:41,080 Speaker 1: is really built to do, yeah, they're pretty good. Yeah, 76 00:03:41,120 --> 00:03:43,680 Speaker 1: And I think we're seeing a couple of factors. The 77 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: biggest one is Thomas Rowles being back, Russell Wilson being healthy. 78 00:03:47,800 --> 00:03:50,400 Speaker 1: That offensive line is starting to come together again. We 79 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:54,120 Speaker 1: keep saying this, but Tampa Bay game notwithstanding, the line 80 00:03:54,160 --> 00:03:56,119 Speaker 1: has shown a lot of improvement in the last month. 81 00:03:56,200 --> 00:03:59,720 Speaker 1: So all those factors, all of a sudden, this offense 82 00:03:59,720 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 1: goes from you know, do they have an identity crisis? 83 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: Are they now a passing team? To Okay, hey, they 84 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:08,040 Speaker 1: can run the ball really well again and be balanced, 85 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:09,800 Speaker 1: and that's what they do best. And now when you 86 00:04:09,840 --> 00:04:12,160 Speaker 1: look back, you kind of look at that and say, no, 87 00:04:12,280 --> 00:04:15,360 Speaker 1: they were just weathering the storm exactly. They were doing 88 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,679 Speaker 1: the best they could with what they had at the time. 89 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,600 Speaker 1: And what we saw against Carolina was the largest margin 90 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:24,159 Speaker 1: of victory by the Seahawks since the Super Bowl win 91 00:04:24,240 --> 00:04:26,679 Speaker 1: over Denver. That was also the last time they scored 92 00:04:26,920 --> 00:04:30,280 Speaker 1: forty points. The last time that happened in the regular 93 00:04:30,320 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: season was Week eleven versus the Vikings, And of course 94 00:04:33,400 --> 00:04:36,479 Speaker 1: that time of possession also helped the Seahawks defense, who 95 00:04:37,040 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 1: was only on the field for about fifty eight snaps, 96 00:04:41,680 --> 00:04:45,080 Speaker 1: which feels like a walks like a half of the Yeah, 97 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:47,880 Speaker 1: I know, and so we know kind of where the 98 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:52,599 Speaker 1: Seahawks are at right now. And I guess the next 99 00:04:52,680 --> 00:04:56,599 Speaker 1: question is where are they going? When you look at 100 00:04:56,640 --> 00:04:59,240 Speaker 1: the final stretch, where does this mean they're going? Well, 101 00:04:59,720 --> 00:05:01,479 Speaker 1: most it's likely that they're going to the postseason. They 102 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: actually could clinch a playoff birth this week depending on 103 00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:06,640 Speaker 1: what happened in their game and Arizona's game. But more 104 00:05:06,640 --> 00:05:09,400 Speaker 1: importantly than you know the playoffs scenarios and how that 105 00:05:09,440 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: all shakes out, is they just look like they're doing 106 00:05:12,600 --> 00:05:14,520 Speaker 1: what they tend to do under Pete Carroll, which is 107 00:05:14,839 --> 00:05:17,159 Speaker 1: get better as a season goes on. There they're thirty 108 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,280 Speaker 1: two and seven after November under Pete Carroll, and there's 109 00:05:21,320 --> 00:05:23,640 Speaker 1: no reason to think based on what we've seen and 110 00:05:23,720 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: what we know about these players. And I mean, Russell 111 00:05:26,000 --> 00:05:28,280 Speaker 1: Wilson has like one hundred and six passer rating in 112 00:05:28,279 --> 00:05:30,760 Speaker 1: December in his career. I mean, this is just Pete 113 00:05:30,760 --> 00:05:34,560 Speaker 1: Carroll loves to preach finishing and that's what they've been 114 00:05:34,600 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 1: doing these last four or five years, and it looks 115 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:39,120 Speaker 1: like they're doing again. But I'm so curious as to 116 00:05:39,279 --> 00:05:42,680 Speaker 1: why other teams don't have the same emphasis when they 117 00:05:42,720 --> 00:05:45,520 Speaker 1: see that it's worked so well in Seattle. Yeah, and 118 00:05:45,600 --> 00:05:49,159 Speaker 1: the message has been consistent, I think, I mean, big picture, 119 00:05:49,160 --> 00:05:50,840 Speaker 1: I think there's a lot of what the Seahawks do 120 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:54,599 Speaker 1: that might seem pretty simple when you just say it. 121 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:58,840 Speaker 1: It's it's actually putting it into play and getting it 122 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:01,400 Speaker 1: right where you don't just talk about being a good 123 00:06:01,440 --> 00:06:03,640 Speaker 1: finishing team, but figure out how to actually do it. 124 00:06:03,960 --> 00:06:06,760 Speaker 1: You don't just talk about always compete, but you really 125 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,400 Speaker 1: do compete to the point that right now your roster 126 00:06:09,480 --> 00:06:12,560 Speaker 1: has more undrafted players than drafted players twenty seven undrafted 127 00:06:12,560 --> 00:06:16,359 Speaker 1: free agents right now out of fifty three. It's again, 128 00:06:16,440 --> 00:06:18,680 Speaker 1: there's there's a big difference between just talking about it 129 00:06:18,680 --> 00:06:20,840 Speaker 1: and doing it. And that's why I think Pete Carroll 130 00:06:20,880 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 1: is more of an open book than a lot of coaches. 131 00:06:22,600 --> 00:06:25,479 Speaker 1: And I think it's because he realizes, you know, I 132 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:27,520 Speaker 1: don't care if people know how we do things because 133 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:29,719 Speaker 1: I don't think it can be replicated. And that's I 134 00:06:29,720 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: think part of what makes him such a good coach. 135 00:06:31,960 --> 00:06:34,000 Speaker 1: And yeah, it's it's hard to just say, Okay, we're 136 00:06:34,040 --> 00:06:35,600 Speaker 1: going to finish strong and then do it. But they 137 00:06:35,720 --> 00:06:37,920 Speaker 1: figured out a way, and I honestly couldn't tell you 138 00:06:37,960 --> 00:06:39,800 Speaker 1: all the reasons. I think some of it might be 139 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,839 Speaker 1: they don't maybe goes hard on players and practice as 140 00:06:42,920 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: some team, so guys are a little fresher, I think 141 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:47,240 Speaker 1: more in anything, it might just be a mindset thing. 142 00:06:47,279 --> 00:06:49,599 Speaker 1: Though you hear guys kind of repeat what Pete Carroll 143 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: says about you know, doing it longer and better than 144 00:06:53,520 --> 00:06:55,880 Speaker 1: your opponents, outlasting your opponent basis, A lot of that 145 00:06:55,920 --> 00:06:57,960 Speaker 1: just comes down to will, and this seems figure that 146 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,040 Speaker 1: out well. I think that is kind of my number 147 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:03,440 Speaker 1: one on why does this work is that the players 148 00:07:03,440 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 1: have bought into this. You know, they are the ones 149 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:09,520 Speaker 1: actually driving the ship. Pete gives the message, but it's 150 00:07:09,560 --> 00:07:12,440 Speaker 1: the players in the locker room who are bringing kind 151 00:07:12,440 --> 00:07:14,880 Speaker 1: of those new guys in who have watched it from 152 00:07:14,880 --> 00:07:17,720 Speaker 1: afar but don't really understand what that means on a 153 00:07:17,800 --> 00:07:20,360 Speaker 1: day to day basis. And I think the second part 154 00:07:20,400 --> 00:07:23,040 Speaker 1: of that, if I had to opine for a minute 155 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: as to why this works, it's that Pete truly believes 156 00:07:27,960 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: what he's saying and his actions follow that. I'd add 157 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:34,680 Speaker 1: discipline to the mix, because again, I don't think, and 158 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:36,480 Speaker 1: I've said this a number of times over the years, 159 00:07:36,920 --> 00:07:40,440 Speaker 1: I don't think people understand the discipline it takes to 160 00:07:40,520 --> 00:07:43,280 Speaker 1: do exactly what you're saying, not just say the words, 161 00:07:43,800 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: but follow through on the actions every day. Yeah, And 162 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: what I thought was interesting with Pete when he talked 163 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:52,640 Speaker 1: about those undrafted free agents that were on the roster, 164 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 1: he was super say I asked that question, he pumped 165 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 1: his fist about it. He and I thought his answer 166 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:00,840 Speaker 1: to that, when you go, well, why why was that 167 00:08:00,920 --> 00:08:03,840 Speaker 1: your reaction? I thought that was very interesting and it 168 00:08:03,920 --> 00:08:07,280 Speaker 1: shows that Pete really believes the way the team is built. Yeah, 169 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,000 Speaker 1: And just going back for a second to what you 170 00:08:09,040 --> 00:08:13,600 Speaker 1: just said about discipline, that might be the biggest misconception 171 00:08:13,760 --> 00:08:16,400 Speaker 1: from the outside of Pete Carroll as a coach is 172 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:20,040 Speaker 1: you see the enthusiasm. You go back to his USC 173 00:08:20,240 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: days of you know, the pranks and the celebrities on 174 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,280 Speaker 1: the sideline, and people think that element of fun means 175 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:30,400 Speaker 1: you're not disciplined. You don't lead the league in scoring 176 00:08:30,440 --> 00:08:33,480 Speaker 1: defense for five straight years, you don't play good run defense, 177 00:08:33,559 --> 00:08:38,160 Speaker 1: you don't consistently limit big plays, not turn the ball over. 178 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:40,079 Speaker 1: All these things they do that are part of their 179 00:08:40,120 --> 00:08:44,880 Speaker 1: formula without being incredibly disciplined, And it's it's just kind 180 00:08:44,880 --> 00:08:46,800 Speaker 1: of always been an we're off topic now, But it's 181 00:08:46,840 --> 00:08:48,840 Speaker 1: just been a really interesting dynamic to me about Pete 182 00:08:48,840 --> 00:08:51,400 Speaker 1: Carroll teams as people just think it's this loose, goofy, 183 00:08:51,400 --> 00:08:54,920 Speaker 1: fun environment, but everything they do backs up that it's 184 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 1: a very discipline group as well. But I don't think 185 00:08:57,400 --> 00:08:59,880 Speaker 1: it's off topic because I think it goes back to 186 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,800 Speaker 1: the ability to finish and what this team has done 187 00:09:02,840 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: because it would be so easy for guys like Richard 188 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: Sherman or cam Chancellor or Russell Wilson, guys who have 189 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:12,160 Speaker 1: success in the league and have been on you know, 190 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:14,480 Speaker 1: kind of the role to just say we got this. 191 00:09:15,320 --> 00:09:17,600 Speaker 1: We don't need to do the same thing. I don't 192 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,040 Speaker 1: have to take all those reps in practice, you know, 193 00:09:20,120 --> 00:09:21,760 Speaker 1: I can kind of switch it up because now I 194 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:24,760 Speaker 1: have earned the right to not play special teams or 195 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: whatever it is. No, I think that it's very much 196 00:09:28,160 --> 00:09:30,440 Speaker 1: on topic because this is the time of year that 197 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:33,960 Speaker 1: that discipline pays off for sure. I want to go 198 00:09:34,000 --> 00:09:36,439 Speaker 1: back to that question that you were asking Pete about 199 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:40,640 Speaker 1: those undrafted free agents, and this I think really speaks 200 00:09:40,679 --> 00:09:44,200 Speaker 1: to Pete's belief and just every fiber of his being 201 00:09:44,720 --> 00:09:47,160 Speaker 1: as to why that works for them. Because again, I 202 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,480 Speaker 1: think other teams would tell you, yeah, hey man, we 203 00:09:49,640 --> 00:09:51,840 Speaker 1: love it, we love it if they're contributing. But there's 204 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:56,120 Speaker 1: something that Pete likes about that mindset that they bring. Yeah, 205 00:09:56,160 --> 00:09:58,839 Speaker 1: it's kind of like he said, they have that kind 206 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:02,439 Speaker 1: of underdog, gritty mindset of it was interesting the way 207 00:10:02,440 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: he phrased it. I like what he said is we 208 00:10:03,920 --> 00:10:06,200 Speaker 1: don't think of him that way, because they truly do. 209 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:08,440 Speaker 1: Once a guy's in the building, whether he was a 210 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:10,520 Speaker 1: first second round pick or an undrafted guy, They're going 211 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:11,960 Speaker 1: to let it play out on the field the same, 212 00:10:12,280 --> 00:10:14,320 Speaker 1: but they do know that that guy remembers that he 213 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:17,800 Speaker 1: got undrafted, or that he Richard Sherman knows the name 214 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: of every cornerback drafted ahead of him in the twenty 215 00:10:20,360 --> 00:10:23,600 Speaker 1: eleven draft. Doug Baldwin enormous chip on his shoulder, And 216 00:10:23,640 --> 00:10:26,280 Speaker 1: that works for some guys, doesn't work for everybody, but 217 00:10:26,360 --> 00:10:28,920 Speaker 1: for some players that's a real factor, and it's part 218 00:10:28,960 --> 00:10:31,520 Speaker 1: of the makeup of this team. Of for all the 219 00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,000 Speaker 1: success they've had, you still have a lot of guys 220 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:38,360 Speaker 1: who have that sort of slighted underdog mentality, and you know, 221 00:10:38,480 --> 00:10:40,520 Speaker 1: whether on the outside you want to believe him or not, 222 00:10:40,559 --> 00:10:42,640 Speaker 1: if it works for him, it's a part of this team. 223 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,960 Speaker 1: And I wonder how much maybe Stephen Terrell feels that 224 00:10:46,120 --> 00:10:49,320 Speaker 1: this week. Not that he's not a talented player, but 225 00:10:49,640 --> 00:10:52,280 Speaker 1: all he's hearing is, oh my god, the Seahawks are 226 00:10:52,280 --> 00:10:54,520 Speaker 1: doomed without Earl Thomas and oh my gosh, you're gonna 227 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 1: get picked on by Aaron Rodgers on Sunday, which is 228 00:10:57,640 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: certainly a storyline that has picked up a lot of 229 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,240 Speaker 1: attention nationally. Yeah, and understandably I mean, a Aaron Rodgers 230 00:11:05,240 --> 00:11:06,960 Speaker 1: is a kind of quarterback who will take his shots 231 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: no matter who's back there. But you gotta figure they're 232 00:11:09,400 --> 00:11:11,800 Speaker 1: gonna look at Okay, let's let's see what this guy 233 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,120 Speaker 1: can do and test him out. But the Seahawks are 234 00:11:15,200 --> 00:11:18,000 Speaker 1: very confident Stephen Tarrell. He's it helps that he's played. 235 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:21,360 Speaker 1: This isn't a guy who Earl Thomas didn't get hurt 236 00:11:21,360 --> 00:11:23,120 Speaker 1: in the fourth quarter of the last game. And now 237 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:26,560 Speaker 1: Stephen Terrell's first real playing time is against Aaron Rodgers 238 00:11:26,559 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: and the Packers. He played basically half a one game, 239 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:31,320 Speaker 1: started the next game, played more than half of the 240 00:11:31,360 --> 00:11:34,040 Speaker 1: last game. So they like it. And he's been here 241 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: a while. He knows the system really well, really good athlete. 242 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:38,760 Speaker 1: I mean, he's not going to be Earl Thomas. That's 243 00:11:38,800 --> 00:11:41,320 Speaker 1: not fair to ask of anyone, because Earl Thomas is 244 00:11:41,600 --> 00:11:43,880 Speaker 1: one of the best players in the NFL. Not best 245 00:11:43,920 --> 00:11:46,920 Speaker 1: safety's one of the best players. So it's not you know, 246 00:11:46,960 --> 00:11:49,160 Speaker 1: you can't just assume it's gonna look exactly the same. 247 00:11:49,160 --> 00:11:51,040 Speaker 1: But they're really confident what they're going to get at 248 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:53,479 Speaker 1: him well. And I think the other thing to understand 249 00:11:53,520 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: too is you're right he is not going to be 250 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,800 Speaker 1: the same. But he has not only been in the 251 00:11:58,840 --> 00:12:02,600 Speaker 1: Seahawks system, but he's been in meeting rooms with that 252 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: entire secondary. Yeah, you know, we talk about the importance 253 00:12:05,400 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 1: of communication on the field during the game, and that 254 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:10,880 Speaker 1: is absolutely something that they need to lock down and 255 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:13,280 Speaker 1: be on the same page with. And when you lose 256 00:12:13,320 --> 00:12:15,840 Speaker 1: a guy like Earl, you also need to increase some 257 00:12:15,880 --> 00:12:19,120 Speaker 1: of that communication because that those nonverbal cues are not 258 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:21,440 Speaker 1: going to be the same. But they have still been 259 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: in the same meeting rooms. Yeah, you don't. These guys 260 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: don't just start talking a different way on Sunday. They 261 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: talk the same way in the meeting rooms that they 262 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:30,480 Speaker 1: do on the practice field. And Stephen Terrell has been 263 00:12:30,480 --> 00:12:33,280 Speaker 1: there the entire time for the last couple of three 264 00:12:33,600 --> 00:12:35,960 Speaker 1: three seasons he's been here. He knows and he's obviously 265 00:12:36,000 --> 00:12:38,600 Speaker 1: he's practiced at a ton. He knows that system as well, 266 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: is just about anybody there. So I think the biggest 267 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:43,560 Speaker 1: thing you touch on is the communication side is and 268 00:12:43,600 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: he talked about this yesterday, is like, you know, Cam 269 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,240 Speaker 1: Chancellor and Earl Thomas can look at each other and 270 00:12:48,360 --> 00:12:50,480 Speaker 1: know what the others thinking, and Okay, we got it. 271 00:12:50,640 --> 00:12:52,800 Speaker 1: He's gonna actually he and Cam are gonna actually have 272 00:12:52,840 --> 00:12:56,640 Speaker 1: to have that conversation. But I really don't think this 273 00:12:56,720 --> 00:12:59,160 Speaker 1: is going to be some huge factor where they go 274 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,959 Speaker 1: from being the number one scoring defense to give it 275 00:13:02,040 --> 00:13:03,680 Speaker 1: up thirty points a game down the stretch. I just 276 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: I think that defense around him is too good for one, 277 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,160 Speaker 1: any one player, no matter who it is, to make 278 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:10,839 Speaker 1: that big a difference if they're gone and be I 279 00:13:10,920 --> 00:13:13,280 Speaker 1: just I really think Stephen Terrell's ready to kind of 280 00:13:13,280 --> 00:13:15,600 Speaker 1: come into a thing. And if you take a look 281 00:13:15,640 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: at the defense as a whole, I think you're still 282 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:22,160 Speaker 1: pretty set exactly. It's not you know, this isn't losing. 283 00:13:23,120 --> 00:13:26,000 Speaker 1: You're one great player on a mediocre defense who makes 284 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:28,080 Speaker 1: all the difference in the world. This is a great 285 00:13:28,120 --> 00:13:30,520 Speaker 1: player on a defense full of them, and you've got 286 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:33,400 Speaker 1: at all three levels. This is not just okay. Now 287 00:13:33,640 --> 00:13:35,880 Speaker 1: the secondary's got a hole in it and that was 288 00:13:35,920 --> 00:13:38,240 Speaker 1: your only good unit and you're going to get exposed. 289 00:13:38,240 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: I mean, they've got a ton of talent out there, 290 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 1: and aren't you just a little curious and excited to 291 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:45,640 Speaker 1: see if he can burst onto the scene the same 292 00:13:45,720 --> 00:13:48,120 Speaker 1: way that some of these others exactly. I mean, you 293 00:13:48,400 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: hate to lose it anybody, but Pete Carroll he gets 294 00:13:50,960 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: legitily excited when these things come up. Not believe me, 295 00:13:54,040 --> 00:13:56,240 Speaker 1: he would. He would love to have Erol Thomas out 296 00:13:56,280 --> 00:13:58,440 Speaker 1: there every play of every game. But there's a part 297 00:13:58,440 --> 00:14:00,880 Speaker 1: of him too that when these guys getting opportunity, whether 298 00:14:01,240 --> 00:14:02,920 Speaker 1: it was Joey Hund a couple of weeks ago, or 299 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: Nico Thorpe or whoever, it's just getting to see what 300 00:14:06,800 --> 00:14:09,400 Speaker 1: you have. Let them get that experience. And you know 301 00:14:09,400 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: they always talk about this will help you down the road. Well, 302 00:14:11,559 --> 00:14:14,120 Speaker 1: guess what they needed Tarrell a couple of weeks ago. 303 00:14:14,120 --> 00:14:16,080 Speaker 1: He got the experience. Now he's going to be called 304 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:17,360 Speaker 1: on to do a lot and he's going to be 305 00:14:17,360 --> 00:14:19,880 Speaker 1: better for having played. Yeah, and now this is the 306 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:23,200 Speaker 1: down the road scenario that they needed. Let's flip over 307 00:14:23,280 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: to the offensive side of the ball for the Seahawks 308 00:14:25,920 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: before we take a look at the Packers here offensively, 309 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:33,280 Speaker 1: you mentioned those ground yards that they have managed to 310 00:14:33,280 --> 00:14:35,480 Speaker 1: get the last couple of days. I look at this matchup, 311 00:14:35,520 --> 00:14:37,440 Speaker 1: I look at Lambeau. I don't look at this as 312 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:40,120 Speaker 1: a bad weather game necessarily. I think it's probably going 313 00:14:40,200 --> 00:14:44,400 Speaker 1: to be pretty favorable conditions all things considered. Green Bay 314 00:14:44,520 --> 00:14:47,760 Speaker 1: in December, probably some snow, But I don't think you're 315 00:14:47,800 --> 00:14:53,480 Speaker 1: looking at blizzard weather, rain sleep. There's a lot worse thing, right, Yeah, 316 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: there's a lot worse. And yet I still look at 317 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: this and think, as long as you have got the 318 00:15:00,360 --> 00:15:03,760 Speaker 1: to run the ball and control time of possession, you'll 319 00:15:03,800 --> 00:15:06,200 Speaker 1: be okay in this one. Yeah. And that's when you 320 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:09,760 Speaker 1: go back to the philosophical side of why Pete Carroll 321 00:15:09,800 --> 00:15:12,160 Speaker 1: wants to be balanced. It's games like this where it 322 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,040 Speaker 1: could be a factor. And he talks about that is 323 00:15:14,440 --> 00:15:16,200 Speaker 1: you don't want to be so reliant on your passing 324 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:19,880 Speaker 1: game that if you catch a team that's really good 325 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:21,600 Speaker 1: at stopping the past and you having a run game, 326 00:15:21,720 --> 00:15:23,960 Speaker 1: or you catch a bad weather game where it's hard 327 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:26,200 Speaker 1: to throw the ball. That's why you want to be 328 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:28,680 Speaker 1: able to do both. And as you said, I don't 329 00:15:28,680 --> 00:15:31,400 Speaker 1: think it's going to be some horrible conditions, but it 330 00:15:31,400 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: could be a little slick field could be slippery, the 331 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,480 Speaker 1: ball could be cold, and all those things that if 332 00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:37,200 Speaker 1: you can just get that run game going and be 333 00:15:37,200 --> 00:15:39,200 Speaker 1: a little bit balanced, I think they're gonna be fine. 334 00:15:39,440 --> 00:15:43,040 Speaker 1: And I think what you saw against Carolina. I really 335 00:15:43,040 --> 00:15:45,680 Speaker 1: liked those rushing yards for a couple of reasons. One, 336 00:15:45,760 --> 00:15:48,240 Speaker 1: it did get the Seahawks back on track to playing 337 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,360 Speaker 1: the type of football we're used to seeing them play. 338 00:15:50,840 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: Number Two, Carolina secondary, we knew going in was an 339 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:57,920 Speaker 1: area that you could exploit down the field, and yet 340 00:15:58,000 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: they did not go away from the running game just 341 00:16:00,840 --> 00:16:03,600 Speaker 1: because there were some holes in the secondary, which is 342 00:16:03,600 --> 00:16:06,000 Speaker 1: exactly what Green Bay has this week. If you take 343 00:16:06,000 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: a look at the yards per play that the Packers 344 00:16:08,840 --> 00:16:12,520 Speaker 1: are allowing, you know, on passing plays, I could see 345 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:14,920 Speaker 1: where it might be tempting to try to check it 346 00:16:14,960 --> 00:16:17,160 Speaker 1: down the field, you know. But yeah, I think we'll 347 00:16:17,200 --> 00:16:19,360 Speaker 1: see them. I think it'll look a lot like what 348 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:20,920 Speaker 1: they were trying to do last week. Again, I don't 349 00:16:20,920 --> 00:16:22,840 Speaker 1: think we can go out and predict five hundred yards 350 00:16:22,880 --> 00:16:25,880 Speaker 1: in two hundred forty rushing yards, but this is, you know, 351 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:28,040 Speaker 1: it's a similar Like you said, they you know, they've 352 00:16:28,040 --> 00:16:30,000 Speaker 1: been pretty good against a run this year. Their passing 353 00:16:30,080 --> 00:16:34,520 Speaker 1: numbers not great. But yeah, I just I really think 354 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:37,320 Speaker 1: we've what we've seen really the last three weeks now 355 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:41,240 Speaker 1: is a Seahawks offense finding some of that balance, getting 356 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:43,480 Speaker 1: some of the pieces back that help them get there, 357 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: and that's gonna probably look pretty good down the stretch. 358 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:48,960 Speaker 1: And that's going back to a conversation about finishing. A 359 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:50,520 Speaker 1: big part of that in last few years has been 360 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:53,400 Speaker 1: the offense. You know, they're generally speaking, there's been some 361 00:16:53,400 --> 00:16:56,400 Speaker 1: some different things, but this team has generally stayed pretty 362 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:58,920 Speaker 1: consistent defensively throughout a season. But you look at these 363 00:16:59,000 --> 00:17:01,720 Speaker 1: years where they finished strong. It's when the offense gets going. 364 00:17:01,960 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: And you know, whether that's a Russell Wilson thing or 365 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: a system thing, or the fact they've had some offensive 366 00:17:06,800 --> 00:17:09,560 Speaker 1: line turnover so you're getting those guys together. Whatever it is, 367 00:17:09,960 --> 00:17:12,399 Speaker 1: this offense tends to find itself around this time and 368 00:17:12,440 --> 00:17:14,040 Speaker 1: a big part of that we're seeing right now is 369 00:17:14,040 --> 00:17:16,239 Speaker 1: their own game. Well, lots of people are looking at 370 00:17:16,240 --> 00:17:19,159 Speaker 1: the Packers right now and wondering if they have found 371 00:17:19,160 --> 00:17:21,200 Speaker 1: their mojo again, because there was a point in time 372 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:25,399 Speaker 1: where you, yeah, wrote the Packers off. The last couple 373 00:17:25,440 --> 00:17:28,760 Speaker 1: of games, they're getting back to scoring points, putting up yards. 374 00:17:28,960 --> 00:17:32,160 Speaker 1: The Packers have recorded four hundred yards of total offense 375 00:17:32,280 --> 00:17:36,120 Speaker 1: five times this season. They're also really good at converting 376 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,960 Speaker 1: on third downs and in fact, in Week twelve had 377 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:44,119 Speaker 1: the highest single game third down conversion rate in the 378 00:17:44,280 --> 00:17:48,000 Speaker 1: NFL this year. Part of that is because Aaron Rodgers 379 00:17:48,080 --> 00:17:50,360 Speaker 1: knows how to make plays. What are we seeing in 380 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,400 Speaker 1: general from Green Bay? You know, like you just said, 381 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:56,040 Speaker 1: there's that stretch for it was weird because Aaron Rodgers 382 00:17:56,080 --> 00:17:57,679 Speaker 1: has been so good so long that when it was 383 00:17:57,720 --> 00:18:00,560 Speaker 1: struggling for that four game losing streaker, just it was 384 00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:03,439 Speaker 1: hard to wrap your head around, you know, if you 385 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:05,399 Speaker 1: weren't watching them really close safer game, because you just 386 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:07,720 Speaker 1: look at Aaron Rodgers, like, how how is this offense 387 00:18:07,840 --> 00:18:10,600 Speaker 1: not great? It's coming around and it's I mean, when 388 00:18:10,640 --> 00:18:13,320 Speaker 1: you have that color, I mean, we're talking about one 389 00:18:13,359 --> 00:18:15,679 Speaker 1: of the great quarterbacks of this era. When you have 390 00:18:15,800 --> 00:18:18,359 Speaker 1: that guy going, you've always got a chance to be good. 391 00:18:18,400 --> 00:18:21,520 Speaker 1: And they've really started to figure it out their run game. 392 00:18:21,600 --> 00:18:23,560 Speaker 1: You know, they've they've had a ton different running backs 393 00:18:23,560 --> 00:18:25,760 Speaker 1: and injuries and all that, so their their run game 394 00:18:25,800 --> 00:18:27,760 Speaker 1: doesn't appear to be the threat. Although and you have 395 00:18:27,800 --> 00:18:30,320 Speaker 1: a quarterback who can scramble around, that's always a risk, 396 00:18:30,440 --> 00:18:32,679 Speaker 1: especially if you're worried about him beating you with your 397 00:18:32,760 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: arm and dropping guys in coverage. And all that. So 398 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:38,439 Speaker 1: you know, I don't think despite whatever struggles they've had, 399 00:18:38,840 --> 00:18:41,160 Speaker 1: I don't think this is an offense you can go 400 00:18:41,200 --> 00:18:44,080 Speaker 1: into a game against without you have to think this 401 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:45,600 Speaker 1: is going to be a great test, because that's what 402 00:18:45,720 --> 00:18:48,040 Speaker 1: it probably will be. And we've had so many great 403 00:18:48,040 --> 00:18:51,600 Speaker 1: games against the Packers. They've been boring. Man, they have 404 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:55,639 Speaker 1: not been boring. And just to highlight where this Packers 405 00:18:55,680 --> 00:18:58,880 Speaker 1: team has come in the last couple of weeks, they've 406 00:18:58,920 --> 00:19:02,560 Speaker 1: scored twenty one or more points in nine of their 407 00:19:02,640 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: last ten games, which sounds impressive. And I'd like to 408 00:19:06,440 --> 00:19:09,960 Speaker 1: remind folks that the Seahawks have not allowed that many 409 00:19:10,040 --> 00:19:12,520 Speaker 1: points in the last three games, and in fact, they've 410 00:19:12,520 --> 00:19:15,159 Speaker 1: only allowed twenty one or more points three times this season. 411 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,800 Speaker 1: So that'll be a great test of offense versus defense. 412 00:19:18,840 --> 00:19:21,760 Speaker 1: And Aaron Rodgers has now thrown eight touchdowns in the 413 00:19:21,840 --> 00:19:27,320 Speaker 1: last three weeks, so Kinder Rodgers looking like Aaron Rodgers. 414 00:19:27,520 --> 00:19:30,680 Speaker 1: He and Jordy Nelson, who returns this year after knee 415 00:19:30,680 --> 00:19:33,879 Speaker 1: injury last year, have combined for fifty five touchdowns in 416 00:19:33,880 --> 00:19:36,720 Speaker 1: the course of their careers. That is the second most 417 00:19:37,359 --> 00:19:40,840 Speaker 1: by a duo in team history, behind Brett Farve and 418 00:19:40,880 --> 00:19:44,160 Speaker 1: Antonio Freeman. So that's what we're looking at for the Packers. 419 00:19:44,560 --> 00:19:47,280 Speaker 1: Last question for you before we wrap up this version 420 00:19:47,280 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: of the Seahawks Insider podcast, because we started with a 421 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,560 Speaker 1: couple of questions and here is the last one for you. 422 00:19:54,240 --> 00:20:00,240 Speaker 1: What's next for this team in terms of playoff positioning. Well, 423 00:20:00,359 --> 00:20:02,520 Speaker 1: they can wrap up the division this week actually with 424 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:05,720 Speaker 1: a little bit of help. Miami is hosting the Cardinals 425 00:20:05,800 --> 00:20:07,800 Speaker 1: and it's earlier than the Seahawks game, so we'll know 426 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:12,720 Speaker 1: the result of that. If Miami wins, Seahawks can clinch 427 00:20:12,760 --> 00:20:15,160 Speaker 1: with a win or at High or if the Seahawks 428 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,439 Speaker 1: somehow have their second tie of the year, then they 429 00:20:17,440 --> 00:20:20,439 Speaker 1: would need a loss. So the most likely scenario is 430 00:20:20,520 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: you want a Miami win and a Seahawks win and 431 00:20:23,119 --> 00:20:26,639 Speaker 1: you're NFC West champs. The bigger question now is that 432 00:20:26,840 --> 00:20:29,680 Speaker 1: buy because you're looking at you've got a slight edge 433 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: on Detroit right now for the two seed, and obviously 434 00:20:33,600 --> 00:20:36,120 Speaker 1: getting the buy in the home game in the divisional 435 00:20:36,200 --> 00:20:38,440 Speaker 1: round would be huge for them. And we're talking about 436 00:20:38,440 --> 00:20:40,200 Speaker 1: a team that had us buy in Week five, so 437 00:20:40,640 --> 00:20:44,200 Speaker 1: getting a week off in January would be very, very helpful. Yeah, 438 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,040 Speaker 1: Detroit schedule does look a little tough, or at least 439 00:20:47,040 --> 00:20:49,760 Speaker 1: by the numbers going down the stretch. The Seahawks, as 440 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,040 Speaker 1: we pointed out here, have a favorable schedule that is not, 441 00:20:53,119 --> 00:20:55,720 Speaker 1: of course overlooking the Packers, but the Hawks do have 442 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:59,320 Speaker 1: a three game lead over Arizona, and as John pointed out, 443 00:20:59,359 --> 00:21:02,200 Speaker 1: if they do lock up that division title this week, 444 00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: it'll be the third time they have done that in 445 00:21:04,520 --> 00:21:06,760 Speaker 1: the last four years, and it will keep them in 446 00:21:06,920 --> 00:21:09,840 Speaker 1: perfect positioning to get that number two seed and a 447 00:21:09,920 --> 00:21:12,920 Speaker 1: buye would be nice, which I think wraps up kind 448 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:14,800 Speaker 1: of all of our questions for today. I think, so 449 00:21:15,119 --> 00:21:16,919 Speaker 1: all right, Well, in that case, that'll do it for 450 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:20,480 Speaker 1: this week's edition of the Seahawks Insider Podcast. Remember you 451 00:21:20,520 --> 00:21:23,600 Speaker 1: can find many more of our podcast on seahawks dot 452 00:21:23,680 --> 00:21:26,560 Speaker 1: com Slash Podcast. Make sure that you tune into the 453 00:21:26,600 --> 00:21:29,280 Speaker 1: game on Sunday on the Seahawks Radio Network and catch 454 00:21:29,359 --> 00:21:32,560 Speaker 1: everything that John has to write on seahawks dot com. 455 00:21:32,680 --> 00:21:34,040 Speaker 1: We will see you next week.