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| Golden Tate speaks for reserves: "Don't you forget about me" |
It's not just a coincidence that Pete Carroll's name is half of his motto in life and in football; Com-pete, Com-pete, Always Compete! But, this isn't just lip-service from some rah-rah, high-energy coach trying to excite and motivate his players. "Always Compete" has always been Carroll's solemn belief in a system that continually renews itself simply on the premise that each position on his football team is a competition, not just a slogan, but a real promise. The head coach of the Seahawks has promised his players, "If you outplay another player on the team consistently at his position in training camp, on the practice field, and in the classroom, you Will get playing time and you Will have your opportunity to be great. The cornerstone of this belief system, however, requires that each player earns his playing time, unaffected by his draft position, the size of his contract or by any other status level based on something other than performance. This has been promised and like any other leader in any situation, the system collapses and has no meaning unless the promises are honored.
There's no greater illustration of Pete Carroll's "Always Compete" mantra than the story of Russell Wilson, the 2012 third round selection by the Seahawks, from the University of Wisconsin… all 5'10 5/8" of him. Most of us already know the story; how free-agent veteran, Matt Flynn from Green Bay, was signed with Seattle during the off-season with a multi-year multi-million dollar contract, and universally believed to be the heir apparent to the starting quarterback position with the Seahawks. Flynn chose to sign with the Seahawks despite the fact that Pete Carroll wasn't willing to promise him the starting job. He was promised, just like every other Seahawks player, that he would be given a legitimate chance to compete for a starting position, but that he would have to earn it. It's important to mention that the Seahawks signed Flynn before the NFL draft, and before Russell Wilson was selected 75th overall to perhaps become the future signal caller in Seattle. It was said that the team would go into training camp with a three-way competition for quarterback between incumbent Tavaris Jackson, veteran Matt Flynn and rookie Russell Wilson. Practically every one of the Seahawks fans or NFL analysts on television and radio believed the job was Matt Flynn's to lose. Even as the preseason wore on, it was clear that Wilson was outplaying both Jackson and Flynn, but still most believed it was a good idea to sit Wilson for a season, or perhaps part of the season, and start Flynn. However, Pete Carroll was there during training camp and every practice between each of the four preseason exhibition games, and saw something in Wilson that the rest of us weren't lucky enough to see. It is said that Russell Wilson had intangibles off the charts and a level of maturity and intelligence that made him stand out above everyone interviewed at the NFL scouting combine in Indianapolis over a year ago. Unfortunately for the rest of the NFL, most saw his lack of height as a deterrent from him finding success at the professional level and 74 selections past without his name being called. "He's too short" they all said, even though each of them noted his intangible qualities and maturity beyond his years. In fact, Wilson showed excellent to above average on every other category used to evaluate a college quarterback for the NFL. Wilson had a strong arm, and long arms for his size, and 10 inch hands, equivalent to a player as tall as 6'7". Wilson has always been extremely athletic, running 4.5 seconds in the 40 and a 34 inch vertical leap. However, the combine results don't tell even a fraction of the story when evaluating Wilson's ability as a quarterback. His straight-line speed is pretty good, but when he starts changing direction and evading defenders and extending plays, then he's in his natural realm. Wilson made scores of great defensive pass rushers look bad, and they would be the first to admit it. Wilson has an innate ability to feel pocket pressure and he's only going to get better in his second season in the NFL.
Russell Wilson is only one example of Pete Carroll's system and his honor as an honest coach who is asking his players to trust him and the only way to get trust, is to show that you are trustworthy.
Richard Sherman grew up in the rough neighborhoods of Compton California. He excelled in football and track, but football was his biggest love and he was rewarded after becoming a high school standout, at Dominguez High, as a wide receiver. He began receiving offers from many esteemed colleges for a full academic scholarship. Several great coaches from excellent programs around the nation came knocking for the lanky (6'3" 185 lb.), but athletic Sherman. Pete Carroll of USC, Urban Meyer of Florida were among two of the most powerful programs that saw his potential, but it was Sherman himself who decided that "He, a kid from the rough streets of Compton, would be a Stanford graduate someday and the next big thing in college football. You could say that Sherman was practically born with a chip on his shoulder and believe it or not, it's a welcome chip to him, primarily because it has been the central story of his entire career, it has become the motivating factor that keeps him revved up, motor running and goals reached one after another. What's interesting is that no matter what he seems to do, he doesn't really get the credit for what he has accomplished on and off the field. He is arguably the best defensive back on the team, (Earl Thomas might argue that), but is the only starting DB on the team not to be invited to the Pro bowl. Simultaneously, he was picked All Pro at the cornerback position for the 2012 season, and snubbed at the Pro bowl again. Yet, nothing seems to drag him down, in fact, quite the opposite. He continually feeds from neglect and oversight and tops his performance in practically each game or season he plays. When Sherman was drafted by the Seahawks, it might have looked as if he was excited and grateful to be picked by the Seahawks to play professional football, but that excitement would be disingenuous. He believed he was worthy of a much higher draft position, and ever since that day, it has become fuel for his craft. Sherman reported to the Seahawks training camp, a tall, lanky corner that had only one year experience at the collegiate level at the cornerback position. Coach Carroll saw his competitive nature and his hard-working and intellectual approach to the game. Sherman was in a backup position behind a standout of his own, out of Oregon; Walter Thurmond was starting at left corner for Seattle. However, Pete Carroll is always looking for a player who is hungry and wants the limelight, the responsibility and the opportunity to show his talent. Thurmond went down with an injury and Sherman was called into action. The rest, as they say, is history… Carroll doesn't live by the adage "A player cannot lose his job to an injury." He believes, the most capable player who has proved his worth on the practice field and all other opportunities to prove their ability, will be given playing time. Thurmond has had an injury riddled career thus far in the NFL, and Richard Sherman made good on every opportunity he was afforded by the Seahawks and has become the best cover corner in football.
Brandon Browner and Kam Chancellor have similar stories of rising to the occasion of opportunity. Browner was playing in the Canadian football league after being passed over in the NFL draft by all 32 teams. Chancellor's story is similar to that of Richard Sherman. Both were excellent players in college, and both were passed over until the fifth round. While both Sherman and Chancellor appreciate the Seahawks giving them the opportunity to play in Seattle, both of them are still very salty about being disrespected. Carroll loves finding players who have interesting and inspiring stories, stories that incite special motivation and unique reasons for a tireless preparation and a motor that runs on high, no matter what the reason. He also likes to find players who possess certain unique athletic ability, sometimes completely bypassing any traditional benchmarks or trends for evaluating talent. This is why players who truly believe in themselves and their talent love playing in his system, his program and with his fundamental approach to competition and equal opportunity for everyone despite any other predetermination or status level that precedes them. He literally couldn't care less how much money you're being paid, what draft position you may have been selected in or your reputation with your previous team or college achievement. Competition can only be competition if it's a real and if the competitors believe that they have a chance to succeed. Carroll wouldn't give a second thought to a player on his team just because they might be related to an NFL legend, or if they happened to play for a small Division II or Division III school or if they were awarded a Heisman Trophy, and Outland Award or a Butkus Award. He has proven time and time again, that he is genuinely focused on filling each position on the roster with players who give his football team the best chance of fielding a winner… and that's that.
Now, the Seahawks are in the news again, but not for the reasons they would like. After trading a boatload of precious draft picks and signing a player to the most lucrative contract in Seahawks history; it has been reported that Percy Harvin will miss the majority of the 2013 season before he ever catches a football in the game for the Seattle Seahawks. Percy Harvin reported to training camp, but it is believed that he did so after talking to the coaching staff about some discomfort in his hip. During the minicamps and OTA's, Harvin complained of hip pain, but it was believed to be a simple case of a hip flexor strain, a condition that only gets better with rest and time. He practiced sparingly during the OTA's, but the pain in his hip began to progress and before the training camp began, the Seahawks doctors took him in to have a CAT scan and an MRI to get a better look at the hip and determine if there was any structural damage and if a surgical procedure was necessary. The Seahawks medical staff allegedly reported that the damage to the hip labrum was minimal and that it could be played on and repaired after the upcoming season had ended. Like every NFL player is entitled to, Harvin elected to get a second opinion from a private physician outside the Seahawks program. Harvin chose hip specialist, Dr. Brian Kelly, in New York City, and flew across the country to get his opinion of the injury and his assessment on whether or not the injury required immediate surgery, and if so, what procedure would be necessary to repair the damage and more importantly, prevent any further damage from ignoring the injury that was already present. Nevertheless, Percy took the advice of his independent physician to repair it surgically now. Some Seahawks players, coaches and fans look at this is a bad thing, but I can almost guarantee you that not everyone is morning the loss of Percy Harvin to the year 2013.
Percy Harvin was a huge asset for the Seahawks to take into the upcoming season, but he is in no way the end-all for the Seahawks chances to compete for an NFL title. I believe that Pete Carroll would have rather had Percy play through the pain and address the problem after the season, but I'll bet he wasn't disappointed very long. Yes, the Seahawks gave up a lot to get Harvin in a Seahawks uniform. They gave up the 25th pick in this year's draft, a seventh round pick and a third round conditional selection next year. So, at least, the Seahawks are without a first-round player they would have chosen at the number 25 spot. It could have been one of the draft's talented wide receivers; Tennessee's WR Cordarrelle Patterson, Clemson's WR DeAndre Hopkins or USC's WR Robert woods; all were talented college receivers. It could have been an outside linebacker where the Seahawks had an obvious need for after the team chose not to re-sign Leroy Hill from last year. It could have been Arthur Brown of Kansas State, Sio Moore of Connecticut, or Khaseem Greene of Rutgers. It also could have been used to fortify the offensive line with more depth, or perhaps more depth at the safety position. However, the truth of it is that GM Jon Schneider and Pete Carroll thought enough of Percy Harvin that they were willing to take a chance on such a dominant player, a player that comes along available only every great once in a while. Analysts graded the 2013 draft as "deep, but no real playmakers are game changers." The biggest problem right now is that many people are using perfect hindsight to grade whether or not the Seahawks made the right decision with the draft and with Percy Harvin. It's too late, and to rehash this is ridiculous because no one has a crystal ball on the time and place for an injury to occur in perhaps the world's most dangerous team sport. Players get hurt, and the injury bug is not biased or prejudiced. High profile players like RGIII get injured and players that most people wouldn't be able to recognize if they walked right up to and shook your hand and told you there name. I believe Schneider and Carroll, along with their boss, Paul Allen, made the right decision for their football team with the information they had at the time. Harvin is a supreme athlete with athletic ability unmatched in the NFL. He's a threat to take the ball to the end zone every time he touches it and defenses are forced to create special defensive packages simply to stop number 11. He was the kind of player that immediately makes a good team, a great team overnight. In Seattle's case, it was taking a great team and launching their expectations into the stratosphere and beyond. There were no such players in the draft this year, and the closest player to do the kind of things that Percy can do is Tavon Austin. He ran a legitimate 4.35 40 yard dash and has the change of direction abilities like few players in college football. However, Austin is just a generous 5'9" tall and 173 lbs. I don't believe football players should be valued by their height and weight, just like I don't believe the final word on an athlete is connected to his 40 yard dash time. However, Percy Harvin has every bit of speed that Austin has, plus he carries nearly 20 lbs. more and 3 inches of height over this year's rookie Speedster from West Virginia. What's more important is that Percy Harvin has proven his value on the biggest stage in football. He won the NFL rookie of the year and last year, he was the early favorite to win NFL MVP at the midway point with the Vikings. However, Percy is made of muscle, bones and everything that holds them together, just like the rest of us. He has had several injuries, but not necessarily caused because he's injury prone, but perhaps because of the passion and determination that he plays with every time he takes the field. The Seahawks made the right decision, but unfortunately we're all going to have to wait until next year to see what he can do in a season with a healthy body and a sensational football team to support him.
It's human nature for fans to panic a little when one of their star players falls to an injury. It's even more worrisome when it happens to a player who hasn't even taken the field yet. However, this Seahawks team isn't just any old team looking for identity and the players to build around. This football team has a very sturdy nucleus of leaders on and off the field and a deep enough roster to absorb bad fortune, whenever it happens. Percy Harvin has never suited up for the Seahawks in a regular game, though Russell Wilson led them to a 12-6 season including the first road playoff victory in nearly 3 decades. Pete Carroll returns all 11 offensive starters and 9 of 11 defensive starters from 2012 to take into the new season, plus a very successful bevy of veteran free agents to fortify an already dominant defense. As usual, Schneider and Carroll had a very productive draft board and 11 selections to use to reinforce an already impressive roster of football talent. In fact, if Seattle made no changes to their roster, this would still be a contender for a Lombardi trophy. Seattle averaged nearly 35 points per game in the second half of the season and a three-game stretch where they scored 150 points, giving up just 30 to their opponent.
The Percy Harvin news is hard to take for the Seahawks players, the coaching staff and of course for the 12th man. However, the opportunity for several wide receivers trying to make the roster has skyrocketed into high gear and the excitement of competition. Golden Tate is on a contract year and played sensationally in the second half of the season. He has all kinds of talent and he has also developed a game chemistry with Russell Wilson and that relationship is more important than any other with one position player to another. Sidney Rice is also in prime territory to rack up some great statistics and performances now that Wilson is one year smarter, one year smarter and one year more confident. Wilson has never been a player lacking in confidence, but it's a quiet confidence that becomes contagious throughout the entire team. His belief, all by himself, is enough for a team to win a championship, but his demeanor and leadership inspire his teammates to follow him into any challenge or any circumstance to make the team succeed. Doug Baldwin sustained a nasty injury in the beginning of the 2012 season, but without uttering a sound about his grisly shoulder dislocation, he rehabilitated himself back into the lineup and immediately began to produce and build the trust of his quarterback. Coming into the new season completely healthy, look for Baldwin to have a fantastic season with this fortified offense.
Perhaps the players most affected by Percy Harvin's injury are; fourth round draft selection, wide receiver Chris Harper, and fifth-round tight end Luke Willson. Both will have the opportunity to produce early and be given the chance to be great and they have all the talent in the world to get it done. It is said by many coaches and analysts, that "It's God that gives you the talent. The rest is up to the athlete to achieve and it requires; a strong work ethic, a belief in self, superior study habits, a mentor, ability to accept criticism, goals and dreams (with a plan) and most important… a genuine love of the game. Chris Harper and Luke Willson have the characteristics that Pete Carroll looks for in a player and each of them have unique, specialized skill sets that fit the blueprint for his football team.
Lastly, I return to the main point of my column:
Pete Carroll has created a level of trust with his players and backed up their trust by continually giving opportunity to players who perform when given the opportunity and afforded more playing time as they progress in the preseason and on the practice field. This is all you could ever hope to get from a coach as a young player or reserve player and exactly what every player wants when they get to the NFL. The Percy Harvin injury appears at first like a disaster when you consider his extraordinary athletic skill set, but it's also important to remember that in his absence, great players just waiting for an opportunity now have a chance to shine on the biggest stage in football. Sidney Rice, Golden Tate, Doug Baldwin, Chris Harper, Stephen Williams and Jermaine Kearse are all on deck and the preseason will be there stage. Now, it's time to perform…
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