Now 60 years old, Seahawks coach Pete Caroll remains the same excitable guy that he was more than a decade ago when he was the head coach of the Patriots.
He believes players are different than they were 30 years ago, and they need coaches that can reach them. Carroll was asked if he ever was compelling to tone down his style at USC.
“Well the NCAA thought we had to,” Carroll said to reporters Friday, drawing big laughs. “They couldn’t understand how you could have this much fun playing football. I’m serious about that; they could not figure it out and thought something must be wrong.”
A few other notes from Carroll’s media sessions:
1. The team is a “long way down the road” on a contract extension with Marshawn Lynch. I’d be stunned if they don’t come to an agreement.
2. Carroll talked up defensive lineman Red Bryant at length. He will be a free agent priority. Carroll didn’t rule out making a big splash in free agency for a pass rusher like Mario Williams, but stressed the team wants to build through the draft.
3. The team didn’t expect Sidney Rice to need two shoulder surgeries. Carroll says the injury has been a long-term problem for Rice.
4. The Seahawks hope to slow down the pace of roster churning that has happened the last few years. Carroll believes the depth of the roster will allow that.