By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
RENTON — The Seattle Seahawks haven’t reached the end of their string. They remain smack in the middle of it.
At least that was Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s primary message during his final press conference of the season Monday afternoon at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center.
The Seahawks’ season came to an end Saturday with their 36-20 loss to the Atlanta Falcons in the divisional playoffs, but Carroll is already eagerly looking forward to what next season’s team can accomplish.
“I’m as fired up as ever and can’t wait to get started again,” Carroll said. “I wish we could get started — I know that sounds stupid after six straight months of football — but I wish we could crank it up and get going again.”
The Seahawks are in the midst of the best five-year run in franchise history. Over the past five seasons Seattle reached double-digit victories five times, advanced to the divisional playoffs five times, won three NFC West division titles, reached two Super Bowls and won one of those. This season’s 10-5-1 record and division championship fell right in line with what’s become the norm for the Seahawks.
Yet this season didn’t end with the same feel as seasons past. Seattle was never able to sustain consistency throughout the campaign and faded down the stretch. The Seahawks were the youngest team in the NFL when this five-year span began, but that’s no longer the case, and with the core players getting older some are wondering whether Seattle’s window as a championship contender is closing.
However, Carroll is having none of that.
“We have the opportunity to be a really good team over a long period of time and I don’t know how many years that is or how long that takes or what you have to do to prove that, but we’re close,” Carroll said. “We were close again this year, save a couple of situations. I think we have a good defense, we have a good quarterback and we have the elements to build around all of that to make those guys good.
“I think we are going to be poised to have a great run at it and we have a chance to be a great team, and I would think as people look at us as you see our roster come back, outsiders are going to look at it and see that again.”
A big reason for Carroll’s optimism is that the team is set up to return nearly intact. All of Seattle’s core players are under contract for 2017, so the Seahawks are hoping that creates a continuity that was often missing in 2016.
One area in particular where Seattle is seeking greater continuity in on the offensive line. The Seahawks fielded an inexperienced and inexpensive group up front this season, churned through starters at both tackle positions, and it generated mixed results. But Carroll said that given the unit’s youth it has good growth potential, and he would be OK moving forward with the current group — although he didn’t rule out the possibility of adding to the offensive line through either the draft or free agency.
“I think we made a ton of progress, and knowing how much guys improve from one year to the next — and particularly the youngest guys improve the most — we have nothing but good things to think that will take place and the guys are going to get better,” Carroll said. “We’re going to work really hard this offseason to make sure that we make that spot really competitive again.”
Another area Carroll said the team would look to address this season is the secondary. Free safety Earl Thomas and cornerback DeShawn Shead suffered major injuries this season, and Shead’s status in particular is up in the air with regards to being ready for the start of next season. Therefore, Carroll said the secondary would be a focus in the draft as the Seahawks seek cover.
Carroll also said the team needs to add youth at linebacker. Bobby Wagner and K.J. Wright are among the best linebackers in the league, but Carroll expressed some concern with the number of snaps they played this season. There may also be an opening at strong-side linebacker, depending on what the team decides to do with unrestricted free agent Mike Morgan.
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at www.heraldnet.com/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
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