Seattle coach Pete Carroll was a little defensive when asked if he had any advice for Falcons coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator, who’s off to a 1-6 start, during a conference call with the Atlanta media Wednesday.
Here’s what Carroll had to say about Dan Quinn and the Falcons:
Q: What were some of your issues coming out of the 30-16 loss to Baltimore?
A: "It was one major issue in that game, and it was that quarterback. He was unbelievable. Lamar Jackson just did everything and really made it hard on us. We gave him the football a couple of times, so that was the story of that game. He was great, and we gave it up a couple of times and made it hard on ourselves. We're ready to go. We're ready to get cranked up. Our focus is totally on getting ready for this ballgame."
Q: Does anything about the Falcons’ start surprise you or kind of think what is going on with this team right now?
A: "Everything with the start surprises me. Yeah, they've been doing a lot of great things and have been really consistent. In their transition, it's just taking them a little time to get their consistency right. They've got a lot of good positive things going. You can see it as we break down the play and get prepared for playing against them. But the games just have not been finishing up the way they want them. It's been a hard start."
Q: In times like this what advice would you give to Dan Quinn?
A: "I'm not giving him any advice via the media. If I want to talk to Dan, I'll talk to Dan. I don't have any advice for him. He knows what he's doing. He's just trying to get his club going like we all do. It's all week-to-week battles, and that's all we do, and that's how we go about it. I know that he's digging in, putting together a game plan to go win a football game. We are doing the exact same."
Q: On dealing with tough times?
A: "I know what you meant. I got you."
Q: What are some of the qualities that coach Quinn possess that would lead you to believe that he can get this turned around?
A: "I think all of the qualities that you guys have witnessed: leadership, toughness, the style of play, the effort that the team plays with, utilizing personnel and schemes, all of the stuff he's done so extremely well in his past. There is nothing that says it's not going to absolutely turn in the direction that you guys have come to know -- and like he's expecting."
Q: What are you seeing from this 2019 version of the Falcons?
A: "The offense is very explosive. Great use of the personnel. The quarterback has been lights out. He's completing over 70 percent of his passes. They are explosive and getting a bunch of yards and all of that. Defensively, they are playing really hard. They are running and hitting and doing all of the things that are necessary to give you the foundation for playing good defense. We see them as a team that's going to be very difficult for us. Scheme-wise they have done some really good things defensively that makes them more difficult and hard to deal with. We have to handle that well, we are expecting a very challenging ballgames."
Q: What do you remember of Matt Schaub from the past, over the years?
A: "He's always been a smart quarterback. He's made good choices. He's a winning quarterback over his years. He's been able to utilized the entire offense. He can throw the ball all over the field. Smart. Rhythm. Good decision-maker."
Q: How’s local kid Chris Carson from Parkview High doing?
A: "He's doing great. He's playing great football. He's been so consistently tough. Physical. He's been a real hallmark of the style we want to express with running the football and being physical in general with the team. Our guys love him. He had three great games in a row. We didn't quite get him as much production this last week running the football, but he still carried the ball 20-something times. He's been just a centerpiece along with Russell in our offense."
Q: How do you all coach that scramble play and the connection between Russell Wilson and wide receiver Tyler Lockett?
A: "The only thing we do about coaching it, is that we want to be the best in the work at doing it. So, our expectation are really high that we are going to make the right choices and decisions, right adjustments. When it comes the chemistry that Russell and Tyler have, it's beyond coaching. These two guys are just extraordinary football players with great savvy and instincts. They've been together long enough to where they can compliment each other in the decisions that they make and the ability to make the plays that they make. Tyler is a phenomenal football player and so is Russell. They see eye-to-eye. They've been together long enough that we can take full advantage of it."
Q: How’s Clowney playing?
A: "Clowney has been really productive in being in the backfield. He's been all around the quarterback. He hasn't had a bunch of sacks yet, but he's had big plays and he's been a big factor on the quarterback. Knocking balls down. Intercepting a pass and returning it for a touchdown. He's a real penetrator and he makes things happen. He's been a really great addition for us?
Q: What’s it like getting Jarran Reed back?
A: "J. Reed coming back was a big deal for us. It was his first game back in six weeks. He was a little rusty last week. He really conditioned well, so he's able to come back and get a full load this week.
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