John Schneider, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks front office have been at the top of the NFL in recent seasons. Yes, they have written incredibly well. They have found diamonds in the rough in the later rounds of the NFL Draft. Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor, Malcolm Smith, JR Sweezy, Byron Maxwell, (undrafted rookies) Doug Baldwin, Jermaine Kearse and Thomas Rawls have been a big part of the success of the Seattle Seahawks. However, it is not the only reason.
One of the main reasons is that they are not afraid to walk away from players who have not acted or who have become a distraction. Percy Harvin was a great acquisition. They gave him a large amount of money and compensation to get it. He was clearly a distraction in the locker room and was disrupting the Seahawks’ offense. It was clear on and off the field (at least for the Seahawk staff). Then they traded it for nothing because it didn’t fit the Seahawk mold. It didn’t matter how much they invested or what criticism they received. Yes, they screwed up, but they don’t care. They are not going to stay with a player who is not training or giving 110%. Cary William is the latest example. They invested 3 years and 18 million in Williams. He never developed the technique that Carroll likes in his cornerbacks and Cary always went back to his old tendencies. The Seahawks defense had to make up for their bad play and that created huge loopholes in the defensive secondary. Jeremy Lane’s return and Deshawn Shead’s appearance also had a lot to do with his departure. It didn’t work, so they moved on. Many teams do not follow this method and it almost always leads to disaster. It is also necessary to mention that the owner of the Seahawks, Paul Allen, has given them the keys to the kingdom. They have the power to make the moves they need. Paul Allen leaves football matters to John Schneider and does not meddle with player roster movements. Sure, you can have an opinion on some decisions, but you let them decide. Other teams envy the Seahawks’ home office, but they aren’t as quick to make the right decision, when necessary. This is not a problem for the Hawks’ office and allows them to meet the need on the job faster. Either they promote from within (like Deshawn Shead) or they find a better performing street player.
When the Seahawks pass on a player like Harvin and Williams, it also fosters another philosophy that they love to implement: competition. When they cut ties with players who don’t work, send a message. If you are not going to compete every day and contribute to their success, they will cut you. It does not matter how much money is invested or how large the acquisition of the player is. It won’t last long if you don’t dedicate yourself or do your job.
The Seahawks front office makes the tough decisions that others won’t make, they admit when they’re wrong. They motivate their boys. They keep alive the competitive nature and hunger in the players. It’s the formula an NFL football team needs to succeed, even if they have to admit they made a mistake. It’s also why the Seahawks in 2016 have developed a depth that can create the perfect storm.