PETE CARROLL: Well, on competition Wednesday, it doesn't surprise anybody to know we're competing coast-to-coast right now. All over the country, everyone is battling. A big day for us getting ready.
We got to get this week started on a really good note. This team that we're playing, they're a new team for us. We have to kind of figure them out, see the schemes and make sense of it all.
But this is a winning club. They know how to win football games. They've got play-makers. They're really a solid team. It's a really good matchup for us. To go on the road as far away as we can go just about, it's a good challenge for us.
THE MODERATOR: Questions.
Q. Getting Carlos Dunlap out on the field today, what is the plan for him? Throw him in the mix?
PETE CARROLL: The good thing is he just took a week off. He hasn't been practicing, preparing, playing games, all that. No concern about anything other than how he handles the learning part of it, which he's a vet. Getting through our first walk-through, he handled everything right.
I don't see any restriction at all on him playing this week. We'll find out during the week. Really excited to have him out here. He's really pumped about being part of it.
Q. You guys reportedly met with Zack Moss in the pre-draft process. What have you seen from him and Devin Singletary on that ground attack?
PETE CARROLL: They're a really good 1-2 punch. Both guys play low to the ground. They both have good shake and bake, make you miss. Zack is a little heavier than Singletary, are a little different style in that regard.
Both of them are really efficient in traffic and make things happen. They're not anybody we can take lightly. Really good football players. Singletary catches the ball quite a bit more. I really like Zack a lot.
Q. Buffalo is the best in the league when it comes to converting on third downs. What you can point to in their offensive scheme that's allowed them to be so successful?
PETE CARROLL: They're really creative. They do a nice job with the stuff they do. It really I think it comes back to the quarterback. He just does a great job of making things happen for second shots in the passing game, then taking off and running. He's a load to tackle, get down. Hard to sack him. He's really the show.
I think when you watch him play, you're going to see the QB. He's just going to catch your eye, going to make things happen. He's got a knack about going for it in difficult situations. He likes to go physical and run the football tough.
I think the combination of the throwing game, of course, the good receivers they have, scheme-wise and all that, when you have a guy that can make first downs with his legs, it's really hard. He's just really good at it.
Q. San Francisco had a player go on the COVID list today. Do you have to go through a contact tracing process since you played them? Do you have any concerns about transmission?
PETE CARROLL: We don't have to do that, but we're concerned, yeah. Of course we are. We just played them a few days back. We are doing our homework with the timing of his exposure, all that kind of stuff, when he showed first, make sense of it. We have to be tuned into that. I know they shut down today. They're playing tomorrow, I believe. We'll see what happens there.
All we can do right now is test and be aware of the connections. We just played a football game against the guy. A lot of guys had some exposure.
Q. What is the status of your runningbacks for this week, the plan with Chris and Carlos and Travis?
PETE CARROLL: We'll see Chris on Friday, see how he looks. Give him till Friday to see what we can find out. Doesn't look like Carlos is going to make it. We got to take care of the hamstring. We brought in Alex Collins to help us out if we need it. He's on the practice squad right now. We'll see how he works today.
For sure it looks like Homer is back ready to go. That really helps us. So D.J. did a nice job last week. He and Homer, if they handle it, we'll be in good shape. If we have an opportunity to get Chris back out there, we'll do that, for sure.
Q. What do you see on film from this wide receiver group? Allen has a ton of options he can go to, highlighted by the addition of Stefon Diggs?
PETE CARROLL: Stefon is really a good player, doing everything, route running, catching and running, getting deep, making the big catch. He's a fantastic football player, true No. 1.
Cole Beasley is a really good player in their offense, too. They know how to use him. He's all over the place. We've always had respect for him making plays, getting open, tough catches, gritting out the third-and-fives and sixes for them. He's real effective there. They're real fast with the two guys we saw with the Cardinals.
John Brown plays a lot. He's really fast. He and Andre, they're good players. We know the game, are familiar with them. We have a lot of respect for them.
Q. This will be your first game back in Buffalo since taking over this job. You started your NFL career there. You won your first game as a head coach there with the Jets.
PETE CARROLL: Gee, thanks for bringing that up. Thanks for bringing that up (laughter).
It is fun to go back. It's a unique place. It was a unique experience, first year in the league. We were terrible the year I was there. They couldn't wait to get some of us out of there. I got fired immediately after the season was over.
So it's fun to go back. Like I say, it's a unique place, unique area. I wish their fans were there because it's a great crowd, too. They love their football. You got to get prepared for a variety of weather conditions that can change in a heartbeat, all that. Looks like we have pretty good weather coming. I'm not trusting that until we get there and see it.
I like going back.
Q. With all the success Marv Levy had when you were in the same division, that kind of made an impression on you?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, as a matter of fact this off-season I did get ahold of Marv, was talking to him about some things that happened back in the day as they were constructing their offense, doing the things that they did. We had a couple really good conversations about it.
I was honored to have a chance to visit with him. We went right back into what was happening. I was the defensive coordinator at the Jets for four years playing against the K-Gun. Nice way to learn how to coach in the NFL.
They were fantastic. Always had great regard for all that they did, the way he coached, all of that. It was really fun for me to have a chance to visit with him. Really the first time I made the effort to do that. That was just in an effort to compete. It wasn't about playing Buffalo, it was just about putting our whole team together, playing with a tempo offense, stuff like that.
Q. You mentioned off the top the election. I'm curious if you talked to your guys about it this morning, how they're dealing with the anxiety we're all dealing with?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, really because this is such a big focus day about competing, I started off just talking about the whole country is in the midst of a battle, competing, all that. Didn't talk to anybody specifically about the anxieties and all that. We'll see what happens here, then we'll deal with it.
We've been on the topic for such a long time, I don't think our guys are going to be really overly anxious about it. They're concerned and they're watching. They've got their partisanship, allegiance, all that. We'll see what happens.
Definitely the coaches will be touching base with these guys all week long as we respond to what happens.
Q. When you first got to Seattle, did you take the same approach to coaching as you did in previous stints? Did you make a concerted effort to make some adjustments based on previous experiences?
PETE CARROLL: That's a good question. I absolutely did not change. What I did do is I was really excited to see what would happen if I approached this opportunity the same way I had approached USC. I was curious to find out what would happen. I didn't know.
Why I say that is I think we specialized in emphasizing caring for the individuals in the program during those years at SC. I found out during the time I got to SC this was a really important part of my coaching, I needed to make it a central theme in what we were doing.
In coming to the league, I was thinking, Who goes in the NFL to show how much you can care about your players, see how that works out for you? I had no idea what was going to happen.
We had so much success. So fun to structure a culture in that manner. I was really curious. I didn't change one thing.
I had a lot of years in the league. Coming out of college, they would say, You're a college coach, you don't understand the NFL. That's not what happened. I had so many years coaching in the NFL, it was just like stepping back into it. That was a smooth transition. Adapting whatever we were doing wasn't anything. Same guys, just a little bit older.
The answer is no, I didn't change anything. I was really thrilled with the opportunity to see if we could do the same and have successful results.
Looking back on some years now, I'm really pleased that we did fit, that we found a way. We're always looking for a way to compete better and find a way. The main thing of what we did really worked out. I wanted to help people be the best they could be. That's what we did.
Let me say one other thing. Over the years with all of the different wonderful character players that we've had, you might wonder how that worked or how you could figure out to make guys fit into your program. I didn't do it that way. I tried to figure out who these guys were, see how we could best help them have a successful experience with us, the other way around. If they didn't fit, we fired them, let them go. If they could fit in with the things we were doing, if they could find a way to express their ability, their own makeup, the extraordinarily unique way that they are, we could have a good go at it. That's what we've been doing. It been a lot of fun.
Q. Injury things. Did you give us an update on Adams?
PETE CARROLL: He's practicing today. He's full go. I'm really excited to tell you that. He's gotten all the way to the point, was close last week, would have had a chance last week, couldn't get him caught up. He's ready to go, pumped, really looking forward to it?
Q. Shaquille?
PETE CARROLL: I don't know about him yet. We got to take it later into the week. He will not practice today.
Q. Last week the defense made some big strides moving forward. Yet again this week you're also integrating a mix of new and old players into your defense. What is the balance in letting guys like Ryan Neal, who made some big strides, also mixing back in Jamal?
PETE CARROLL: Well, there's some artwork to be done here to do that (smiling).
I've been saying to you guys we've been waiting to get guys back. Really part of this is to get Jamal back in the fold here so that he can start to work with Bobby again, start to establish that, Dunbar, guys he hasn't had a chance to play with. He hasn't played with Jordyn Brooks much at all.
The addition of Carlos also gives us a chance, we're taking a step forward here. I really am grateful that last week you could see that we got better last week. So we're going to try to add onto that and keep going. Some guys will get more playing time than others. We'll work that out as the week goes on.
Right now Jamal is just practicing for the first time in a month. I don't know what to tell you, although he looks great running around and should be okay. We'll have to figure that out. We'll have to weigh in how we mix the guys in the rotations.
Q. When you were gathering information on Duane before trading for him, what were the traits that stood out to you?
PETE CARROLL: Duane Brown?
Q. 2017.
PETE CARROLL: Well, it was really obvious that he was really athletic and all of that. We had no problem with the physical side of it. We didn't know the guy well, so we did our homework and research, all of that, crossed over wherever we could. Tried to learn as much as we could about the situation that was going on. There was some kind of conflict where he hadn't been playing, then played in our game, then we took him the next week.
But all the homework we did, the research, was about the character of Duane, his work ethic, his commitment to the game. Those things were so strong and so obvious. We were able to really validate it.
We were fortunate to get a guy like that that had background and stature, would stand up for what he believed, which kind of ended his time there in Houston to a certain extent. Was thrilled to bring into our club.
It's been a great, great move that we made to get him. He's given us leadership and guidance and toughness and physicality, all that stuff. Been a great example. Beyond that, he's the best worker of the big men we have in the off season and in the weight room, in the season, all that. He's an invaluable guy in our program.
Q. Clarifying question. Shaquill, is he not practicing because of the hamstring or the concussion?
PETE CARROLL: He's not cleared on the concussion as far as I understand. He will be, it sounds like. It's really about the hamstring.
Q. Two questions on D.K. In my time, the only comparable athlete I can call that's like him is Kenny Easley. In your experience, college or pro, who does he compare to? Have you thought about him for the kick block team?
PETE CARROLL: Second part of it, always, yeah. I've always thought about finding ways for D.K. to add in. He does some things for us, maybe someday be able to help us.
This is a one-of-a-kind player. He's got uniqueness about him that I wouldn't compare him to anybody. When I go back, I'll give you one that you can kind of compare him to if you tried, would be James Lofton back in the day. Happens to be a Buffalo game for us, that's a good one to bring up. James had that marvelous look to him, so long, just statuesque almost in the way he played. They're not the same guys. D.K. is different than that.
They were just both gorgeous looking players, kind of really stood out. But D.K., he is going to develop into an extraordinarily competitor, player, performer, come-through leader, all that. He's on his way. It's really a thrill to watch it happen.
Q. You mentioned about the 49ers. What is the level of detail you have to go into? Do you have to look at game film? What do you need to do that you haven't already done as far as precautions?
PETE CARROLL: Honestly, that's not part of it, to look at it that way. We talked our way through it, kind of started to ask some guys that had some postgame interactions and stuff like that. I don't know if you're hearing it or not, but there are some changes that are coming in terms of protocol and all that would have lessened the issue in this game.
If we stayed away, meet guys at midfield or not, pregame or in postgame, those are issues right now. There's some wearing masks when you do that that is now appropriate. There's some other things happening.
Right now John and the guys they're working with to understand what took place, what we should do next about playing a guy who tested positive on the day he tested. We have to find out exactly when that was. I don't know that right now. I would think it was yesterday at least that he tested positive. Part of that process is figuring out when a guy is contagious, that kind of stuff. We'll see what happens.
I don't know anything more specific about it than that.
Q. Are you relying on the 49ers to provide you that information or the NFL investigates?
PETE CARROLL: Right now John has been talking to their people. We have not heard from the league yet. It just happened this morning, as far as I know. I don't know any more than that. As a matter of fact, we'll know more this afternoon and can get word to everybody about what we found out, what is the next step for us to take.
Q. The mask, I notice your captains in the pregame coin toss had a mask on. I'm not sure they did that any other game.
PETE CARROLL: No, we've been doing it the whole time.
Q. Is that on your own volition or...
PETE CARROLL: I'm pretty sure it's a league thing.
Q. In your conversations with Carlos, have you gotten the vibe he's really eager for a fresh start, to be playing for a winning team, turn the page and move forward?
PETE CARROLL: Exactly. That's exactly what he sounds like. Really upbeat, looking forward, ready for it. Has the big eyes looking around, wondering what's going on. He's going to come practice for the first time today, hear the music and having a good time. Playing football might be different than he's done. But I don't know. I'll keep my eye on him. It's always kind of fun to see how we do stuff around here for the first time.
Nine or ten years, whatever it was there, he's really excited for the fresh start.
Q. Do you have any idea of a timeline potentially for Phillip Dorsett?
PETE CARROLL: Phillip got operated on. Did you guys know that? I just saw him before the walk-through. I don't know what those weeks are. They throw some weeks at you. I'm not going to throw it out. It will be a couple months anyway before he gets back. We'll see what happens.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports