Q. Pete, we just saw that you guys have activated Greg Olsen to return to practice. What's the plan and prognosis with him for this week and probably next week?
PETE CARROLL: He's made an extraordinary recovery to get to this right now so we're going to practice him during the week and see what happens, see how he does.
Q. Do you think it's possible he could actually play this week?
PETE CARROLL: It's possible.
Q. Likely?
PETE CARROLL: You're really pushing me now. Possible. We'll see. We don't have any idea. He's been working out with the guys. We've got to see how he does on the practice field.
Q. The Adam Schefter report over the weekend that Brian Schottenheimer's name has been floated for the head coach opening in Houston, I'm curious what you make of him as a candidate and have you spoken with him about the potential of getting interviews after your season?
PETE CARROLL: I think he's an incredible candidate. I think he's exactly what owners are looking for. He's been around. He's been in charge. He commands the whole team with his leadership. He's got great background. I say that because he's been through our program for enough years that I know that he's got his philosophy in order, he's got his approach how he would do it because we've worked on that stuff, so he's ready to go. We haven't talked about it this time around yet, but we've talked about it in the past, and I did hear that like yesterday or something like that that maybe there's something up. So we'll see what happens.
Q. Washington has spent a lot of draft capital on their defensive line the last couple years. Three straight years of first-round picks on the defensive line, Daron Payne, Montez Sweat and this year Chase Young. What about each of those three players concerns you the most going into this game?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, it's really the whole unit that really makes this thing move. They're just loaded. They're able to play a lot of base defense and be really effective with their four-man rush but also how they play the run, too. It's built around those guys. It's a real challenge to have that kind of quality on the edge just makes such a difference, and Jack knows what he's doing with making those guys available for a whole lot of outside edge type rushing. It's what all the coaches are looking for.
Q. What kind of challenge has it been not having the secondary that you were practicing with all through training camp?
PETE CARROLL: Well, you know, it's been a challenge the whole time in a sense because we never have really been able to really benefit from the continuity that you could have. You can see how much better we are playing together at this point now. To have those guys together the whole time would have helped. But we've had a lot of guys step in and do a nice job, and I like the way our guys are playing right now.
Q. If Quinton could play would he just go right back in on the right-hand side?
PETE CARROLL: We've got to see how he works in during the week and all that, but I'm hoping he would be available.
Q. What is Brandon Shell's status? Do you hope he'll be able to practice and play this week?
PETE CARROLL: Yes, that's really where we are right now. But these are those -- I always kind of say the same thing, we'll have to wait until the end of the week to see how he develops. We can't call it now. We won't practice him today.
Q. Their quarterback situation, I know you talked about this a couple weeks ago with Philadelphia, you sort of just practice for the team largely, but in their case with Alex Smith and all that, obviously he's made a big difference since he's been playing. How do you look at that?
PETE CARROLL: Fortunately we've seen enough of both quarterbacks, so we have plenty of film. We know how they've chosen to play with them in championship situations, so we're clued in. They've got a really cool offensive style about the way they do their thing, and both quarterbacks can manage really well. The difference is Alex has just been around so much longer. He has so much more background. But both guys are talented, big arms, really quick releases on both guys, and they utilize it.
Q. Obviously Washington has got two of the best human interest stories we've heard for a long time in the NFL. Ron said there is something a little bit to the fact that nobody on his team wants to get caught working less hard than those two guys. I'm just wondering from your experience about having people around like that and what kind of a difference it might make to the attitude that each player brings to the game.
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, I mean, I don't know how you could have a more inspiring story ongoing than they have. I mean, that's just, like you said, a human interest that everybody can relate to what they're going through and what they pulled off. Alex's thing is well-documented and extraordinary. To see Ron be able to withstand, during this other stuff that's going on, as well, to deal with his cancer and all that and pull through, but not just make it but to make it and excel, both guys excelling at what they do, it's just as good as it gets in terms of inspiration and I'm sure motivation for a lot of people that are trying to make it through a lot of hard stuff. Both those guys have come across with such feeling and empathy for others and willing to share their story and all of that, that it's really powerful.
Q. You alluded to this: Washington's a balanced offense. They seem to be balanced regardless of who's playing quarterback there.
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, just commenting about that, I think this is just a statement about Ron's teams. We've played against these guys for years, and they've always been a really well-balanced team in all aspects. They're really solid on special teams. They're committed to running the football. The quarterback doesn't get sacked. They're fighting to hang on to the ball like you're supposed to in this game, and they always play terrific defense.
It just makes for a really well-balanced club that you're going against, and they've got some real highlights, too. They highlight their players on offense but they've got real highlight players on defense, I'm sure as good as he's ever had. They're a dangerous club.
The fact that they started like they did I think just fuels them to where they are now. This team is on fire right now.
Q. How much pride do you take in developing a plan with your assistant coaches in terms of moving to the next level? And I wonder is that something you got from Bud Grant? I guess I'm referencing like Schottenheimer moving --
PETE CARROLL: A couple things. I'll tell you a quick little story. There was a time back in the day when I was at Minnesota when I had a chance to get interviewed for another job and we had always been led to think that you could go if you wanted to go they let you go, and then I got restricted and didn't get to go, and from that point forward I always felt like that the coaches should have the freedom to go and advance their careers because they might not get another chance again, so I always thought if I ever was in that position I would do that.
So I have been, I think, a full-on advocate for helping our guys move ahead. I don't want to restrict anybody. I'll tell guys what I think in situations and give them an opinion, but I'm not restricting them from moving because I want them to advance and aspire to the things that they want to accomplish and all that.
I like also, I've always liked knowing that other coaches that come to us know that that's the case. So when you're competing for coaches to come to your staff and all, I want them to know that this is a great place and that the head coach will back them up and support them and become everything they can possibly become. That's not a new theme for me, as you know, but it's a real obvious opportunity to illustrate it. That's why we work at helping guys understand the makeup of this position, and we talk a lot, they hear me going through the decision making and the process of it and all that, so they're getting schooled up along the way. Because all of a sudden you get a job like this, and there's a million things that come to light, and you need to be prepared as best as possible.
Yeah, I take a lot of pride in helping guys in that regard.
Q. How is Josh Gordon kind of worked back into the mix? I know he hasn't been able to practice with you, but just getting back into the building, and at this point in the season kind of your thoughts on your rookie class and how they've kind of come along?
PETE CARROLL: Well, Josh's workouts are going great, and he's really fit. He feels really good. He feels like he's ready to jump on the practice field. He'll have all of this week and then he'll be available to us next week. This is a really important week for him to finish it up. He needs to be at game speed and game tempo and conditioning and all that, and it's a lot to ask, but that's what we're asking. So he's working like crazy. Ever since we've had a chance, we've really stepped it up for him to make sure that he's challenged by that.
As far as the rookie class, unfortunately we don't have -- we haven't had Darrell Taylor which really would have been something to see, I think, but Jordyn Brooks has been great, and right on down the line. Our guys have just contributed in a big way. They've been really good attitude guys. I think it's really a statement in the last couple years the character and the personality of the guys that we've brought into the program have really been guys you can count on. They've given you that feeling, Freddie Swain and DJ, those guys have been remarkable additions to our team that they could hold their own and play from day one without preseason and all the rest. I just think it's been a really good group, and we're very fortunate that they're contributing and part of it.
Q. This is now every year since Bobby and Russ were rookies, you guys have had winning records. I know a million people have been involved in that, but those two in particular, what have they meant to this team's long-term success?
PETE CARROLL: They've been the leaders the whole way. They've been the guys out in front and carry the message and make whatever I'm pitching make sense. I need a lot of help. Those guys have always been right there. They're just class character people. It's so important to them to represent for themselves and for their club, and they're just incredible competitors.
You can't ask for more than what those guys have been. Like we have said before, they've been rewarded for it, as well. They've been recognized and seen for the great players and the contributors that they are, and they just do such a respectful job in the community and in everything that they do, everything that they stand for. They've been perfect.
Q. Terry McLaurin was in D.K. Metcalf's draft class. How impressive of a wide receiver do you think he is? He's a different kind of receiver than D.K., but he gets it done, too.
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, he's really good. We really liked him because of his toughness and play making. He has great speed. Just a stud of a guy and a great kid. We liked the heck out of him coming out.
I'm not surprised. I really -- he was one of the guys I felt really confident that if we put him on the club he would be a terrific player. He's their guy. He's legit. He's doing a great job.
Q. At this point do you have any optimism still that Darrell Taylor will be able to play in the regular season for you guys?
PETE CARROLL: We're really running out of time. Next week is really the last shot for us to get a chance. He'll have to jump out then, and the treatment that he went through does kind of culminate this week. We'll see what that means. I don't mean to give you any hope at this point other than we've just got to wait and see, but it's not too late. Fortunately we might have some more games to play if we're fortunate enough, and we'd love to have him available.
Q. What's it tell you about Greg Olsen with all the money he's made, 35 years old, he's only been with your team for a few months, he's got a FOX TV job and millions waiting on him, and he's pushing to come back and be a part of this?
PETE CARROLL: He's the real deal. He's such a great football player. He loves this game so much. He loves competing so much. I mean, there is no space other than he is the top of the list in all of those character principles about who he is and what he's all about and what you can expect from him. He's amazing.
I don't even know how he got well this fast. I don't have a clue how that happened, but he did. He's dying to play right now. He just wants to get out there -- he's a perfect competitor to have in your club.
Q. Brandon Shell, what's he given you? He plays somewhat anonymously on the right side. What's he done for you coming over this year?
PETE CARROLL: He's been really steady, strong, in the run game, in the pass game, assignment sound, accountable. He's real quiet. He's really quiet, doesn't say a word. He's in on everything, cares about everything. I love that acquisition. I think he's so steady and he's going to really -- I hope he can be around for a long time with us.
Q. Going back to the 2010 season, when you got here you and John got here, you guys made a ton of transactions that year and you started to turn the roster over. As you were doing that, how realistic did you think it would be to be in the postseason that year?
PETE CARROLL: Well, I wasn't thinking anything but that. I mean, I don't let myself think anything but that. That was in our minds as we were -- so we just went about it. It was the classic start to always compete. We were competing at every single turn, every single opportunity, and we have attempted to be that way since. That's been the philosophy that's guided everything that we've done.
There's no opportunity that we want to be on the outside of. I don't know. I mean, I can tell you, I don't know how to think any other way.
Q. With the way that the season was going and some of the losses that you guys had were by double digits --
PETE CARROLL: No way.
Q. At any point did you have to like engrain in the team the possibility that even with an under .500 record they could still be --
PETE CARROLL: Heck yeah. Heck yeah we did. Yeah, we were the whole way. We didn't -- I mean, I wasn't thinking that it was impossible, and so if we even had a chance that's how we were going.
The more, the closer we got to it, kind of the better it got in the sense that it was unpredictable and beyond scope, and we got knocked down for it and all that kind of stuff, and then we come back and we win the freaking game against the world champs. It kick-started us in terms of how much are you willing to believe in the ability to persevere and overcome and resiliency, all that stuff. It was really the start of all of that. It wasn't a bad way to start.
I just wish, like I always tell you, I wish we would have beat Chicago, then we'd have really had something going.
Q. You mentioned earlier about familiarity with Ron, with how much you guys played Carolina. With all those games, what were some of the characteristics that stood out about the Panthers and do you see some of those characteristics developing when you watch Washington?
PETE CARROLL: Absolutely, yeah. You can tell this is Ron's team. I mean, in all ways, the balance, the creativity on offense, the aggressive defense, the commitment to the 4-3, pressuring on the edges with their DBs and their linebackers. Really solid kicking game. All of our games it seemed like every one was a dogfight all those years. It seemed like we always had to go play in Carolina.
So I mean, I think, yeah, he's a terrific ball coach and he's shown that, and he's doing it again. I think, again, to overcome all of the things -- 1-5 and all that and sick and everything else and pandemic and you name it, new job, just a fantastic accomplishment.
Q. There's been a few reports that the NFL has decided not to have postseason bubbles this year. What do you think about that decision, and do you have any concerns on a league-wide basis, or do you feel confident in teams' abilities to make it work?
PETE CARROLL: Yeah, I totally agree with that and have spoken out about that. I really think that that's the way it should go. If you've gotten this far, then you should do it the way you've been doing it. Who's to say that they're going to take you somewhere else and it's going to be better.
All along it's been on the clubs. Just like it was on the states, well, it's been on the clubs the whole time to figure it out, and the league has supported us well and stayed with it, and for this far we should keep doing what we're doing and try to finish it off.
DraftScripts by ASAP Sports
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports