Arizona Cardinals: Getting to know the Seahawks

A interview was conducted with Lee Vowell, site expert at 12th Man Rising, the Seattle Seahawks FanSided site, ahead of this Sunday’s game against the Arizona Cardinals

I had a chance to ask questions of Lee Vowell from 12th Man Rising and ask him some questions pertaining to the Seattle Seahawks.  They host the Arizona Cardinals in the regular season finale on Sunday in Seattle.

Thoughts were provided on topics such as Seahawks coach Pete Carroll’s contract extension, Seattle’s playoff run, and the game itself to be played on Sunday.  Vowell gave us some good insight.

Raising Zona: How were the Seahawks able to turn an 0-2 start into a Wild Card spot?

Vowell: This offseason the Seahawks made moves, like bringing in Brian Schottenheimer as offensive coordinator, to get back to a team that runs the ball a lot. In the first two weeks of the season, Seattle seemed to forget they made those moves. Running back Chris Carson had a combined 13 carries in weeks one and two. Since week three, Seattle’s offense has gotten back to basics with setting up Russell Wilson with a great running game.

Defensively, Seattle’s young secondary has matured and become solid but not exactly an LOB version 2.0. Ken Norton Jr. has done a good job, though, of getting his players prepared for each game. Plus, this team plays together and plays for each other. This is something that wouldn’t have happened had Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett still been on the 2018 roster.

RZ: Pete Carroll just received a contract extension, what are your thoughts?

Vowell: Carroll deserved the extension. He is by far the most successful coach in Seahawks history and has won the franchise its only Super Bowl. This season, Carroll has taken a team that is still in a slight rebuilding mode and formed them into a playoff team. And Seattle is a legitimate playoff contender too. Seattle can control the clock on the ground and the defense is growing up. The extension also shows that Paul Allen’s sister, Jody, is firmly in charge of the team. So the signing was a good thing for the present and promising for the future.

RZ: Going back to the playoffs, would you rather go to Dallas as the 5th seed or go to Los Angeles or Chicago as the 6th seed?

Vowell: Playing on the road stinks in the regular season or the playoffs. Seattle has defeated Dallas in 2018 but lost twice to the Rams and to the Bears in week two. The Seahawks are a much better team than they were when they lost to the Bears in week two but the Bears have a great defense and would be at home. I guess Chicago would be the team I would least want to face, followed by the Rams and then the Cowboys.