Pete Carroll: Expect more Beast Mode for Seahawks at Green Bay
Sounds and looks like the Seahawks will be more in Beast Mode at Green Bay.
Coach Pete Carroll said Monday following the Seahawks’ return from their wild-card playoff win at Philadelphia that Marshawn Lynch has earned and will get more playing time in Seattle’s NFC divisional-round game against the Packers at Lambeau Field on Sunday.
“Marshawn will play more. He’s going to play more this week,” Carroll said of his 33-year-old running back who has scored a touchdown in limited roles in each of his first two games since signing back with Seattle after 14 months out of the NFL.
“He’s ready to. He’s had enough time for us. He feels confident about what he’s doing. We plan on getting him out there.”
That means expect more than the 30 percent of offensive snaps Lynch has gotten in his first two games behind lead back Travis Homer. Homer, a rookie sixth-round draft choice, has impressed the Seahawks since replacing Chris Carson, who went on injured reserve last month with a cracked hip.
Lynch carried 12 times for 34 yards and a leaping, 1-yard touchdown run in his first game back, Seattle’s loss at home to San Francisco in its regular-season finale Dec. 29. Russell Wilson faked hand-offs to him twice on play-action passes, as Lynch was something of a decoy at times against the 49ers. He played 23 of 75 offensive snaps that night.
He was less of a decoy and more decisive Sunday in Philadelphia, but again in a limited role. He played 18 of 64 snaps. Lynch had six carries for 7 yards, including a thumping, 5-yard touchdown.
It was the first touchdown for Lynch in the playoffs since January 2015 in the epic NFC title game against Green Bay. The Seahawks came back from being down 16-0 at home in the second half to win in overtime and advance to Super Bowl 49.
Lynch also caught two of three pass targets from Wilson against the Eagles, with a signature run after one catch.
Afterward, he said of his return through two games: “I feel good.”
Carroll said Monday Lynch again came out of the game with no ill effects.
“We are really pleased that he is able to take the additional reps,” Carroll said. “He’s feeling great. He’s doing fine. ...
“We were taking this one day at a time. It’s been nothing but positive. Nothing but a positive experience. A great choice by John (Schneider) to get this worked out.
“And give all the credit to Marshawn for how he’s attacked this thing. He’s really going for it. He’s doing everything fans were hoping he’d do. He’s trying to be everything, in all aspects of it.
“He just is deserving of more reps, that’s all.”
His 20-yard catch and run on third and 1 in the third quarter Sunday night came when the entire stadium in Philadelphia thought Wilson would turn and hand the ball to Lynch for another punishing run inside. The stiff-arm he put on Avonte Maddox at the end of that play drove the Eagles cornerback into the ground like a lawn dart directly at the feet of Carroll and Seahawks teammates standing along the sideline.
“Awesome. Awesome!” Carroll said Monday. “I heard it didn’t get much play on the TV (the NBC national game broadcast), but we are going to live it up in here (at team headquarters). It was a true Beast Mode moment right there.”
Lynch’s blow to Maddox had the Seahawks coaches and players roaring on that sideline. The momentum—and first down—Lynch gave his team led two plays later to wide receiver DK Metcalf catching a 53-yard touchdown that put Seattle in control midway through the third quarter with a 17-6 lead.
Are teams defending the Seahawks and their running game differently now that Lynch has rejoined it?
“It’s too early to tell...,” Carroll said.
“But they should.
“Just look at the way he ran on the goal line. It’s a wonderful factor to add.
“When Chris Carson was running it was the same. People knew he was going to get the football in those situations. They know Marshawn is going to get the ball in those situations. And they are going to be going after you.
“So you have to do things to keep them honest. That was a beautiful part of the game plan, third and short. The execution was perfect. And it was a big play for us. We scored right after that, which was great.”
Injury updates
Carroll really didn’t have any Monday.
He said the team is going to have to wait to see how left tackle Duane Brown (knee surgery two weeks ago), left guard Mike Iupati (nerve issue in his neck that still had the veteran hurting Monday), and defensive end Ziggy Ansah (also a nerve issue in his neck) heal during this week. The determination on whether the veteran starters play in Green Bay likely won’t come until Friday, if not game time Sunday.
George Fant played for Brown and Jamarco Jones for Iupati on a new left side of the offensive line. Carroll said he liked how Fant and Jones played.
The Eagles sacked Wilson just once in 31 dropbacks. But the Packers have a far more potent pass rush than Philadelphia.
Za’Darius Smith had 13 1/2 sacks in the regular season and Preston Smith had 12 for Green Bay in the regular season.
This story was originally published January 6, 2020 at 2:33 PM.
