Carroll, Seahawks search for answers

RENTON, Wash. — The previous time Pete Carroll and the Seahawks found themselves sitting at 2-5, the expectations were different.

That was 10 years ago when the Seahawks were in transition and still laying the foundation of their eventual rise. It was before the arrival of Russell Wilson as their franchise quarterback, before the drafting of Bobby Wagner as their defensive anchor.

The Seahawks weren’t supposed to be good — yet — when they started the 2011 season 2-5.

That is why the Seahawks’ 2-5 start to this season, punctuated by Monday’s 13-10 loss to Saints, is so concerning and is beginning to feel like a backslide out of contention and into mediocrity.

“It’s not a great feeling,” Wagner said. “It’s not a position that we thought we were going to be in, and it’s just back to the drawing board for me.”

It was an ugly defeat, highlighted by a lethargic offense, poor decision-making from quarterback Geno Smith taking too many sacks, two missed field-goal attempts and some baffling defensive penalties.

The Seahawks were supposed to still be contenders this season, but have looked outclassed and lost with Wilson sidelined by a finger injury. They’ve lost three straight and are quickly running out of time to salvage something from this season.

“We’re not giving up on ourselves,” Seahawks linebacker Jordyn Brooks said. “People outside these walls may be pointing the finger and giving up on us, but we’re going to stick together. We’re going to figure it out.

What’s working

After getting ripped earlier in the season, the Seahawks defense deserves a little credit for being better the last two weeks at not giving up so much yardage and time of possession. The Saints had just 304 yards, a season low allowed by the Seahawks. The Saints held the ball for nearly 33 minutes, but a significant chunk of that possession time came after costly penalties by the Seahawks that kept Saints drives going.

The Seahawks also held the Saints to 2 of 13 on third downs. In the last four games, teams are a combined 11-for51 (21.5%) on third downs against the Seahawks.

What needs help

Of course, the Seahawks are without their franchise quarterback, but Shane Waldron was supposed to bring ingenuity and creativity to their offensive schemes. So far, they’ve seemed rather pedestrian and that was before Wilson was injured. Take away Week 1 against the Colts and the flare Waldron was supposed to bring from his time with the Rams has seemed fleeting. The Seahawks have topped 350 yards only once in the last four games and the 219 total yards against the Saints was the lowest for the Seahawks since a late December 2017 road win against the Cowboys when they had just 136 total yards.