Highlights from this week's conference call with Carolina media
Head coach Pete Carroll
RE: If he agrees with Ron Rivera that Cam Newton is playing his most complete football
"Yeah. I think whenever you protect the ball as well as he is and you are able to run the ball and play to your defense. To me, that is great quarterbacking, and I am sure that is what Ron (Rivera) is appreciating too. Cam is running the club, you guys aren’t throwing it over, and you guys are taking advantage of great field position that is set up by the kicking game and the defense and all. We would love our quarterback to be playing just like that when we are 4-0 as well."
RE: On the struggles of Seattle’s offensive line
"It is a very young group of guys, you know. They are kind of proud that we are running the ball for a lot of yards a game and all that. We are getting better. We have to protect the passer better ... There is no other way to do it but testing it by fire, so that is what we are doing."
RE: On Shaq Thompson, who played his college ball at nearby Washington
"He is an incredible football player. We did get to see him a lot and knew all about him coming through the recruiting process and all that kind of stuff. We watched it happen. He is a fantastic player and you can see how much respect they have for him in the way that they are playing him."
RE: How Russell Wilson avoids the big hits
"We don’t want him to get in the midst of running up inside between the tackles and stuff like that where you can’t tell where the hits are coming from. He has a very depth sense of managing those and does the best he can. We would rather have him get down than get hit, get out of bounds than get hit. He knows that and he is very compliant and also just very skilled and knows what he is doing. He gets it."
RE: Jimmy Graham's slow start in Seattle
"There has been a focus to get him the ball because he is such a good player. We get it. He’s got 21 passes so far and we are just going to keep working it."
RE: Plays in the playoff game where Kam Chancellor leapt over the line during field goals
"We didn’t try to do anything illegal. We just tried to get Kam over the top, you know and that is it. Coach (Rivera) might be on (to) something. I am sure he is just trying to help his team and trying to make his point to the officials. I totally understand that and have been in that position many times."
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson
RE: Whether or not playing Carolina feels like a division-type rivalry
"I am not sure if the NFL is trying to do that or what, but it seems like it. Obviously, playing them the past four years essentially in tough games that are down to the wire for the most part. They have a tremendous football team. I know a lot of the guys on that team and have a lot of respect for the guys on that team. It is always fun playing them because you know you are going to get a great football game."
RE: Cam Newton
"Obviously, I think Cam is a tremendous football player and he is doing it at a crazy high level ... I don’t know how big he is, 6’5’’ or 6’6’’, and I don’t even know how heavy. He can run, throw it a country mile and it is fun watching him play the game."
RE: Shaq Thompson
"I think he helped with one of my camps one time up here. I have been around him several times and talked to him a few times. He is a guy that I loved watching him play at University of Washington. He is a superstar ... He was pretty unbelievable to watch. Every time I turn the TV on around this area, Shaq is on TV somehow. It will be fun to be able to play against him."
RE: Former teammate Kevin Norwood
"First of all, he is a tremendous worker. He has unbelievable hands, I mean this guy can catch anything. Kevin and I got pretty close when he was here, so I have a lot of respect for Kevin. He’s a big-time player and makes big-time catches. Hopefully, he doesn’t make too many catches on us, but it will be a good game and good to see him."
RE: How he has managed to avoid the big hits
"I think that when you run and you just get down, slide, be smart and move on to the next play and get out of bounds. I think just knowing when to continue to keep fighting for a play and when to throw the ball away. I think that is a huge part of it."
RE: If he still uses Recovery Water
"Yeah, I definitely drink the Recovery Water. It is something that I drink every day."