By almost any statistical measure, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson had the best season of his four-year NFL career in 2015, leading the NFL with a 110.1 passer rating while establishing franchise records for passing yards and touchdowns.
That's why Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said he "couldn't be more excited" about the progress Wilson and the passing game.
On the other side of the ball, free safety Earl Thomas matched a career-high with five interceptions and earned Pro Bowl honors for the fifth straight year, playing the role that makes him the "linchpin" of Seattle's defense according to Richard Sherman; a role that Carroll said makes Thomas, "real critical to everything we do defensively… He gives us incredible consistency back there, and has done that for a lot of years. It really is where the effectiveness of our eliminating explosive plays comes from. It starts with him right back in the middle there."
A defensive-minded coach who himself played safety in college, Carroll once said of Thomas, "I watch this game and live this game through his eyes often. It's something that's dear to my heart. We share experiences all the time trying to get a deeper understanding of it, and it's really awesome because I can watch it all happen through him and his play."
In other words, Wilson and Thomas are not just two of the Seahawks' best players, but because of the positions they play, they are also two of the most important to what happens on their respective sides of the ball. That's why, as good as both have been in their relatively young careers, one of Carroll's focuses this offseason is on making those two even better.
"Russell and I talked about this last night," Carroll said Monday. "I think it's really the right time to turn his focus and broaden his awareness of what is going on in the game overall. He and I will spend a lot of time this offseason introducing him to the perspective of what it's like to look at the defense from the defensive side of the ball. I want him to learn and understand what's going on schematically, rotation-wise, fits-wise, even more than he knows now."
If ever there were a coach who is qualified to better help Wilson understand the way defenses work, it's Carroll, a longtime defensive coordinator before becoming a head coach, and the architect of a defense that became the first in the Super Bowl era to lead the NFL in scoring defense for four straight seasons. And if Wilson is ready to better understand the defensive side of the game, then Carroll figures it's time to do the same thing for Thomas when it comes to offense. This significant of a deep dive isn't something Carroll takes lightly, and it isn't something he wanted to put on either player earlier in their careers, but with Thomas heading into his seventh season and Wilson into his fifth, Carroll is confident that both are ready to handle it.
"I talked to Earl about the same thing," Carroll said. "Earl needs to go on the other side of the ball and do the same thing. Earl also wants to learn even more in-depth about what's going on up front. These guys have been around long enough now that it's time to take them to all of the avenues that they can to understand the game. It'll just broaden their horizons, it'll allow them to understand more so, they'll make declarations and decisions more quickly because they'll understand schematically even more so."
Of course, offensive players are constantly studying opposing defenses and vice versa, but there's a difference between knowing what an opponent might try to do to beat you in that particular week, and becoming a quarterback who can think like a safety or a safety who can see the game like a quarterback.
"There's a difference in looking at it from what the offense needs to know and the difference in looking at it from what the defense is doing," Carroll said. "I want them to understand the other side in greater depth. Those guys in particular—other guys will go along with that—those guys in particular are guys that love to study the game and they want to know more and they want to know everything. You can only take in so much. We wouldn't want to water down the process by trying to do too much early, but I think it's time now. We're going year five and year seven with Earl. It's time to really dig in. They're kind of in like settings, being the quarterback and being the free safety. I know Richard wants to go along too, and just continue to grow and expand so they really understand the game to the fullest extent."
For a quarterback who often says he is on a "constant quest for knowledge," digging deeper into the other side of the ball should be a challenge Wilson embraces this offseason.
Wilson said Monday that one of his goals this offseason is to "continue to grow as a man and continue to grow as a football player, just try to find the ins and outs of the game of football, and how I can help this team win more and more games."
Wilson said his intellectual growth helped the game slow down this season, leading to the improvements he made in 2015: "I think the first step is the knowledge. You want to continue to grow intellectually, in the game, and continue to master that part of it. Continue to work on that craft. I think that when you really mentally grasp the game of football, the game really, really slows down. I think that's what was able to happen this year, especially."
If Carroll has it his way, both Wilson and Thomas will only expand on that knowledge between now and next season.
"We're going to school," Carroll said. "It'll be a tremendous offseason for our guys, and I think they're ready for that."
Team photographer Rod Mar shot what turned out to be his final photo essay of the 2015 season, as the Seahawks traveled to North Carolina and fell to the Panthers in the NFC Divisional round of the NFL Playoffs.
12s lined the streets near VMAC and along S. 188th Street near Sea-Tac Airport to wish the Seahawks well as they embarked on the trip to face the Carolina Panthers in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Bobby Wagner walks up the stairs to the rear door of the team's Delta charter for the long flight to Charlotte, North Carolina.
Five hours later, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson walks across the tarmac after disembarking from the team's charter in North Carolina.
On Saturday, receivers Jermaine Kearse and Tyler Lockett found a moment to relax before boarding the buses to the team's walk-thru.
Offensive linemen Russell Okung, Garry Gilliam and Justin Britt share a laugh before the start of walk-thru.
Offensive players Luke Willson, Christine Michael, Marshawn Lynch and Cooper Helfet enjoy a light-hearted moment before walk-thru.
Offensive tackle Garry Gilliam plays a hand-eye coordination game with Tyler Lockett, Russell Wilson, Patrick Lewis and Justin Britt before the start of walk-thru.
The offense takes their place during part of Saturday's walk-thru.
Seahawks helmets, uniforms and equipment hang in the players lockers in the visitors locker room at Bank of America Stadium, home of the Panthers.
Receiver Tyler Lockett listens to music on the bus ride back from Saturday's walk-thru.
Game day brought snow flurries early in the morning, and DeShawn Shead, Cassius Marsh and team doctor Jonathan Drezner made their way to the buses.
At the stadium, 12s were waiting with suitably sized 12 flags after the Panthers established a rule on size of flags within the stadium at games.
Led by strong safety Kam Chancellor, the Seahawks defensive backs run onto the field for pregame warmups.
Head coach Pete Carroll chats with quarterback Russell Wilson as the team does its pregame stretching.
Head coach Pete Carroll takes a moment during pregame to visit with seven-year old Ade Lewis, a die-hard Seahawks fans from North Carolina who was being teased at school for being a 12. The team invited Lewis and his family to the game where they watched pregame from the sidelines and got a visit from Coach Carroll and other players.
Head coach Pete Carroll paces behind his team as they work on the 11-on-11 portion of pregame warmups in Carolina.
Quarterback Russell Wilson greets teammates and coaches as they head back into the locker room after pregame warmups.
Receiver Doug Baldwin finds a quiet corner to himself in the locker room before the game. The large 12 flag on the wall was signed by fans in Seattle on Friday at Blue Friday rallies then sent with the team on the charter.
Seahawks long-snapper Clint Gresham pauses during the hustle and bustle of the locker room before the game.
Linebacker Bruce Irvin listens to music in the final moments before the game.
Defensive tackle Brandon Mebane gathers his teammates around him and shares some final words before the team takes the field.
Captains Bobby Wagner, Russell Wilson and Jon Ryan head to midfield for the pregame coin toss.
The Seahawks were stunned when Carolina's Jonathan Stewart raced 59 yards on the first play from scrimmage to set up the Panthers first touchdown.
On the ensuing series, Justin Britt walked back to the sideline after Carolina's Luke Kiechly returned an interception for a touchdown and the Seahawks found themselves in a 14-0 hole less than five minutes into the game.
Carolina's Kawaan Short celebrates after sacking Seattle's Russell Wilson in the first quarter.
Seattle's defense continued to hit hard as Jeremy Lane, Kam Chancellor and Michael Bennet forced Carolina's Mike Tolbert to lose his helmet on this play.
Carolina's Jonathan Stewart leaps over the pile to score the Panthers' third touchdown of the first half on their way to what would eventually become a 31-0 halftime lead.
Seattle's Michael Bennett sacked Carolina's Cam Newton as the defense continued to pressure.
Seattle's offense began to come alive as receiver Doug Baldwin, as he did in the playoff game in Minnesota, leapt high to snag a pass for a first down.
Seattle's Russell Wilson escapes the grasp of Carolina's Kawaan Short on a scramble up the middle.
Seattle's Bobby Wagner flies into finish a tackle with Earl Thomas as they stop Carolina's Mike Tolbert.
At halftime, quarterback Russell Wilson talked to receivers Tyler Lockett and Doug Baldwin in the locker room.
Defensive coordinator Kris Richard gives halftime instructions.
On the other side of the locker room, assistant head coach Tom Cable addresses the offense.
Before the team returned to the field, receiver Doug Baldwin gave an impassioned speech to his teammates.
Seahawks return specialist Tyler Lockett sparked the second half with a 50-yard kickoff return.
Seahawks receiver Kevin Smith stretches the ball out at the end of a seven-yard gain in the third quarter.
Seattle's Jermaine Kearse stretches high to catch a pass from Russell Wilson for the Seahawks first score of the game, cutting the lead to 31-7 after the extra point.
Seahawks receiver Doug Baldwin grimaces as he can't quite reach a deep ball from Russell Wilson in the third quarter.
Turf flies as Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson slides to avoid being hit on a scramble.
Seattle's Tyler Lockett got open of the right side of the end zone and made this 33-yard reception to cut Carolina's lead to 31-14.
Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson fires a pass over the middle as Justin Britt blocks the Kawaan Short of the Panthers.
Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch saw his first action since being sideline by injury and took on Carolina's Cortland Finnegan in the open field.
Tight end Luke Willson can't grasp a pass just out of his reach in the end zone in the fourth quarter.
Seattle's Jermaine Kearse leaps to catch a three-yard touchdown pass from Russell Wilson and the Seahawks cut the lead to 31-21.
Seattle head coach Pete Carroll celebrates after he watched his team score 21 unanswered points to cut the lead to 31-21 in the fourth quarter.
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton reacts on the sidelines after watching the Seahawks cut the lead to ten points at 31-21 in the fourth quarter.
Offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell consults with quarterback Russell Wilson during a break in the action.
Seattle kicker Steven Hauschka and holder Jon Ryan watch as Hauschka's 36-yard field goal with 1:16 left in the game cut the lead to 31-24.
Needing the ball back trailing by seven, Seattle tried an onside kick which was recovered by the Panthers, ending the Seahawks valiant comeback.
Head coach Pete Carroll stalks the sidelines in the final moments of the game.
Seahawks receiver Jermaine Kearse reacts as he walks onto the field after the loss to the Panthers.
Receivers coach Dave Canales hugs Doug Baldwin on the Seahawks sideline after the final whistle.
Panthers coach Ron Rivera shakes hands with Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch after the game.
Quarterback Russell Wilson holds hands with players of both teams in the postgame prayer.
Head coach Pete Carroll addresses his team in the locker room after the season-ending loss.
Seahawks players listen as head coach Pete Carroll addresses them after the game.
Head coach Pete Carroll reaches his hand together with his players and assistant coaches at the end his postgame address to the team.
The Seahawks join hands in the locker room for the last time in the 2015 season after falling to Carolina, 31-24 in the divisional round of the playoffs.
Safety Earl Thomas was the last player left in the locker room, and remained dressed in his uniform well after the last player had left.
Players and coaches walk from the bus to the airplane as the team departed for Seattle after the loss to the Panthers.
On the plane ride home, Hall-of-famer Cortez Kennedy spoke with, then asked for a photo with current defensive standouts Bobby Wagner, Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.
12s lined the streets to greet the team and show their support on Sunday night after the plane landed back in Seattle.
Fans also gathered outside of the VMAC to greet the Seahawks upon their return to the team's headquarters.
