Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll met with reporters after his team's "No Repeat Friday" practice session at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center. Here are three takeaways from his presser, which discussed running backs Christine Michael and Thomas Rawls, Earl Thomas, plus what convinced him to start his non-profit organization, A Better L.A.:
1. Christine Michael And Thomas Rawls Are "Still Battling"
On Wednesday, Carroll announced that Rawls would be the starter at running back this weekend against the Rams after backing up Michael in the season opener. Carroll said that Rawls moving atop the depth-chart once fully recovered from his broken ankle was the plan all along.
"Once he was officially fully back, then it was understood [that] Thomas is going to go back as the starter," Carroll said. "But I see those guys still battling and competing and I don't really care whose one and two …
"I think there's a lot of talent, a lot of speed and a lot breakaway and suddenness there that's fun to watch."
Regardless of who starts, the Seahawks will need a combination of both backs against Los Angeles' stout defensive line.
2. He Said Earl Thomas Was "On It" All Week
Safety Earl Thomas didn’t hold back from criticizing his play Week 1 against Miami, and Carroll said that this week his preparation to fix those mistakes has been great.
"He was on it all week," Carroll said when asked how Thomas has bounced back.
"He's a great focuser, and he really wanted to put himself back in … He's ready to go and looked great."
3. How A Better L.A. Was Born
Yesterday, Seahawks defensive coordinator Kris Richard detailed Carroll’s impact on the Los Angeles community while he coached at USC. Carroll was asked today about what made him believe he could enter communities and make a difference, and the response involved him telling a story about what initially convinced him to get started.
One week, Carroll said he was driving into the office and heard news on the radio about four or five kids dying over the weekend (that number eventually grew to 11 by Thursday). When Carroll got to his office, he gave friend and mentor, Lou Tice, a call. From there, the dialogue grew and eventually led to the start of A Better L.A., his nonprofit organization he founded in 2003 that works with gang leaders and law enforcement to "support community-based solutions to restore peace, save lives and link individuals in the inner city to resources they need in order to thrive."
"That's what started, that was the emphasis moving forward." Carroll said. "We had no idea what we were going to do, what would come of it, we didn't know anything."
You can watch testimonials from board members, volunteers, and program partners about how A Better L.A. is impacting the Los Angeles community here.
