Carroll says Seahawks have 2012 vibe

The Seattle Seahawks have undergone significant changes.

Gone are mainstays Richard Sherman and Michael Bennett, who moved on in the offseason, while the playing careers of Cliff Avril and Kam Chancellor are uncertain after they suffered serious injuries in 2017. The Legion of Boom could be down another one of its three most important members, too, as Earl Thomas is holding out for a new contract.

In many respects, the Seahawks are starting over, and, according to their head coach, the team feels like it did in 2012 - the year it made the leap to contender after consecutive 7-9 seasons.

"It does feel like that," Pete Carroll told Albert Breer of The MMQB. "There was a time when our star players weren't star players yet - they were just coming up, and it was exciting to see that emergence. That's what we're counting on in the next year, seeing these guys start to come to prominence and make a spot for themselves."

Among those expected to emerge on defense this year are defenders Jarran Reed, Frank Clark, Shaquill Griffin, and Nazair Jones. Throw into that mix rookies Shaquem Griffin, Rasheem Green, and Emmanuel Beal.

"It feels like four or five years ago. It feels fresh and wide open, it's more of an open competition for some of the spots," Carroll said. "And that's a really good thing for us, because it does feed into the whole approach."

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