Seahawks part ways with offensive coordinator Schottenheimer
On the same day the Seattle Seahawks retained their general manager, they moved on from their offensive coordinator.
The Seahawks dismissed Brian Schottenheimer on Tuesday, just days after a 30-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Wild Card Weekend.
"Brian Schottenheimer is a fantastic coach, and we thank him for the last three years. Citing philosophical differences, we have parted ways," the team said over social media.
Head coach Pete Carroll, quarterback Russell Wilson, and receiver DK Metcalf were vocal about their displeasure with the offense in the Seahawks' home playoff loss Saturday.
Seattle was 2-for-14 on third downs, and Wilson completed just 11 of 27 pass attempts for 174 yards, two touchdowns, and an interception. The Rams ran an interception back for a touchdown when cornerback Darious Williams jumped the route on a wide-receiver screen.
"The game kind of felt stale for us in a way - we kind of flatlined," Wilson said postgame. "We needed to get going and make that happen. And the next thing you know, we didn't."
Carroll instead took issue with the team's running game.
"We have to run the ball better, and not even better, we have to run it more," Carroll said the day after the postseason exit. "We have to dictate what's going on with the people that we're playing, and that's one of the ways to do that. I know the fans aren't real jacked on hearing that, but Russ knows it, too. We need to be able to knock those guys into the scheme that we want to throw at."
The Seahawks' offense seemed to have two different seasons. Wilson began the year as an MVP favorite, throwing for 300-plus yards in five of Seattle's first eight contests. In the second half of the year, his completion percentage and passer rating plummeted.
The quarterback tweeted a goodbye message to his offensive coordinator:
Schotty... I'm grateful for how much you meant to me over the past three years. God blessed me with you, we won a lot of games, threw a lot of touchdowns and had a blast in meetings and our bible studies. The best days are ahead for you. Go be Great. God first.
- Russell Wilson (@DangeRussWilson) January 13, 2021
Love. 3. pic.twitter.com/rMtDd7YJUt
The Seahawks haven't advanced past the playoff's divisional round since 2014.
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