Seahawks' Pete Carroll dismisses doubters in the wake of Russell Wilson's absence

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The Seattle Seahawks enter the 2022 season without their offensive glue, quarterback Russell Wilson. Naturally, Las Vegas doesn’t think Seattle has what it takes to compete. 

Head coach Pete Carroll, entering his 14th season with Seahawks, doesn’t care for outside opinions on his team.

"I don’t feel like that at all," he told reporters Monday via ESPN. "I don’t feel like any part of any of that is what’s true other than the fact that that’s what people think. I’m not in that business now."

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Head coach Pete Carroll of the Seattle Seahawks looks on from the sidelines during the Steelers game on Aug. 13, 2022, in Pittsburgh. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)

Multiple outlets have the Seahawks’ over/under win total set at 5.5 games this season, making them one of the worst projected teams in the NFL. 

The main reason for that is Geno Smith will now be the starting quarterback for Carroll, which is why evaluators believe there will be a steep drop from Wilson’s play. Playing for the Seahawks for the past two seasons, Smith started just three games, all coming last season when Wilson was hurt, where he went 1-2. He did have a 68.4 completion percentage with five touchdowns and one interception in four games. 

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The Seahawks also landed Drew Lock in the trade to the Denver Broncos for Wilson, and he will back up Smith. However, that quarterback room is likely fluid as Carroll attempts to improve on a 7-10 record a season ago with his most important position getting a downgrade. 

It also doesn’t help that Seattle plays in an NFC West that is