Can Pete Carroll Coach In The NFL? Or Does It Really Matter?

After several days of speculation, a resignation at USC, and now a Seattle press conference- Still nothing lets us know if Coach Carroll will be successful in the NFL.

Yes, I know. I have heard so many people say he was a flop in the NFL during his first two stints as a head coach. That he is not suited for the NFL player. He is a Rah!Rah! coach. He won't last more than three years.

Does it really matter?

Maybe we should examine most complaints about Pete Carroll in the NFL. Lets also consider where he is coaching as well and the situation it presents.

Was Pete Carroll a flop as an NFL coach? check out the chart below, and see for yourself. Listed are just the first four seasons, along with win percentages. A few exceptions are with some coaches who only have three years so far. Only current coaches with 3 or more seasons are included, along with some coaching greats.

Current Coaches
Name	1st 4 years	G	W	L	T	W-L%
Mike Tomlin	2007-2009	48	31	17	0	0.65
Andy Reid	1999-2002	64	39	25	0	0.61
Sean Payton	2006-2009	64	38	26	0	0.59
Mike McCarthy	2006-2009	64	38	26	0	0.59
John Fox	2002-2005	64	36	28	0	0.56
Lovie Smith	2004-2009	64	36	28	0	0.56
Brad Childress	2006-2009	64	36	28	0	0.56
Ken Whisenhunt	2007-2009	48	27	21	0	0.56
Tom Coughlin	1995-1998	64	35	29	0	0.55
Marvin Lewis	2003-2006	64	35	29	0	0.55
Jack Del Rio	2003-2006	64	34	30	0	0.53
Pete Carroll	1994-1999	64	33	31	0	0.52
Bill Belichick	1991-1994	64	31	33	0	0.48
Gary Kubiak	2006-2009	64	31	33	0	0.48
Jim Mora	2004-2009	64	31	33	0	0.48
Mike Shanahan	1988-1996	64	29	35	0	0.45
Eric Mangini	2006-2009	64	28	36	0	0.44
Dick Jauron	1999-2002	64	28	36	0	0.43
Wade Phillips	1985-1998	64	27	37	0	0.42
Norv Turner	1994-1997	64	26	37	1	0.41
Jeff Fisher	1994-2009	64	24	40	0	0.37
Past Coaching Greats
Name	1st 4 years	G	W	L	T	W-L%
Joe Gibbs	1981-1984	57	41	16	0	0.72
Don Shula	1963-1966	56	39	16	1	0.69
Bill Cowher	1992-1995	64	43	21	0	0.67
Mike Holmgren	1992-1995	64	38	26	0	0.59
Bill Parcells	1983-1986	64	36	27	1	0.55
Marty Schottenheimer	1984-1987	64	34	30	0	0.53
Jimmy Johnson	1989-1992	64	32	32	0	0.5
Bill Walsh	1979-1988	57	24	33	0	0.42

As we can see Pete Carroll is right in the middle of the pack. His first 4 years are very similar to the majority of current head coaches. To say he was unsuccessful or a flop is incorrect. It is more like he is average.

Yes, some will say that while with N.E. Patriots, he looked lost, or ruined a championship caliber team. Most likely though, any coach at that point for N.E. would of had similar results. The truth is he did no better or no worse than the majority of NFL head coaches during their first 4 years of coaching.

As to the other negatives people come up with.That he is not suited for the NFL player. He is a Rah!Rah! coach.

Lets face it. There is not a single type of coaching personality that would fit every NFL player. It comes down to one simple aspect. They listen to and follow you, or they won't. You are either a leader or your not. At USC Pete Carroll demonstrated he could lead. It is much harder to get an excited youth with a million things going on to listen and follow directions. A paid professional should not have those distractions. The NFL is their job. It is to their benefit to focus and listen. Anyone who can get 18 to 20 year olds to do as they ask, is doing something right and has a leg up.

We could argue that other college coaches could fit that same situation. But they were more focused on themselves than on team work and leadership (ie. Saban and others). This one will have to play out with Coach Carroll. Only time will tell.

For being a Rah!Rah! coach. Good. I personally am tired of all the dour faces on NFL coaches. More importantly is the situation Pete Carroll is going to. Consider he basically convinced a billionaire to hire him and for the most part give him control of the team operations. This shows he sells himself to those around him. His attitude is infectious. That got him the job.

Next, Seattle might as well be considered Alaska or some other far away place. You really have to sell someone on the idea of being there. Beautiful location, first class facilities are not enough. Players who are not from the west coast, never seem to want to go to the west coast. It is extremely difficult to obtain free agents, and most have to be overpaid. Bring in a top notch recruiter and possibly it changes players perception. To say you don't recruit in the NFL is a joke. Every free agent is recruited. The next couple of seasons will truly show what type of recruiter Pete Carroll is.

At the least this hiring gives some media attention to a football region that has a hard time getting any. Next year the team will be newsworthy for weeks, whether Pete wins or loses.

Can Pete Carroll Coach In The NFL? We will soon find out.

Does It Really Matter? No. But it should be entertaining to watch.