[browna]

Jeremy Bates out as OC in Seattle.

Very surprising. Handpicked by Carroll to begin with. Between him and Carroll, were able to get Hasslebeck to buy into their way of doing things, something Hasslebeck didn't do for the previous coach, or the last year of Holmgren before Mora.

Nothing spectacular all year. No running game even with 2 ok players back there, although without Williams (who was a complete unknown after being out for 2 years, turned into a great story) they would've been worse.

But, scripted the Week 17 game perfectly for Whitehurst to get into the playoffs, then a very solid game plan vs the Saints.

Saw him and Caroll high fiving on the field a few times in the playoffs.

That said, Carroll I am sure learned alot in the past calender year (270+ roster transactions) about his team, and about the NFL and what the team needs to do to get to the next level these days.

I guess Carroll figured Bates wasn't going to be the guy to take it to the next level, or, there's someone he's ready to bring in that he's more confident in, to tear down, and rebuild the Seattle offense longer term.

The Seattle offense has been suffocated by not having a leader at QB, and maybe this is the end of Hasslebeck too...actually it most likely is. One good playoff game, a decent overall season, doesn't make up for the fact that long term, he's not the answer as a leader, as he hasn't been "the guy" since Superbowl XL as injuries and age have started to slow his physical skills, which were always at a higher level then his mental, leadership and decision making skills as a QB. Could've seen him come back as a mentor, but not given this move today.

Still, a surprise given it was Carroll's hire, and very interesting to see where this goes for an OC, and a QB.

Edit: Didn't take long (these things usually don't). SEA supposedly talking with McDaniels as OC.