What Can Atlanta Learn From Seattle?
By Ben Sullivan
Feb 2, 2014; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll talks with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (7) before Super Bowl XLVIII at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports
4. It’s All About Motivation
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a team as motivated as the Seattle Seahawks were this season. Not just for the Super Bowl, that’s easy to get up for, but week in and week out the Seahawks gave tremendous effort. That kind of motivation comes from all over the locker room, but mostly it falls on the feet of the head coach.
The head coach has plenty of jobs, but one of his most important is to get his players motivated and hyped for games. Far too many times in the last few years the Falcons have come out flat when they needed an emotional performance.
I’m not exactly sure what that says about Mike Smith as a coach. For the most part I like him, but I’m starting to have the sinking feeling he’s going to end up in the Andy Reid, Lovie Smith category of coaches that can make your team better but can’t get them up to win the big games.