“Iconic” is a phrase reserved for truly inimitable figures in National Football League history. When players and coaches alike come to idolize one such individual throughout their football journey, that individual becomes truly iconic–just as Las Vegas Raiders head coach Pete Carroll has.
You’d be hard-pressed finding any amount of players across the NFL who don’t look up to Pete Carroll. Never mind players; it would be a challenge naming a coach who hasn’t been inspired by Carroll’s coaching prowess to some degree.
Patrick Graham, the Las Vegas Raiders defense coordinator, is certainly no different.
“Any time you get a chance to work with someone with that experience, that level of success, I couldn’t be happier with the experience going on right now just in terms of being able to bounce ideas off of him, hear different ways of doing things,” Graham said in regards to working alongside Carroll.
“It’s been real beneficial for my growth, if I’m being selfish, which is something that’s been really good and positive for me. And the track record, just, I mean why wouldn’t you listen? You gotta listen. It’s been great.”
The track record of Carroll has indeed left an impact that’s beyond what words can describe. Whether at the University of Southern California or with the Seattle Seahawks, the now-73-year-old has done two things as a head coach: win, and touch the hearts of everyone who’s had the honor of being part of his assembled team.
The Super Bowl and National Championship victories don’t lie. And neither does the seemingly-endless list of people who have been a part of his football team throughout the years that can’t help but give Carroll every flower in their bouquet. Marshawn Lynch, Bobby Wagner, K.J. Wright, Russell Wilson and Geno Smith, to name a few.
Las Vegas Raiders DC Patrick Graham: “It’s been great” with Pete Carroll
Graham still had more flowers to give to his new head coach.
“I’m being a sponge any time he’s talking to those guys,” Graham said in reference to Carroll speaking to the defensive back unit. “That’s my personal experience with it, and you can see the energy he has, the ability to teach the position. And coach the whole team.
“It’s just really been a great situation for myself, for the players, the coaches, we’re watching a master teacher working his craft, and seeing it live and in person is real beneficial for us.”
It’s far from a bad idea to absorb Carroll’s coaching prowess in any area, much less when it comes to defensive backs. Carroll did, after all, cement the ‘Legion of Boom‘ – a smothering defense predicated on defensive back play – in the NFL’s history books.
“Just working with Pete has been great. It’s been great,” Graham reiterated.
“It’s the energy, we talk about that, the football knowledge, learning from there. And just having someone to be able to talk to about situational football, talk about defensive philosophy. It’s been great for me–and that’s me being selfish, just talking about from my perspective. I couldn’t be happier with the situation, it’s been great.”
The summary of Patrick Graham’s short time with Pete Carroll up to this point: a “Great” experience.
“Just, in terms of Pete, I’ve said it enough already. It’s been a great experience for me.”
