Carroll’s gambles failing at Seahawks

RENTON, Wash. – Pete Carroll’s words rang true, until they didn’t.

A week ago, the Seattle Seahawks coach was lamenting his own mistake in being too “bold” and calling for a risky quarterback sneak against San Diego at the end of the first half that failed and cost Seattle points. Even though the Seahawks pulled out a 27-20 win that day, Carroll had to remind himself this wasn’t like being at Southern California where scoring was often easy.

“I need to do a better job and make sure that we get our points and we get our opportunities and they’re not always going to come back around again like it used to seem like it happened,” Carroll said on Sept. 27.

Fast-forward a week, and Carroll again spent time explaining a risky call.

This time it was a flubbed fake field goal late in the first half Sunday against St. Louis. Seattle called for holder/punter Jon Ryan to attempt a run for a first down on fourth-and-10 from the St. Louis 33 instead of settling for a 51-yard field goal attempt by Olindo Mare.

But instead of potentially closing the deficit, Ryan lost nine yards and the Rams drove for a field goal en route to a 20-3 victory.

“It was a calculated move in a situation that we thought was going to be a very good situation for us and we’re trying to make some things happen and that was one of them,” Carroll said on Monday. “ … But as I look back I’d rather get the points.”

Hill suspended

Seahawks linebacker Leroy Hill has been suspended for one game and fined one additional paycheck for violating the league’s personal conduct policy.

The league announced the punishment on Monday. Hill will be able to serve the punishment despite being on injured reserve. Hill was placed on injured reserve last week with an Achilles’ injury that will require surgery.