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At 3-3, Seahawks not ready to panic

Seattle free safety Earl Thomas (29) says the Seahawks must be more disciplined on defense. (Associated Press)
Bob Condotta Seattle Times
Seattle free safety Earl Thomas (29) says the Seahawks must be more disciplined on defense. (Associated Press)

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Seahawks were once again the focus of the NFL world this week, media descending on the VMAC in numbers to rival the Super Bowl run.

This time, though, they came with a much different question – what’s wrong with the Seahawks?

Nothing really, the Seahawks insisted.

“I think the team is still confident in what we can do, still confident in our abilities,’’ said cornerback Richard Sherman. “I think our team is fine and understands what we need to do to turn it around, and we’re confident in our ability to do that.’’

The Seahawks, though, also know that the time has come to turn talk into action.

After losing back-to-back games for the first time since October 2012, the only way for the Seahawks to prove that things are truly not that bad is to win at Carolina today.

With home games the next two weeks against the winless Raiders and so-so Giants, the chance for Seattle to get well is there. But if the Seahawks lose to the Panthers, the playoffs might become a longshot.

“In games like we’ve had these last couple of weeks, it’s just a few plays here and there,’’ Sherman said. “I think all games are lost off a few plays.’’

Still, the last few weeks have shown cracks in the foundation, the Harvin drama aside.

Seattle has forced just five turnovers, fewer than all but three other teams in the NFL, a season after leading the league with 39. That includes just two interceptions, a year after making 28.

And Seattle’s pass defense, such a terror in 2013, is allowing quarterbacks to complete 68.4 percent of passes compared to 59.0 last year, with a passing efficiency rating of 103.7, compared to 63.4. Seattle also has allowed 12 touchdown passes compared to 16 all last season.

Safety Earl Thomas, though, says it’s nothing the Seahawks can’t fix.

“It’s strictly on us,’’ he said. “We’re just not being disciplined. We’re not seeing it all the way through. We’re not finishing plays; we’re not finishing games as far as the defensive side of the ball. ’’

The offense has more resembled last year’s team than the more-heralded defense. Seattle is averaging 26.5 points per game (26.0 a year ago) and 357 yards a game (339 a year ago).

And it’s coming off its best performance of the season, a 463-yard effort against St. Louis that included three touchdown drives of 80 yards or longer in the second half as the Seahawks appeared to finally find their post-Harvin rhythm.

Coach Pete Carroll insists nothing has changed in the mentality of his team.

“I think the guys have come back very determined to show that they’re ready to move ahead and make this a very successful season,’’ he said Friday. “Their energy, their attention to detail, the way they’re hanging out and getting along looks great. It looks just like it should.’’