THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: It's never Pete's fault when Seahawks fall short

There had to be a scapegoat.

It’s the way of the world.

So, the Seahawks dismissed offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer over those famous “philosophical differences.”

That excuse sounds like a 15th-century dispute over whether or not the Earth is flat.

A philosophical difference is Galileo offering some scientific truth that’s rejected by the clergy — rather than a discussion over how to score in playoff games.

Forget philosophy in this case.

In truth, Pete Carroll has the power of a mob boss, and he decided that Schottenheimer — whose offense scored a franchise-record 459 points — would have to finish his Seahawks tenure in the trunk of a car.

You know, at some rest stop out on a New Jersey turnpike.

We’re speaking figuratively here (at least I hope we are), but it does seem like Carroll had to blame somebody for the Seahawks’ stumbles down the stretch.

TO BE fair, Pete admitted in his end-of-season press conference that he needed to be “coached up,” too — while also conceding that there really isn’t anyone in the organization left to tell him what he described as the “hard truths.”

Carroll also confessed that the ultimate screw-up — not having time to get something called on fourth-and-one while trailing the Rams 23-13 — came about because he jumped in and began questioning Schottenheimer’s play call.

That discussion took way too much time, Seattle had to scramble to the line of scrimmage, and guard Jordan Simmons moved too soon in all the chaos.

It was a mess, and Pete took most of the blame.

Like any ultimate boss, however, he could accept a guilty plea on that misdemeanor and still throw his sidekick under the bus.

Firing Schottenheimer (yes, that’s what philosophical differences really means) was odd in the sense that Pete used most of his reflection time insisting that the Seahawks would have to run the ball more in the future.

The rationale is that a sturdy rushing game will open up defenses and give Russell Wilson someplace to throw.

SO, WHY is that odd?

Well, because Carroll and Schottenheimer seem to be on the very same page concerning effective offenses.

Schottenheimer is very much a run-first guy.

He was the offensive coordinator in the New York the last time the Jets were truly relevant — presiding over teams that finished first and second in NFL rushing effectiveness in 2009 and 2010.

But I should remind you again that Carroll is the “capo di tutti i capi” (boss of all bosses) at this football club, and when the Seahawks fail in a season of such real promise…

Carroll is not going to fire himself.

Ironically, Pete has booted out the two most successful OCs in club history, Schottenheimer and Darrell Bevell before him (when Seattle missed the playoffs in 2017).

Note: Bevell got the job in 2011 when Jeremy Bates was fired over “philosophical differences.”

Whoever replaces Schottenheimer will be walking into a tough gig.

CLEVER as Carroll and GM John Schneider might be, the Seahawks are now dealing with 24 unrestricted free agents — including K.J. Wright, Shaquill Griffin, offensive linemen Mike Iupati and Ethan Pocic, and finally…

Running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde.

You say you want to pound the ball?

Good luck with all those contracts, especially in a year with the salary cap dropping almost $25 million due to lost revenue.

This all is happening ahead of a season in which the other three teams in the NFC West all figure to be better.

Arizona is young and will stretch your defense with Kyler Murray.

Then, funny enough, both the Rams and 49ers will be leaning on powerhouse running games.

So…

Seattle?

Pete wants to run, and no doubt his new offensive coordinator will say the same thing.

For the sake of Russell Wilson’s health and passing efficiency, you hope they can succeed.

Hey, Bevell and Schottenheimer both got it done.

Too bad about those philosophical differences.

Email: [email protected]

Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. “Moments, Memories and Madness,” his reminiscences from several decades as a sports journalist, runs each Sunday.

Steve also writes Zags Tracker, a commentary on Gonzaga basketball which is published each Tuesday.