Since taking over as head coach of the Seattle Seahawks in January, Pete Carroll has worked to put his imprint on this organization, from the fast-paced way the team practices to the tightly packed schedule the players adhere to when they are on the road.

And from the looks of things, the players have bought what Carroll is selling as the Seahawks try to bounce back from a disappointing 5-11 campaign a year ago.

The way Carroll has grabbed his players' attention is letting them know that no one is irreplaceable and everyone is competing for a job, even veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck.

Carroll made that clear by trading for San Diego restricted free agent Charlie Whitehurst.

"The most critical position in this game is quarterback, and we're trying to make that position as strong as possible," Carroll said. "And we felt like we needed to do some things. It's not like we didn't trust Matt (Hasselbeck) -- not at all. We love the way Matt plays for us. But we still needed to upgrade and try to make it as good as a position as possible for this season and the long haul."

The former USC coach has put his philosophy in motion with a whirlwind of roster moves -- 130-plus in counting -- to create a young, competitive roster as his team heads toward a regular-season opener at home against NFC West division rival San Francisco.

"We're just getting warmed up," Carroll joked when discussing the constant roster changes. "It's really about competition, and creating a competitive environment in the position groups on the field.

"We don't have to be younger to do that. But right now we're trying to create a team that's really deep with guys, and get them hungry, fast and athletic."

Will it work? That remains to be seen. Most NFL observers consider the Seahawks the third best team in the division behind San Francisco and Arizona.

Seattle still has talent issues on both offensive and defensive lines, and will try to scheme their way around weaknesses there. The Seahawks still have yet to determine who will be the leader runner in a three-way battle between Julius Jones, Leon Washington and Justin Forsett.

But they do have the most experienced quarterback in the division in Hasselbeck and a relatively easy schedule, so Carroll could be ahead of the curve in his return to the NFL, as he tries to prove skeptics he can get it done at the highest level of football.

COACHING
Pete Carroll, 5th year (34-33), 1st with Seahawks.

REMEMBERING
2009 record: 5-11 (3rd in NFC West).

PREDICTING
2010 regular-season record: 7-9 (3rd in NFC West).

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