THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: The reality behind the Pete Carroll hype train

Pete Carroll could spot sunlight in a typhoon.

That optimistic, rah-rah guy that you see on the sidelines is really him.

Now, deep down, a 72-year-old coach who has seen and done it all is going to know what’s really happening on the field.

Through all the games and practices, he grasps the talent level on his roster right down to everyone’s shoe size.

The thing is, though, Pete believes — really and truly believes — that he and his coaches can somehow get a good (but not great) team to play over their heads.

Like, WAY over their heads.

Out of their minds.

Keep things tight, win in the fourth quarter.

Now.

For everyone who wonders about Pete’s insistence that Geno Smith could actually quarterback a Super Bowl team, just buy it.

That’s Pete.

Naturally, that’s also why Pete led a raucous locker room celebration Sunday, after Smith led a fourth-quarter drive that handed the Hawks a 29-26 victory over Washington.

Seattle is now 6-3 (you probably knew that), and tied with the 49ers atop the NFC West.

The “eye test” tells you that a slippery win over a team with the 29th-ranked defense in the NFL isn’t championship stuff.

Pete won’t be listening to that.

TO BE perfectly blunt, I don’t think the Seahawks have a chance in hell of reaching the Super Bowl.

OK, OK, one chance in hell.

Exactly one.

This is a team that stumbled around for the first half on Sunday, with Smith missing open receivers and the whole group — including Carroll — producing a clown act at the end of the first half.

They were set for a Jason Myers field goal, at the very least, but time mismanagement and Smith getting nailed for intentional grounding to run out the clock was comedy stuff.

Sure, the Hawks were more competitive in the second half, and Smith made some key throws — although he also got very lucky.

Geno overthrew DK Metcalf on a fourth-down play, but they were bailed out on an interference call.

To give him proper credit, Smith threw a spectacular low dart to Tyler Lockett at the edge of the end zone for a 5-yard TD.

But whooping and hollering because the Seattle offense was better than a week earlier (that 37-3 hammering in Baltimore) is perhaps a bit too much excitement.

Yes, Smith completed passes down the stretch, but that happens with everyone when defenses are tired and giving ground.

Note: Commanders QB Sam Howell carved up the Seahawks with the same fourth-quarter precision.

Geno was just fortunate that he was the last one with the ball.

The truth is that this looked like a game between two average teams that happened to have a thrilling finish.

Yahoo Sports does a pretty fair ranking of all NFL teams each week, and at the moment, the Seahawks check in at No. 15.

Almost exactly average.

Amazingly, though, only four of the 14 teams ranked ahead of them have better records.

The Hawks' magic?

Wins in three of their four truly close games.

Indeed, give Geno major credit for those victories, along with a defense that is miles better than anything we saw a year ago.

STILL.

The real gut-check is coming, and despite how much Carroll can fire up a team, the Seahawks are soon going to face some serious talent deficits.

First, they go to Los Angeles, for a rematch with a good Rams team that whipped them 30-13 at Lumen Field.

Then it’s the 49ers, trips to Dallas and San Francisco, and back home to face (gulp) the Eagles.

The Hawks will be underdogs in all five of those games, and rightly so.

Please understand.

I think Carroll and GM John Schneider have built a good young team.

They’ve rapidly filled holes with savvy draft choices, and even pulled off the trade for outstanding defensive tackle Leonard Williams.

It will be a chore signing Williams beyond this year, but bet on Schneider to give it a try.

That brings us back to the offense.

HEY, I like the Geno Smith redemption story.

I do.

Not only that, he’s a genuinely decent guy who’s honest about his performances, both good and shaky.

What’s more, I don’t think the offensive problems against the better teams is just down to Geno.

He’s an old-school quarterback, a guy who needs to throw from the pocket — and that only works when you have a running game.

So far, the young and patchwork offensive line hasn’t been able to provide consistent space for Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet to do much damage.

That brings the house down on Geno and, sadly, he’s a mistake waiting to happen without a running game.

Like Jared Goff in Detroit, Geno needs play-action to see what’s happening downfield.

Seattle’s most explosive play on Sunday was a check-down to Walker, who took the little pass 64 yards for a score.

Unfortunately, you can’t make a living like that.

There’s a reason that quarterbacks who can make things happen on the move — Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Jalen Hurts – are considered Super Bowl prospects.

Geno can’t do that, and the Seahawks have struggled to run.

It’s a scary combination against good teams. 

Even with Pete’s optimism.

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Steve Cameron’s “Cheap Seats” columns appear in The Press four times each week, normally Tuesday through Friday unless, you know, stuff happens.

Steve suggests you take his opinions in the spirit of a Jimmy Buffett song: “Breathe In, Breathe Out, Move On.”