Seattle's defense no longer has a missing piece, and for head coach Pete Carroll, that sense was extremely evident during a shutout victory over the hapless Bears.
"We talked throughout the game and throughout the week too on the back and forth of what it felt like," Carroll said, via ESPN.com, of Kam Chancellor, who returned after a two-month holdout. "He was very comfortable, and they were very comfortable with him coming back. You can just see that he made us whole, kind of. He's a terrific football player, and he had a special impact, and what more can you do? We shut them out, and we're really happy about that."
Having Chancellor play in all but 10 of their defensive snaps on Sunday certainly lends credence to Carroll's theory. Though Chancellor's skill set was clearly missed during an 0-2 start, there was still a lingering concern about his game shape and ability to plug in with the defense and go.
This Monday's game against the Lions should provide a better test, but by all accounts Chancellor looks every bit as intimidating as he did a year ago.
For Carroll, who is more in tune with chemistry and flow than a lot of coaches in the NFL today, his observations on the sideline were just as important.
Having Chancellor give off a positive vibe was just as meaningful as anything.
