John Carlson has been consistent in his first two seasons with the Seattle Seahawks. There’s been only one game in which the former Notre Dame player has gone without a reception.
It hasn’t been an easy transition for Carlson, though.
“I think the thing that surprised me the most (about the NFL) was how the length of the season affected me,” said Carlson, who was a second-round draft pick. “Everyone that I talked to, my former teammates that made that jump, they all told me that as a rookie, you kind of hit a wall.
“Up until Week 8, I was kind of like, ‘Wow, the season is almost half done,’ and then I got to Week 8 and it was like, ‘Wow, the season is only half done.’ Once I overcame that hurdle, things started going a little better for me.”
Carlson had 55 receptions for 627 yards and five touchdowns last season, starting three games as the Seahawks went 4-12.
This season, he has 15 catches for 169 yards and two touchdowns, as the Seahawks (1-2) prepare to take on the Colts (3-0) at Lucas Oil Stadium on Sunday.
Despite the productive start, which included two touchdowns in a 28-0 Week 1 victory over St. Louis, Carlson warned that it’s a little early to peg him as a star. After all, he could hit another “wall” soon.
“Well, yes (it’s a good start), but unfortunately, you can’t just multiply things in the NFL,” Carlson said. “Injuries come into play and different things like that. Otherwise, after Week 1, I would have been really happy, on pace for 32 touchdowns. I don’t think that is going to happen.”
At 6-foot-5, 251 pounds, Carlson said he’s been studiously watching game film, trying to emulate other tight ends, such as Indianapolis’ Dallas Clark and the Dallas Cowboys’ Jason Witten.
With the Seahawks rebuilding under Jim Mora Jr. in his first season as the team’s head coach, they can only hope Carlson, 25, is as productive as those players.
“He’s a real hard worker and he’s a very humble kid who works very well within this system. He’s a joy to be around,” Mora said. “Every day for him, it’s about being the best he can be and trying to help this team win. I think if he continues that way, and all indications are that he will, that he has a chance to really be something special.”
Carlson was a four-year starter at Notre Dame, known not only for his on-field production but also for his smarts. He was an Academic All-American.
“That’s one of the things that attracted us to John in the first place, besides his obvious talent on the field, is his character. He hasn’t disappointed,” Mora said. “He exhibits that every single day.”
