'Very Poised!' Seattle Seahawks Coach Pete Carroll Expects QB Drew Lock to be 'Mentally Prepared' to Start Against Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night

Seattle Seahawks backup quarterback Drew Lock got his first start for the team on Sunday, and gained valuable experience in case his number is called on again on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Seattle backup quarterback Drew Lock got the surprise start on Sunday against the 49ers after starter Geno Smith was inactive with a groin injury suffered during practice on Thursday.

It was Lock's first-ever start for the Seahawks, and he did some impressive things. 

Lock threw for 269 yards on 22-of-31 passing with two touchdowns. But he also threw two costly interceptions. If Smith's injury continues to nag him - as groin injuries often do - Lock could be set for another start against an equally daunting opponent, the Philadelphia Eagles.

Seahawks coach Pete Carroll knows Lock did some good things, but there's also room for improvement.

Drew Lock / Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

“He did a lot of really good things. There were a couple of choices, a couple of decisions in there that he threw the ball into coverage. He didn’t get to the right throw on the big deep ball that he threw, and the other one, he threw one into coverage that was really dangerous. You can’t fault him on the ball that gets tipped at the end, that was pass rush. 

"There’s going to be plays in the next game. There’s plays for every quarterback in every game, that you wish you’d have that one back and you don’t do that. I think that was a pretty normal football game in showing us what he can do and how he can make things happen and be comfortable in the moment. He was very poised about this in a most difficult situation. I think that bodes well for him down the road.”

The Eagles appear suddenly vulnerable and have lost two in a row to fellow NFC powerhouses San Francisco and Dallas.

Philadelphia could be looking for revenge, and the Eagles could take out some frustrations on the Seahawks. 

Carroll knows Lock gained some valuable experience last week in the loss, and it will all help in his preparation if his number is called on Monday night.

Seahawks Report Card: Top Performers in 28-16 Loss to 49ers

“He needed to be in this situation with our uniform and playing for us and all of that. He’s had games in the past, but it’s been a while. To come back, I don’t know how he would’ve been more prepared mentally to take this challenge on just judging by how he responded, and how he handled it, and how he communicated, how he handled the huddle and all of the calls and the situations, and the adjustments on the sidelines and halftime. 

"He was a real pro about it. That’s a great sign, and he’s been preparing for this, and he came through in that regard. It’s a good moment for him and it is very valuable for him. I saw him a couple of times take the big the breath, kind of the sigh and okay, ‘Here we go.’ He was ready. I was proud of him.”