Coordinator Kris Richard on screaming match with Sherman: “Maybe I need to calm down”

RENTON Defensive coordinator Kris Richard’s reaction to two coverage breakdowns plus he and cornerback Richard Sherman screaming at each other on the Seahawks sideline following during the win over Atlanta last weekend?

That’s on me.

“Calmer heads prevail. And I am very hard on our guys. I’m very hard on them,” Sherman’s former secondary coach and second-year coordinator said following practice Thursday. “I coach them hard.

“And in light of those situations right there, maybe I need to calm down.”

When asked what he is doing to ensure such coverage breakdowns and miscommunication -- which happened last season, too, such as in losses to Carolina and Cincinnati -- don’t happen again including in Sunday night’s game at Arizona, Richard said: “Working my hardest to be a better coach.

“Because that’s really what it comes down to. I am responsible. I am responsible for that.

“Again, when things go wrong out there I’m the first one -- I look right to myself to see what I can improve as a coach to make sure that our guys would not be put in that position.”

After Sherman screamed at Richard at the sideline following Julio Jones’ wide-open touchdown catch in the third quarter, the coach screamed back at the three-time All-Pro cornerback.

Asked if he was surprised at how vociferous Sherman was after the first Falcons touchdown on a blown coverage, Richard smiled.

“I’m very happy to see his passion,” the coach said. “He’s always been such a passionate player.

“I was surprised. But we have to know that we have to respond better. We have to respond better. Everybody hurts in those situations right there.

“Again, in the light of it: What could I have done better, is where I am going with it. Absolutely.

“Right, wrong or indifferent, communication here or communication there, when we get out there we need to make sure we see our formations and execute our assignments. That’s my responsibility.

This story was originally published October 20, 2016 at 4:47 PM with the headline "Coordinator Kris Richard on screaming match with Sherman: “Maybe I need to calm down”."