Seahawks to start Russell Wilson on Friday

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Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback Russell Wilson has earned his first start in the team's third preseason game and a strong performance could elevate him into a starting role for the 2012 regular-season opener, team sources said Tuesday.


Seahawks coach Pete Carroll on Monday informed the quarterbacks, including Matt Flynn, the free agent pickup who had started the team's first two preseason games. Carroll is expected to make the news official Tuesday.


Wilson will take the majority of first-team reps as the Seahawks prepare for the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday night. Carroll plans to play Wilson with the Seahawks' starters through at least the first half. It is possible Flynn could get some first-team reps to start the second half, depending on the flow of the game.


While Flynn has been steady, Wilson has provided the Seahawks with more dynamic plays between the two quarterbacks, albeit against opposing team's second-string defenders. But a team source also noted that Wilson has played with second-teamers, for the most part, and has produced several big plays despite shoddy pass protection. He also has converted 54 percent of third down possessions, a source noted.


Wilson has completed 22 of 33 passes for 279 yards this preseason, throwing for three touchdowns with one interception. He also has rushed for 92 yards and a touchdown. Flynn, who signed with the Seahawks as a free agent this offseason, is 17 of 26 for 102 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.

The Seahawks also want to see how Wilson handles the pressure of a starting assignment as opposed to coming off the bench in a relief role, which has been one of the scenarios the team hasn't ruled out as part of their game plan in 2012.


While Carroll understands that conventional wisdom normally would call for Flynn to start, he also has noted to his staff that conventional wisdom didn't call for the Seahawks to trade up in the draft's third round to select the 5-foot-10 Wilson out of Wisconsin.

If Wilson struggles against the Chiefs, the Seahawks haven't ruled out having Flynn start in the final preseason game.

Four teams have already said they will start rookie quarterbacks in Week 1 (Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Washington Redskins). According to the Elias Sports Bureau, 2012 could be the first year with more than two rookie quarterbacks starting in Week 1 since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

Thoughts?

 

[Derrville]

Could just be a way to push Flynn to be better.

 

[Senser81]

Its preseason

 

[Villain]

Sounds like a fun way to start a game that everyone will forget.

 

[Golden Taters]

If Wilson is seriously be considered for the starting job, this needed to happen. It will be interesting to see how he plays against the 1st team defense.

 

[JimLeavy59]

I hope he does well.

 

[JeremyHight]

I really like Wilson, but I don't see how the Seahawks can have Flynn on the bench with that salary.

 

[Aso]

I hope he sucks so that I'm right about what I said in the preseason thoughts thread. Doesn't look promising.

 

[CCBrink]

:fap: :dance3:

 

[Tengo Juego]

It'll be a chance to see him work against a starting defense.

 

[Aso]

I really like Wilson, but I don't see how the Seahawks can have Flynn on the bench with that salary.

His base salary this season is only at 2 million.

 

[Hasselbeck]

:facepalm:

Only the Seahawks would use the dress rehearsal of preseason to prolong their QB competition.

 

[Rudi]

This is just the fuel all the NC State/Russell Wilson homers on this site need to keep saying Wilson is good.

 

[Tailback U]

Starting Wilson in the regular season will be a very stupid move because they'd have to put him on a short leash given that Flynn is there.

The smarter move is to let Flynn start. He is more experienced, therefore, his leash should be shorter. But they need to give him half the season to show what he's got. People forget that he is with a new team a new offense as well, it is going to take him some time to get comfortable.

The worse thing the Seahawks can do is throwing in a new starter every 3-4 games and fuck with all these guys.

 

[LOOMiS]

I am totally stoked to see Dangeruss start and play with 1's vs. 1's in what is typically the preseason week where most teams play their starters the longest.

He has been very impressive so far. Flynn has been okay, but Wilson does appear to have everything needed to be QBOTF, if not starter this season.

If he does decent or better starting in this game, TJack will be traded or released within 24-48 hours.

 

[Champ]

Russell Wilson < Any QB WVU has ever put out.

 

[seaplus]

Russell Wilson > Any QB WVU has ever put out.

fixed

 

[Hasselbeck]

I am totally stoked to see Dangeruss start and play with 1's vs. 1's in what is typically the preseason week where most teams play their starters the longest.

He has been very impressive so far. Flynn has been okay, but Wilson does appear to have everything needed to be QBOTF, if not starter this season.

If he does decent or better starting in this game, TJack will be traded or released within 24-48 hours.

Russell Wilson could literally take a shit on Pete Carroll after a 6 interception day and Tarvaris is still gone.

And of course Wilson looks great, he's playing scrubs. That'd be like a Redskin fan saying Cousins > Griffin

 

[packersfan4eva]

I really like Wilson, but I don't see how the Seahawks can have Flynn on the bench with that salary.

What I'm about to say assumes that the coaching staff feels Wilson > Flynn.

What's the point of starting your second best quarterback just because he has a higher salary and winning six or seven games, when you can start your best quarterback, win more games, and still be paying the same amount of money?

 

[Saluki]

If he legit beats out Flynn for the spot he deserves to start. I mean he's only started what? 5 more games than Wilson's 0? A lot of coaches talk the talk, but it seems like when Carroll says he's really gonna start the best guy and everybody has a chance he means it and doesn't just start the higher paid player or the high draft pick

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