Some Thoughts on the Seahawks, Part 1: The QB Situation

The biggest and most important issue in the Seahawks preseason is the QB situation. After the NFL draft, Pete Carroll and the Seahawks found themselves with three QB on the roster with the potential to start. These were:

• Tarvaris Jackson, who started every game in 2011 he was healthy and able to and did an adequate job  while showing some potential flashes.
• Matt Flynn, who put up monster numbers in his two career starts for the Green Bay Packers and signed with the Seahawks during the offseason to a medium sized deal.
• Russell Wilson, who the Seahawks draft in the third round out of Wisconsin, where he dominated the Big Ten, but failed to have a growth spurt and remained 5'10".

After summer workouts, training camp and three preseason games Jackon has been traded, Matt Flynn is sitting on the bench again and Russell Wilson has been named the week one starter. This is big news as Wilson will be the first third round draftee to start his first game as a rookie since 1973. My overall feeling on the situation is optimistic excitement.

Let me touch briefly on Tarvaris Jackson. At the beginning of the off season I legitimately thought he would be the week one starter. Tarvar had a leg up on the competition by knowing the playbook, coaches and receivers. The job was definitely his to lose. By the time the first preseason game had role around I was no longer under the impression that Jackson had any kind of chance at starting. Now I was just concerned we would have to end up cutting him or carrying an expensive third stringer. So, when the news broke that the Seahawks had worked a deal to trade him to the Bills, I was happy. The Seahawks had managed to turn Jackson and his contract into something of potential value, a late round draft pick. What a great bit of roster maneuvering by the front office.

Bringing in Matt Flynn over the off season, even now that he isnt going to be starting, was also a great move. Sure, I would have liked to see what he could have done if given the chance to start. Those two amazing games sure show he has a lot of potential and it would be great if the Seahawks could tap into that. However, after two seasons of pulling so many diamonds out of the rough, Pete Carroll and John Schneider have earned a little trust and if they think Wilson is a better QB to lead this team then Flynn I am not going to argue with them.

As for the new big dog the field general, I am pumped up to see what Russell Wilson can do. It is awesome for the Seahawks to have a rookie QB with so much talent and skill potential. The NFL conventional wisdom about rookie QB is changing. Teams are giving guys like Matt Ryan, Cam Newton and Andy Dalton are getting chances to start right away and finding success. It is great to see that the Seahawks are not so entrenched in the old ways that they are blinded from seeing what they have. The upside for Wilson appears so high I think we have to take a chance and see what he can do for us.

Sure, Wilson might falter and the Seahawks might lose some games because of poor QB play, rookies make mistakes, but Flynn provides a safety net for the Seahawks at the QB position. The same Matt Flynn that just two months ago cause a huge stir in the Seattle sports community by signing here over Miami. Having a super solid backup QB is a good thing. If you dont agree just think about Charlie Whitehurst and I think you will change your mind. Regardless of who is playing this is a great situation for the Seahawks.

Let's not dwell on the potential failures though. Let's think about how awesome Wilson has been and how awesome it would be if he could ride that success into the regular season. Remember all that really matters is getting the W on Sundays and having the most talented signal caller on the roster starting gives the Seahawks a leg up on their opponents.

Better put all those Matt Flynn jersey on clearance.