Rookie quarterback, Russell Wilson of the Seattle Seahawks jumped on to the seen last season out of nowhere. Wilson led the Seahawks to a record of 11-5, which was their best record since making it to the Super Bowl in 2007.
In 2012, the Seattle Seahawks made a major move during the beginning of the off-season by signing Matt Flynn, former Green Bay Packer to a multi-year contract. Flynn was projected to be the future of the franchise and the new leader in town, until the NFL draft happened at least. With the 75th pick the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson, quarterback out of Wisconsin. Wilson was projected by a lot of reporters and analyst to go around the fourth round, he was highly skilled just seen as undersized by a lot of people, but we all know that Pete Carroll likes to take big risks. Going into pre-season Wilson was still third on the depth chart behind, Flynn and Tavaris Jackson (Starter the previous season). During the pre-season Wilson battled tough with Flynn and just out played Jackson, so going into the season Carroll had a decision to make between his two quarterbacks. Does he go with the guy that the franchise just signed to a multi-year contract, or does he go with the fresh Rookie who is more of a dual threat?
Going into week one Wilson was named as the starter, and that's exactly where he would stay the remainder of the season. In 2012, Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III were the first two draft picks overall, and were getting all of the media attention going into the season, Wilson went out and played and didn't complain about not getting much attention. During the Season he had 3,118 passing yards, 26 passing touchdowns with just 10 interceptions (which was lower than Luck), he also had four rushing touchdowns to go along with that. What was most impressive to me is that Wilson didn't have to go out and throw the ball 40 times a game, nor did he try and do to much. There were four games where he threw the ball 20 times or less! In those four game the Seahawks went 4-0. He simply just went out and played the game that he knows and loves and did his best to help his team win. It does help having one of the best defenses in the NFL but it was times where Wilson was called upon and he had to prove himself as well, like the Green Bay game for instance, with the last seconds on the clock and the Seahawks needed a touchdown, he found wide receiver Golden Tate in the back of the end zone to win the game, it was a very questionable and controversial call but they did rule it a touchdown and the Seahawks won the game. He also came up huge against Tom Brady and the New England Patriots, throwing three touchdowns with no turnovers, and again late in the season when the division rival San Francisco 49ers traveled into town, Wilson passed for a season high four touchdowns, also while completing 71 percent of his passes against the number one defense in the league (according to a lot of analyst). After beating the Washington Redskins, led by Robert Griffin III in Wild Card game of the Playoffs, Wilson and the Seahawks came up short against a highly talented Atlanta Falcons team that is led by their high powered offense.
In the 2013 season, Wilson will have one more year of experience with this offense than he had last season and I believe that his numbers will only improve, a lot of people talk about a sophomore slump which plagued Cam Newton just last season. I don't think Russell Wilson will suffer from any slump or setback in his second season, he seems to be a very confident and mature young professional who is willing to give 100 percent every game. I think that his passing yards will improve next season, he may have a couple of more turnovers but I believe he will be as consistent in 2013 as he was in 2012. With a receiving core that has a healthy Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin (who was acquired in a trade from Minnesota) and Golden Tate, who had a breakout season in 2012, Wilson can look forward to putting up great numbers once again, and avoid a sophomore slump.
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