SB Nation Seattle - Russell Wilson Named Starting QB For Seahawks; Roster Trimmed To 75

Raiders Vs. Seahawks 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

2012-08-30T12:00:26Z

The Seattle Seahawks will wrap up their 2012 preseason schedule Thursday when they host the Oakland Raiders.

Seattle won its first three preseason games, including a 44-14 win against the Kansas City Chiefs. The game against the Raiders will be Seattle's first since head coach Pete Carroll named Russell Wilson the team's starting quarterback. Wilson made his first start last week and played well enough to win the starting job over Matt Flynn.

Wilson has completed 35-of-52 passes this preseason for 464 yards and five touchdowns. He has also gained 150 rushing yards on 10 attempts. Flynn missed Seattle's last preseason game due to an elbow injury, but both he and Wilson are expected to play against the Raiders.

The Raiders enter Thursday's game 1-2 during this preseason. They will look to get Carson Palmer going after the quarterback has struggled during Oakland's first three preseason games. Palmer has completed 33-of-56 passes for 321 yards, but has thrown four interceptions to zero touchdowns.

Thursday's game will be the seventh straight season the two teams have met during the preseason. Seattle won last year's contest 20-3.

Game Date/Time: Thursday, August 30; 7 p.m. PT

Location: CenturyLink Field, Seattle, WA

TV Schedule: KCPQ 13 (Seattle), KTVU 2 (Oakland)

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Seahawks Roster 2012: Rookies Russell Wilson, Robert Turbin Making Huge Strides

2012-08-29T15:17:23Z

When rookie quarterback Russell Wilson was named the starter of the Seattle Seahawks, fellow rookie and roommate RB Robert Turbin was no surprised as he and the rest of the team are ready to follow their unsung leader into the 2012 season.

Turbin and Wilson have more of a connection than just a conjoining suite, they share a similar mindset about the game, knowing that dreaming big is crucial:

"We definitely talk," Turbin said. "We talk about a lot of our goals that we have, not only for ourselves, but as a quarterback-running back tandem, and also as a team.

"In order to do great things you've got to dream those things. You've got to make those things a goal. You can never have a goal too big - something that's impossible. He and I believe there's always a possibility. Somehow, some way you can get it done."

Both are poised to make a big impact this season, and are putting in the work to get the job done. But so are the rest of his team, hoping to hold everyone to the same high standard that can lead to extended success on the field.

"He's the first guy in and the last guy out, you know what I mean?" Turbin said. "Sometimes I beat him to the punch. But ever since he's got here, he's acted like a quarterback that's been here for 10 years. He never really acted like a rookie.

"He motivates guys to go to work. We know that as an offense we can depend on him. So in return we want him to be able to depend on us. So we just go out there and try and get the job done."

We'll just have to wait and see how things turn out when the games mean something.

For more in depth discussion and top notch analysis, make sure to check out Field Gulls. For more on the league in general, check out SB Nation's dedicated NFL hub.

Seahawks Depth Chart 2012: Analyzing Russell Wilson's Potential

2012-08-29T14:29:12Z

Pete Carroll made a big splash when he named rookie Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback for the Seahawks' first regular-season game against the Arizona Cardinals. Wilson was a third-round draft choice by Seattle and many analysts were concerned that his 5'11 stature would keep him from ever being a regular starter in the NFL.

Well, it took him just three preseason games to rise to the top of the depth chart, and Kenneth Arthur of Field Gulls examined what Wilson brings to the table:

More and more as I watch the film from Wisconsin, I notice that Wilson keeps his eyes exactly where they need to be: downfield. At times, yes, Wilson can get himself into trouble, but I absolutely noticed that he keeps his eyes on the prize until the moment where he decides he has to take it himself. Several times though I saw him bail for a moment just to get a free second to make a nice throw.

Wilson has been receiving praise from all around the league for his intelligence, work ethic, and ability. He will do his best the season to disprove the notion that only tall guys can play quarterback in the NFL.

For a complete Seahawks depth chart, go here.

To stay updated on preseason roster moves, stick with this StoryStream. For news, analysis, and opinion on the Seahawks, head to Field Gulls.

Seahawks Say They Are Not Currently Pursuing Super Bowl Bid

2012-08-29T03:38:55Z

There was a report Tuesday morning which said the Seattle Seahawks were interested in putting together a bid to host a future Super Bowl. The team, however, said they are not currently pursuing a bid.

We are not presently pursuing a Super Bowl bid for the City of Seattle
— Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) August 29, 2012

The initial report from Bill Swartz of 710 ESPN said the Seahawks had partnered with the Seattle Sports Commission to express interest in hosting a future Super Bowl. According to the report, team owner Paul Allen expressed interest to the NFL and the Super Bowl Advisory Committee would now review Seattle's application.

As a cold weather city playing in an open-air stadium, Seattle may seem like an unlikely Super Bowl host, but recently the NFL has shifted away from the philosophy of only hosting Super Bowls in warm-weather cities. NFL owners will decide on the 2016 host city later this year so if Seattle were to attempt a bid, it likely would be 2017 at the earliest.

For more on the Seahawks, visit Field Gulls. For all things pro football, head to SB Nation's NFL Hub.

Matt Flynn Injury Update: Seahawks QB Could Play In Final Preseason Game

2012-08-29T03:17:34Z

Seahawks quarterback Matt Flynn was forced to miss last week's preseason game with an elbow injury, but he returned to practice Tuesday and will likely play in Seattle's final preseason game on Thursday.

Flynn missed the Seahawks' third preseason game with an inflamed muscle in his right elbow. The injury occurred last week and prevented Flynn from throwing in practice. Flynn was a full participant in Tuesday's practice, his first full practice since head coach Pete Carroll announced Russell Wilson as the starting quarterback for the season opener.

Flynn and Wilson battled for the starting job throughout training camp with the rookie Wilson pulling away as of late. Flynn will now be relegated to backup duty. The fact Flynn missed last week's game due to injury did not help his cause as Carroll said, "the games did kind of decided the issue."

The Seahawks will host the Raiders on Thursday night with both Wilson and Flynn expected to see time.

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Russell Wilson Checks A Lot Of Boxes On Pete Carroll's QB Wishlist

2012-08-28T23:03:00Z

Pete Carroll and reps from Win Forever spoke to the Elite 11 quarterbacks - the best of the best in high school football nationwide - back in early July, and in a video that was just released, Carroll was asked the question -- "What's the first thing you look for in a quarterback?"

Carroll immediately goes to the quarterback the Seahawks had drafted about a month and a half earlier, Russell Wilson, and responds, "You can't imagine how much he believes in himself. you can't imagine how hard he works. He's outworking everyone in the program right now. He's been here all summer long, every day. He spends hours every day in the facility, there's no one else there but him, working on his film, working on his notebook. Getting ready, so that when he gets his chance, ..." Carroll goes on, "...his language that he uses, is amazing. He's very articulate, he's very sharp. He's always saying positive, supportive stuff, and he asks questions all the time, and communicates with his players all the time... So, what I'm saying is, he is the epitome of what you're looking for. Belief in himself, great work ethic, of course he's a skilled athlete. But, he just has this undying belief that nobody can stop him."

Carroll's respect for Russell Wilson from back in July has been validated with Wilson's play in the preseason, which has precipitated his selection as the Seahawks' starting quarterback. I've been to Pete Carroll's Win Forever seminar and read his book, and it becomes readily apparent that Carroll absolutely lives these principles and takes them very seriously - the belief in the power of self-confidence, positive talk, positive energy, and all those things he describes above. Video after the jump.

Seahawks Win Total Projection Over/Under Set At 7.5

2012-08-28T17:02:32Z

The Russell Wilson hype machine is in full force but the National Football Post's Joe Fortenbaugh isn't buying it.

The LVH sets the over/under on the Seahawks at 7.5 (+115) but Fortenbaugh thinks that Wilson's early success and eventual impact on the Seahawks is overblown.

Here's what he had to say:

Time to put my money where my mouth is. I've got nothing against Russell Wilson as a person. He's dedicated, hard-working and intelligent. But I believe he's a vastly overrated quarterback and I think the twitter universe is putting way too much emphasis on what he's done in meaningless preseason games. ...I'm going to sit tight for a few days to see if the hype forces oddsmakers to adjust north before I lock this one in, but rest assured, I'm making this play.

So the question is: Would you take the over or the under with Wilson at quarterback?

For more on the Seahawks, visit Field Gulls.

For Seahawks' Russell Wilson, 'Greed Is Good'

2012-08-28T16:43:50Z

Russell Wilson, who came into Seattle Seahawks training camp as possibly the third-string quarterback behind Matt Flynn and Tarvaris Jackson, will be the starter in Week 1 for head coach Pete Carroll. It's an improbable story for the 5'11 QB that has received national attention, including from National Football Post's Alan Grant.

Grant examined Wilson's background, personality, and his propensity to never be satisfied and strive for more.

In real life, Russell Wilson is what North Carolina State coach Tom O’Brien calls "exceptional."

That’s high praise from a guy who seems committed to overstated stoicism. But O’Brien is correct in this assertion. Wilson is also quite greedy.

Had he given up baseball his senior season at N.C. State, Wilson would have finished his final year as a four year starter—a rarity for any division one quarterback.

But Wilson doesn’t seem the type to give things up. He consumes. He turns a double into a triple, a broken play into a touchdown, and an opportunity to transfer to another school into a spectacular legacy. It’s an oft quoted line from that fictional character, Gordon Gekko, but it applies to Russell Wilson’s real life: "Greed is good."

The Seahawks are hoping that greed turns into production for Wilson in his rookie season.

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