Why Pete Carroll Needs To Name Russell Wilson The Seahawks' Starting QB

Congratulations Seattle, you've found your quarterback of the future.

Congratulations Seattle, you've also found your quarterback of the present.

Now, Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll just needs to make it official and name Russell Wilson the starter. It's time. He's earned it. Pull the trigger, coach.

When Matt Flynn signed with the 'Hawks as a free agent this past March, many presumed it was a foregone conclusion that Flynn would be the starter when Seattle travels to face the Arizona Cardinals week one. But Pete Carroll warned us. He told us not to look at Flynn's 3-year contract, with $10 million guaranteed, and assume the job was his.

We knew Flynn would have to battle incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson for the job, but figured that wouldn't be too hard.

Then, in April, the Seahawks drafted Russell Wilson out of Wisconsin in the 3rd round of the NFL draft, and the game changed.

Fast-forwarding to the present, and the preseason QB competition that has consumed us all. It's been unorthodox, or as Carroll has said repeatedly, it's been unconventional. Once again, he warned us it would be this way, but we chose not to listen.

Wilson excelled with ease in his first two preseason games, making 2nd and 3rd string defenses look silly - so much so, that Carroll gave Wilson the start in the team's 3rd preseason contest.

So, when most thought the competition should've been over, it was just reaching its pinnacle. The fan base was divided - many wanted to see Wilson with the 1's, others wanted Carroll to "stop messing around" and let Flynn prepare for the season.

Carroll wanted to find out what he had in Wilson.

He got his answer, he has his starter.

Wilson was an impressive 13-for-19, for 185 yards, 2 TD's and 0 INT's. Oh, and he had 58 yards rushing on 2 carries against the Kansas City Chiefs on Friday. He did everything he needed to prove that he could be, and is, the Seahawks longterm answer at the QB position.

And in this writer's opinion, he needs to be the Seahawks QB in the present as well.

Make the call, Pete, you've found your guy.

Let's be clear, this isn't an indictment of Matt Flynn - he's done fine. This is about Russell Wilson being a QB, that most would agree, has a higher ceiling.

The conservative says, "Start Flynn. You've got a good thing in Wilson, now let him sit, and learn, and develop."

It's less of a risk.

But why be conservative? If you found the girl you want to marry, why would you keep dating?

It's time the Seahawks get hitched.

Wilson stands to "learn and develop" a lot more between the hashes, than he does holding a clipboard on the sidelines. If this is the QB that will take this team to the promised land, Carroll needs to accelerate that process and let Wilson get them there sooner.

The rookie QB has led the Seahawks on scoring drives on 12 of the 18 series he has been under center. He seems to be getting better each week, with little evidence that he will stop any time soon. Sure, he'll hit the proverbial "rookie wall" at some point, but why be afraid of that?

Yes his height is a concern, but what has he done this preseason to make anyone believe that will be what holds him back from succeeding in this league?

Don't be afraid of #RUSSELLMANIA, Pete. You wanted a competition that would find you a clear-cut starter, and you got just that.

We've bought-in to how you're running this team - this QB competition, we may have kicked and screamed a little bit along the way, but we're in.

Now it's time you get married.

We're ready to enjoy the honeymoon.

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Follow Scott on Twitter @ScottEnyeart

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NFL Preseason Schedule: QB Competitions, Looming Roster Cuts Set Stage For Teams and Players (via sbnation)