One game into the Seattle Seahawks season, critics might be quick to jump on rookie quarterback Russell Wilson after a 20-16 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Seattle head coach Pete Carroll doesn't see it that way.
Sure, Wilson did throw three incompletions four yards from the goal line to end the Seahawks' chances at a come-from-behind victory. But it was very much Wilson's doing that Seattle was in a position to win after the Cardinals had scored a touchdown to lead by four with five minutes remaining. Starting at their own 20, Wilson led the charge for Seattle, putting them in a 1st-and-goal situation to take the lead.
Carroll has no problem with Wilson's play moving forward, according to an interview transcribed by Sports Radio Interviews.
"He was rock-solid. He's fine. We were able to communicate with him clearly. He knew what had happened and where we were going. ... He was able to adjust during the game. We put some balls on hands and we needed to come up with some catches. Doug [Baldwin] had what would've been an amazing catch for a touchdown, knocked out both front teeth on the play, so he gave up everything he could to make the play."
Of course, there will always be the robots pointing out Wilson's height as well. Carroll dismissed that, giving credit to Arizona's pass-rush that the Seattle offensive line -- one starting a rookie late-round pick -- didn't handle all too well.
"The penetration by the linebackers and also by Dockett to create the spacing in there is what the issue was. It had nothing to do with how tall the quarterback was. ... You can say that, but I don't think that's what the issue is going to be. But they'll try."
This week doesn't get much easier for Wilson. He'll face a Dallas Cowboys team that upset the New York Giants in Week 1, making veteran Eli Manning look very human. Demarcus Ware had two sacks in that Dallas victory.
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