2012 Seahawks Preview - The QB Situation

With the draft over and OTA's underway, the NFL will start to really kick things into gear in the coming weeks with team mini-camps and player conditioning and workouts.

My focus this year will be solely on the Seattle Seahawks.  For the first time in a long time the team did not undergo a major overhaul.  I'd call this season the beginning of the retooling process. The 2012 version of the Seahawks will look much the same as it did before, but with a few new pieces and a couple nice upgrades.

I'll start with the offense and jump right into the QB discussion.

Photo courtesy of the Seattle Times.
From left to right, incumbent Jackson,
newcomer Matt Flynn,
and 3rd rd pick Russell Wilson.

Seattle wasted little time when the free agent market opened and quickly jumped on the Matt Flynn express.  It was clear from the onset that the Hawks were looking for an upgrade to last season's incumbent QB, Tarvaris Jackson.  To Jackson's credit, he played much of last season hurt and still put up respectable numbers, but he lacked excitement and too often looked just plain average.  To succeed in the NFL you need a QB that is more than just average.

Enter Matt Flynn.  With only limited playing time the past couple seasons, as Aaron Rodgers backup in Green Bay, Flynn flashed signs that he may be a special talent in this league.  In his final action with GB, all Flynn did was shatter a few team passing records and amped up his resume heading into free agency.
Not a bad idea for a guy who was looking for a starting opportunity in this league.

Matt Flynn running drills at Seattle OTA sessions.
Photo courtesy of NFL.com

Flynn won't jump off the page when you look at his bio.  He's 6'2" and 225lbs. (dripping wet)!  He's of average build, if not undersized, but he has the tools to be successful.  He's a smart QB that can take advantage of a defense and spread the field.  He has a quick release and really excels in the short to mid range passing game.  He does lack the arm strength to continually stretch a defense, but with his accuracy in the short game he can occasionally beat you deep if you let him.  Flynn won't beat you with his legs either, but has enough presence to move the pocket and make quick decisions down field.  For the money Seattle shelled out for Flynn, it would be a huge dent in the Pete Carroll/John Schneider era if he wasn't named the starter before the end of training camp.

So where does that leave Tarvaris Jackson, you ask?  My thought is that Seattle gives him a real opportunity to compete the first few weeks of training camp and then trades or releases him on or around the third preseason game.  Most likely he will be released.  It doesn't make much sense for the Seahawks to hold onto him as he clearly doesn't want to be a backup.  There will be several teams looking for a last minute replacement and he should be able to slide in and man the offense for someone, if not only for a short while.  Jackson has no trade value either, so releasing him makes sense for both sides.  Plus, Seattle drafted Russell Wilson, out of the University of Wisconsin, in the third round of this year's draft.  Drafting Wilson was just another sign that Seattle planned to move on from Jackson, after only one year at the helm.

Photo courtesy of profootballzone.com

Seattle stunned the league when, NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell stepped to the podium and announced that the Seahawks were selecting Russell Wilson with their pick in the third round.  Wilson was one of a few surprise picks by the Seahawks in this year's draft, but we'll talk about that later.  Wilson does not fit the mold of your typical NFL quarterback.  In fact, many had predicted he would be drafted later and most likely used as a  WR or gadget player, similar to former Steeler, Antwaan Randle El.  Wilson is considerably undersized when you compare him to what a NFL QB is supposed to look like.  At only 5'11", he might need a ladder to see over the mountainous linemen in this league.  But that's where you would be sorely mistaken.  Wilson not only excelled at the college level, but he did so in his final season at Wisconsin behind one of the tallest offensive lines in all of football, NFL teams included.  What Wilson does well, is he has great pocket presence but utilizes his mobility to create open passing lanes.  His ability to scramble and his surprisingly strong arm make him dangerous in any situation.  Wilson figures to wind up as the Seahawk's backup QB this season, behind Flynn, after they release Jackson.  Carroll won't just give it to him though, he will have to earn his wings.  Many people think he has a shot at snagging the starting job, but I don't see that as a realistic option here.  If Wilson doesn't push Flynn during camp, look for Seattle to sign a veteran QB who's looking for a spot on someones roster, maybe the likes of a Mark Brunell.

Time will tell how this all plays out, but if Flynn does not end up the starter in Seattle look for Carroll and Schneider to start feeling the heat from fans and experts alike.