BRADY HENDERSON

Seahawks’ Russell Wilson on taking football knowledge to the next level

May 27, 2016, 1:55 PM

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is coming off the best season of his career. (AP)...

Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is coming off the best season of his career. (AP)

(AP)

At the end of last season, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll talked about his plans to put quarterback Russell Wilson through something of a football Master’s program. The goal was to gain a deeper understanding of the game by studying the other side of the ball.

The NFL’s collective bargaining agreement restricts offseason work and contact between coaches and players, but Carroll said he and Wilson have met several times and that the on-field work is underway.

“We just try to go over defensive philosophies, what they’re trying to do, types of different defenses, different looks, just to continue to gain knowledge as much as I can,” Wilson said after the Seahawks’ organized team activity on Thursday. “The more knowledge, the better. Then when you go out in the game, you just play ball.”

Wilson’s fourth season was the best of his career in several passing metrics: completions, completion percentage, yards per completion, touchdowns as well as rating, in which he led the league. Carroll sees room for growth by introducing Wilson to aspects of the game that “he hasn’t had to pay attention to in the past.” Asked for an example, Carroll mentioned the difference between a 3-4 and a 4-3 scheme from the defense’s perspective.

“And there’s a lot of stuff like that,” Carroll said. “Some little things that can broaden his scope of what’s going on on the ball.”

Here’s some more of what Wilson told the media Thursday:

(On WRs Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith growing in their second year) “Well, guys like Kasen Williams and Kevin Smith, and a bunch of other guys, but those two guys in particular, they really were catching on midway through the season last year, getting some playing time and all that. And then this offseason, I was able to throw with them a bunch down in California, just to be able to work with those guys and really get that timing with those guys. I mean, Kasen made some unbelievable catches today, Kevin Smith is always on time making plays. So those two guys are big players for us. And I think also, Paul Richardson coming back. Seeing him is exciting and all his speed and his great hands and his timing and what he’s been able to do. We were able to throw a lot this offseason, which I think is really showing up on the field right now.”

(On if he has any concerns when he sees the reshaped offensive line) “No, I think we did a really good job in the draft, first of all. I think that helps. Germain Ifedi looks really talented. He’s huge. He’s as big as you can get. J’Marcus Webb too is a really big, talented guy as well. Played a lot of football games for the Raiders. I think he played 16 games for the Raiders last year. Then you’ve got Brad [Sowell] too, playing some left tackle for us right now. He can play any position. Played at Arizona. So you’ve got three guys that are really talented there and then you’ve got Rees [Odhiambo] and Joey Hunt too. I think that we have five guys that have come in and have a great chance of playing and getting a lot of playing time and making a big difference for us. And we’re going to need them. It’s going to be a big opportunity for us and we’re looking forward to it. We’re not going to back down from it at all.”

(On rookie TE Nick Vannett) “He’s got unbelievable hands, smooth hands. His timing, he gets his head around right on time, understands the route concepts. Just a worker. Keeps his head down and works. That’s what you love about him. He made a lot of great plays today and he’s made great plays the past three OTAs. He’s going to be a talented star for us I think. You guys are going to look forward to him and the plays that he makes.”

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