Coaches want Wilson to stay in the pocket longer

[travisduncan]

Russell Wilson (3) runs up field with the ball during the first half against the Arizona Cardinals. Matt Kartozian-US PRESSWIRE

By Travis Duncan
Seahawks Huddle writer

They know it's coming. You know it's coming.

Opening night the Dallas Cowboys defense made Giants quarterback Eli Manning, (a quarterback some might argue is carving out a bust in Canton) look average. They sacked him three times and pressured his six times officially.

So what do you make of Russell Wilson against a blitzing Dallas defense, with a suspect offensive line?

The answer from Seahawks coaches might surprise you.

Head coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell both agreed they want Wilson to stay in the pocket longer, not automatically take off when the pressure comes.

"There was a couple of times when he didn't take advantage of the preparation when he had a look that he could have gone to that was easier than the one he chose," Carroll said Wednesday.

"He went to Sidney [Rice] a couple of times when Braylon [Edwards] had a better look on the other side. There was a couple of times when he took off when we had protection, versus the pressure, we really had him picked up and he felt we didn't and he moved a little bit early."

"We didn't convert a couple of times when we needed to to make a difference in the game. Those third downs are huge," Carroll concluded.

"There was a couple of times he needed to sit there when he had protection," Bevell agreed.

"We're not trying to say he's a running quarterback. We're not trying to design things for him to run."

Bevell added that he thought that the offensive line could have made things easier for the rookie. He said all things considered with the pass protection, Wilson did a good job in the loss to Arizona.