By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer

RENTON, Wash. (AP) - Golden Tate looked down at the text message, scrolling away as read the content.

Tate eventually swiped his finger three times over the touchscreen to get through all the information Russell Wilson had just sent about the Seattle Seahawks next opponent.

This was less than 24 hours after Wilson had thrown for three touchdowns in another Seattle home win. But to Wilson, there's no time for soaking in praise or dwelling in criticism.

It's all business, all the time for the rookie quarterback.

"He hasn't changed any in the way he acts. He acts the same regardless of if he's starting, not starting, threw a pick, threw a touchdown. He is the same person," Tate said. "We've seen him get better. He's a better football player. But (he) still stands for the same things, still works hard as expected, still gets his job done."

This week is time for Wilson and the Seahawks to take their recess at 6-4 and in the midst of the NFC playoff race. He's lived at the Seahawks practice facility, constantly in the film rooms or on the practice field. The exception is Tuesday, when visits patients at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Coach Pete Carroll joked that Wilson was planning a "three-hour" vacation from the team facility during Seattle's bye week.

He was joking, right?

"He's going to do all right," Carroll said. "He has some plans, we have talked about his plans, and he gets it."

The evaluation of Wilson's rookie season is much like his team. Seattle has been formidable and dominating in racing to a 5-0 record at home with wins over Dallas, New England and, of course, the controversial ending to their 14-12 win over Green Bay. On the road, they have played competitively, but made enough mistakes to be 1-4 – the losses by a combined 21 points.

Wilson has almost mirrored the team results. At home, he has the highest passer rating in the NFL, throwing 11 touchdowns with no interceptions, becoming the first rookie quarterback since the merger to win his first five home starts. On the road, he's thrown twice as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns (four) and a QB rating nearly 60 points lower. It's the lowest road passer rating of any of the five rookie QBs starting this season.

Are those wild swings to be expected of a rookie? Absolutely.

Is Wilson accepting those results? Absolutely not.

"If we can function like we function here, and the throwing game goes along with the running game, then we'll really take another big step," Carroll said. "That's the one thing that has been a little bit off for us. We've been consistently not OK on the road, so hopefully we can fix it up."

Lost in the excitement over an undersized third-round pick that has become the Seahawks' franchise QB is that this wasn't supposed to be his job. Seattle's QB splash was supposed to be the signing of Green Bay backup Matt Flynn. It's similar to 2001 when Seattle got then-Green Bay backup Matt Hasselbeck and he became the Seahawks fixture for most of the decade.

When Seattle signed Flynn in March, the Seahawks marketing arm sent out email blasts to season ticket holders trying to build on the hype around the signing. When Seattle had its new jerseys unveiled in April, the uniforms with the No. 15 of Flynn were among the first printed for sale.

By Labor Day, Flynn jerseys were being discounted and Wilson's No. 3 was on order.

Since winning the starting job from Flynn, Wilson has approached his position unlike a rookie. He started leaving notes about upcoming opponents in the lockers of his receivers the mornings after the previous game. The notes have eventually morphed into texts and emails with even more details about coverages, routes, little things the quarterback saw that could be of benefit to his receivers.

"My goal is to move on from the week before, whether it was great, whether there were some things we could've done better, and just focus on the next team," Wilson said. "I thought that was the best idea and I kind of just decided to do that in terms of putting things in guys lockers and letting them know, this what we need to do, this what they do well, these are the coverage's they run the most in certain situations, and also just figuring out what we can do to be successful come Sunday."

While those small signs of leadership are impressive, it's his poise and communication on the field that have earned Wilson the most respect. It started immediately when he nearly led Seattle to a winning scoring drive in the final seconds of the season opener at Arizona. Whether it was the last second win over Green Bay where it was hard for the Seahawks not to be euphoric, or his game-winning TD toss to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots, Wilson's demeanor is always the same.

"You want someone who is even keel through the good and the bad and I think that is more what people are drawn to at the quarterback position because you can show that composure and poise and still have that competitive nature about you," Seattle receiver Doug Baldwin said. "Because he is already a highly competitive guy, there Is no reason for him to go in and amp it up when he's already where he needs it to be. The only thing that changes for him is just that he gets more focused. You can see it in his eyes when he calls plays, and reading his routes, he gets more focused."

Wilson will get an immediate test if he can correct those problems playing on the road. Seattle starts its final six-game run with consecutive matchups far away from Seattle at Miami and at Chicago. But then Seattle gets comfortable at home to close it out playing three of its final four – all against division opponents – with the only road trip out of country to Toronto where they will face struggling Buffalo.

The magic number to be in the final conversation for a playoff spot in the competitive NFC is likely 10 wins, meaning just holding serve at home won't be enough for the Seahawks.

"The biggest thing is just translating it over to the second half, using what we've learned in the first half, and just taking off," Wilson said. "I think we have that ability to take off right now."

___

Online: http://pro32.ap.org/polland http://twitter.com/AP_NFL

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

• Add A Comment
  
  
  0
  0
• 

  fiddlepimp wrote...

  Russell Wilson

  November 16, 2012 9:01 pm

  Thank you for finding your way to Seattle! You are exciting to watch but you put the benefit of your team ahead of your own accomplishments. Continue to function in the now but when you get to Chicago pleeeeez step on the gas so I don't have to hear any jive from my dear friend Vinnie.... thx!

  504898

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  0

  0

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse
• 

  egTman wrote...

  Really Like This Kid...

  November 18, 2012 8:06 pm

  Improving every week, ability to fix problems quickly, great decision making, and showing the poise of a veteran. So much to like. And the thing is he will only get better, which is very exciting for this team. Glad we don't have to put up with prima donna QB's like Culter, Rivers or Newton...

  505190

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  0

  0

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse
• 

  Richardfg7 wrote...

  Russell is going to re-wright the Seahawks record book.

  November 19, 2012 3:27 pm

  He has the skills but more importantly the smarts and the drive to do big things in the NFL.

  505423

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  0

  0

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse
• 

  Hawkman wrote...

  more and more impressive..

  November 19, 2012 3:30 pm

  we are all happy Wilson is shinning. Let's hope he can make the next step and become the QB we all have been waiting for. Go Hawks!!

  505424

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  0

  0

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse
• 

  ronzilla wrote...

  The funniest part of this story is that it is being portrayed as though Wilson's commitment to excellence is a recent development. Bwah hah hah! Wilson's work ethic has been evident and on display throughout his entire life. Easily quantifiable/evident to

  November 19, 2012 5:16 pm

  Did people think Wilson would 180 his character/programming, and become a slacker?! Why is anyone surprised by his acumen and dedication? The unforeseeable drafting of Wilson changed every dynamic and preconceived notion about the Seahawks' QB position for the better. It's as obvious as the Sun on a cloudless 98 degree summer day.

  I'll bet Pete & John were astounded that Russell was still available and elated to acquire Wilson, because he was the perfect central-piece to add to their puzzle.

  The John, Pete, Tom, Marshawn and Russell show is going to be tons of fun to watch for years to come.

  p.s. Note to Pete: Do EVERYTHING possible to retain Tom Cable for AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. Let's not have a repeat of the Hutchinson debacle where the Seahawks lost one of their most important components for success.

  Go! Seahawks!

  505440

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  0

  0

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse
• 

  64548

  { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }

  • Reply
  • Report this as abuse

• < prev
• 1
• next >