What Must Russell Wilson Accomplish in 2012 to Justify Starting Job?

Maybe money doesn't talk and a short guy can play quarterback. Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll certainly hopes so. 

On Sunday night during a conference call with the local media, Carroll named third-round rookie Russell Wilson his starting quarterback, leaving Matt Flynn, a free-agent signing worth $19.5 million over three years, to be Wilson's backup to start the 2012 season. At 5'10", Wilson will be the NFL's shortest starting quarterback. 

Carroll said Wilson earned the job, according to the previously linked piece from Doug Farrar of Yahoo! Sports:

"

It's been a very exciting competition going on, and Russell has taken full advantage of his opportunity. He's done everything you could ask for on the field, and more than you guys could know off the field, in meeting rooms and with the players. He's earned this job. It was a legitimate competition, as we've said from the beginning, and he deserves to start. So, we're excited to do that.

"

Wilson will start both the Seahawks' final preseason game against the Oakland Raiders Thursday night and, barring any kind of injury beforehand, Seattle's Week 1 opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Sept. 9.

The preseason stats certainly agree with Carroll. 

Wilson has completed 35-of-52 passes for 464 yards, five touchdowns and one interception in three appearances. His passer rating of 119.4 leads all quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts this preseason. 

Flynn went 17-of-26 for 102 yards and one interception. His rating was just 56.9 in two games.

Wilson has obviously out-played Flynn in three preseason games, but the rookie from Wisconsin won't have a strange hold on being the Seahawks' starter for 16 games in 2012. Flynn will be nipping at his heels. 

Here's what Wilson needs to do—starting Sept. 9 against the Cardinals—to hold on to the Seahawks' starting job. 

Continue Scoring Points

Wilson was effective in two games working with the second-team offense, scoring 38 points (five touchdowns, one field goal) on 11 drives with Wilson in the game at quarterback. 

The Seahawks continued scoring points Friday night with Wilson, despite facing a first-team defense that had game-planned the "dress rehearsal" third preseason game. 

Wilson led Seattle to three field goals and two touchdowns in the first half, and by the time Tarvaris Jackson was in the game in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks held a a 44-7 advantage. 

Wilson was officially in the game for six total drives in Kansas City. The Seahawks scored on five of those drives and missed a field goal attempt on the other. 

Of course, no one is expecting Wilson to continue that kind of efficiency when the real games start. The Seahawks probably won't have 40-plus points by the third quarter in many games, either. But Wilson does need to help spark an offense that scored just 20.1 points a game last season (23rd in the NFL). 

A field goal or more a game would likely vault the Seahawks into the top half of the NFL. Is the play-making Wilson good enough to help make that jump for the Seattle offense?

Continue Ability Outside the Pocket

Wilson has been surprisingly good from the pocket early in his NFL career. He understands passing lanes and how to make plays happen despite standing just 5'10". But where Wilson really shines is when the pocket breaks down and he escapes contain. 

Wilson is very accurate on the run to both his left and right. He's also a game-changing runner when he finds some space ahead of him and nothing is available downfield. 

Through three preseason games, Wilson leads all quarterbacks with 150 rushing yards on 10 attempts. He's actually second in Seattle in rushing, just one yard behind the leading back Robert Turbin (34 carries for 151 yards). 

Against the Chiefs, Wilson scrambled for 31- and 27-yard bursts that each set up a Seattle score. In the preseason opener, Wilson ran for a 32-yard score that put away the Tennessee Titans. 

Wilson's running ability is just another dynamic to add to the Seahawks' offense.

And one more thing: I wouldn't consider Wilson a "running" quarterback. He has the athletic ability to make plays with his legs, but his eyes stay downfield even when the pocket breaks down. Running is more of a last option than first option for Wilson. 

Compete in the NFC West

The San Francisco 49ers are the class of the NFC West, but there's no reason why this Seahawks team can't compete for the crown this season.

Quarterback has been the position that has held down Seattle in recent seasons, but Wilson can be that answer in 2012. 

Beating teams once the lights come on in the regular season will be a far cry from dismantling the Chiefs during the preseason, however.

Take a look at the Seahawks' first three games in 2012: at Arizona, home to the Dallas Cowboys and home to the Green Bay Packers. 

The Cardinals are a division rival that beat Seattle in Week 17 last season. Dallas is widely considered one of the favorites to win the NFC East. And over the last two seasons, Green Bay has won a Super Bowl and had a 15-win regular season. 

Seattle will need to win tough games—especially early in the schedule—to run with the 49ers in 2012. Wilson will have a big say in that happening for Seattle.