TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
RENTON, Wash. (AP) — Throughout the preseason, quarterback Russell Wilson and the starting offense of the Seattle Seahawks were never really stopped.
Wilson was on the field for 13 possessions in the four preseason games. He directed Seattle to touchdowns on nine possessions, two field goals and just one punt in those 13 opportunities.
During one stretch in the second and third preseason games, Seattle scored on nine consecutive possessions with Wilson under center and the streak was only broken when a lengthy field goal attempt hit an upright.
It’s was an impressive rate of success, even for games that don’t have much meaning or have opponents game planning to try and stop the Seahawks offense.
How much that can carry into the regular season is one of the biggest questions for Seattle headed into Thursday night’s season opener against Green Bay.
The Seahawks have a pretty good idea of what they are going to get from a defense that was the best in the NFL a season ago and returns mostly intact. But if the offense can be more consistent than a year ago, the Seahawks could look like the team that dominated the Super Bowl.
“I think we expect it to. That’s the only thing we have to look at going into the year,” Seattle tight end Zach Miller said. “Obviously we practice against a very good defense so that helps.
“Almost every chance we’ve gotten the football we’ve put points on the board so with the way Russell is just growing and becoming a better player I think our offense that’s the expectation when we get the football.”
Seattle returned to practice on Sunday to begin prepping for the Packers with wide receiver Percy Harvin on the field after missing the final preseason game at Oakland last week for personal reasons. Not that Seattle missed Harvin in Oakland with the starters getting only a handful of plays.
Wilson was in for all of four plays against the Raiders, completing three passes for 77 yards and throwing a 25-yard touchdown pass. Wilson finished the preseason 33 of 42 for 437 yards, three touchdown passes and a QB rating of 133.8, the second best for any quarterback during the preseason. He added another three touchdowns on the ground.
As a nod to the potential potency of their offense, the Seahawks kept seven wide receivers and three tight ends on their final 53-man roster. While that’s likely to be in flux throughout the season, it’s the most pass catchers coach Pete Carroll has kept on the initial roster to start any of his five seasons as Seattle’s coach.
Consider Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy among those that believe what Seattle showed during the preseason could be the Seahawks reality on the offensive side.
“I think you have to be very impressed with their offense,” McCarthy said. “On Russell Wilson and their ability to stay in favorable down and distance and keep the mix of the run and the pass. They’ve always been outstanding running the football, but they look like they’re a lot more balanced now, and very dynamic in the perimeter.”
NOTES: Of all the moves Seattle made on cut day, the most surprising was a trade that acquired CB Marcus Burley from Indianapolis for a late-round pick. Seattle opted against keeping veteran Phillip Adams or youngster Akeem Auguste and instead brought in Burley who was on the fringe of making the Colts roster. Burley said he was surprised when he got word of the trade. “I think I had a pretty good preseason. Always strive to get better, always hard working and striving to get better, but I think I had a pretty good preseason. I was shocked, excited all at the same time.” … Seattle finalized eight spots on its practice squad Sunday, bringing back TE RaShaun Allen, RB Demitrius Bronson, QB B.J Daniels, T Nate Isles, WR Chris Matthews, S Terrance Parks, DT Jimmy Staten, S Steven Terrell. All eight were in training camp with the Seahawks. Seattle has two spots remaining on its practice squad.
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