With Marshawn Lynch hobbled, look for rookie RB Thomas Rawls to make the most of his chances Monday night against the Detroit Lions. (0:47)

SEATTLE -- The question posed to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson was about why he focused on getting faster this offseason.

Wilson’s response, whether he’d directly admit it or not, revealed he is in fact paying attention to public perception.

"I’m only 26, but the older that I get, I still want to continue to work on my speed," Wilson said last month.

"I just love to work. You guys may think that I am doing this and doing that all the time, but I always make sure that I train first. That’s a big part of my lifestyle and how I like to go."

Wilson's name appeared in the headlines constantly this offseason. Whether it was his highly publicized relationship with singer Ciara, his claims about the powers of recovery water or the four-year, $87.6 million contract extension he signed, the Seahawks' quarterback created plenty of buzz.

But three games into the season, Wilson’s play has flown largely under the radar. Kam Chancellor’s holdout, Jimmy Graham’s role and Marshawn Lynch’s injuries have received most of the attention. Wilson, meanwhile, is quietly completing 70.3 percent of his passes and has thrown just two interceptions in 101 attempts.

He has been a perfect fit for what coach Pete Carroll wants to accomplish. Wilson takes care of the football, extends plays with his legs and is always available (Monday will be his 52nd straight start).

Yet before he signed the extension, there were questions about whether it made sense for the Seahawks to devote so much money to the quarterback position when the defense and running game really shaped the identity of the team Carroll and general manager John Schneider built.

With questions surrounding the Seahawks defense and around Marshawn Lynch's health, Seattle may be relying on their franchise quarterback more than ever. AP Photo/Mike Roemer

As the Seahawks look to get back to the Super Bowl for the third straight season, it’s fair to wonder whether there has been a shift in that identity. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, heading into Monday night's matchup with the Detroit Lions, Seattle has called pass plays 65 percent of the time. That's up from 55 percent last year and 54 percent in 2013. They were playing from behind in their first two games, but the fact the team added a pass-catching weapon in Graham and traded up to draft wide receiver Tyler Lockett in the third round can't be ignored.

Even though Wilson has already been to consecutive Super Bowls, the arrow should be pointing up, and he should just now be entering his prime. That could lead to the Seahawks asking him to do even more.

"There’s tons more for Russell to learn," Carroll said. "There’s all kinds of stuff for him to gain. He’s just a fourth-year guy. If you want to compare him to the guys that are really doing a great job in this league, those guys have played twice as long and sometimes three times as long as he’s played. Just imagine how far along he can come in the years ahead."

Carroll’s message has made an impression on his quarterback. During his rookie year, Wilson developed a checklist to guide him through in-season preparation. On a typical week, Wilson will review game film once or twice on Sunday night and then again on Monday morning.

By the time Monday afternoon rolls around, he’s on to the next opponent.

"Every team has third downs, every team has red zone, every team has nickel blitzes and nickel dogs, and base dogs and all that," Wilson said. "Four-minute situations, two-minute situations, I go through all that. So I think that’s what helps prepare me and also in a way ease your mind too. Hey, I made sure I did this. So that way when you go into a game, you’re not guessing, and you can kind of anticipate what they’re going to try to do. And if not, you adjust to it."

Center Drew Nowak can back up Wilson’s story. He typically meets with Wilson Tuesday mornings to break down the next opponent. In the film room, Wilson handles the remote.

"When we’re in there, he’s seen it before we have," Nowak said. "So he’s making the calls before we’ve even seen it. He goes real quick, so he definitely has been on it, and we continue to work to have to be on it."

Added offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell: "Russell is on the level with some of those elite quarterbacks in terms of his preparation. I was around a lot of good guys that prepare, and Russell’s no different. And that position requires it. You’ve got to have tireless hours, you’ve got to spend extra time. He’s doing it more than anybody else. It’s just hours of film and just being able to grind through it and work through it, and he does a great job of that."

Coaches see a difference with Wilson in a couple areas. One is his willingness to stay in the pocket and go through his reads. The other is Wilson’s progress in setting the protection and communicating with the offensive line.

The Seahawks are going with first-year starters at center and right tackle in Nowak and Garry Gilliam. Justin Britt is playing left guard for the first time in his career. According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Wilson has been pressured on 32.3 percent of his dropbacks, fifth-highest in the NFL. The coaches want him to use his legs when necessary, but they also want to make sure he's feeling the rush and looking for receivers. Wilson is completing 75 percent of his passes and averaging 7.5 YPA when he stays in the pocket.

When teams choose not to blitz him, Wilson is completing 77.6 percent of his passes and averaging 7.3 YPA.

"He’s throwing from the pocket probably as good as he ever has," Bevell said. "That’s something that kind of has stood out to us a little bit."

Clearly, there are areas that still need work. Largely because of poor pass protection, the downfield passing game has been missing from the Seahawks’ offense. Wilson’s average pass has gone just 5.68 yards past the line of scrimmage (27th). Last year, that number was 8.19 (19th). And Wilson is being sacked on 9.4 percent of his dropbacks, the fourth-highest rate in the NFL.

The Seahawks' defense has Chancellor back and should return to one of the best in the NFL. But offensively, there are questions. Lynch has had 280 carries or more in four straight seasons and turns 30 in April. Monday night's game will be the first he's missed since 2011, and through three weeks, he has already dealt with hamstring, calf and neck injuries. The offensive line remains a work in progress. And how the Seahawks incorporate Graham will be a story line all season.

Wilson has worked to add layers to his game. And while it's still early in the season, there's a good chance the Seahawks will need even more from him as they look to get back to the Super Bowl for the third straight year.