Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll says commitment to run game doesn't limit Russell Wilson

GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 12: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with head coach Pete Carroll as they take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau Field on January 12, 2020 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images) less GREEN BAY, WISCONSIN - JANUARY 12: Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks talks with head coach Pete Carroll as they take on the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Playoff game at Lambeau ... more Photo: Quinn Harris, Getty Images Photo: Quinn Harris, Getty Images Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Seattle Seahawks Head Coach Pete Carroll says commitment to run game doesn't limit Russell Wilson 1 / 12 Back to Gallery

Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said in a recent interview with KCPQ-13 that his team’s commitment to establishing the run does not put restraints on Russell Wilson.

Carroll suggested that he believes that the struggles in 2019 of fully utilizing his star quarterback’s arm prowess were rooted in poor execution and the team’s propensity for too-close-for-comfort games -- not offensive philosophy.



Carroll’s response was part of a full-ranging interview about Seattle’s offseason plans with Q13’s Aaron Levine during the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, which ended last week.



“I don’t think it puts any limits on the way (Wilson) likes to play,” Carroll said of establishing the run. “We just got to do it at the right time. We’d like to run the ball in the fourth quarter when we’re killing people. We weren’t able to do that as much as we’d like to because the games were so close this year.”

With Wilson, 31, in his physical prime, and the window of opportunity in the NFL being short lived, the "let Russ Cook" debate -- pushing for the Seahawks to let Wilson throw more within the team’s scheme -- has gained considerable traction this offseason. The Chiefs winning a Super Bowl this past season by catering a pass-heavy offense to the skillset of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, too, has added fuel to the argument.

But Carroll -- unsurprisingly -- has pushed back on the notion that how he runs his offense needs to change because of who his quarterback is. The commitment to a strong, physical run game has always been at the core of his offensive philosophy. That won’t change.

Establishing the run, Carroll said, is meant to complement Wilson’s prolific throwing ability -- not take from it. The goal is for the run to set up his biggest plays.

“The whole idea is to put it together to give him the best opportunities to strike you dead in the passing game,” Carroll said. “There’s nobody over the last handful of years better throwing the ball down the field than Russell and more effective than Russell. We just want to find more ways for him to take advantage of that.”

Wilson in 2019 was an early favorite for league MVP and had arguably his most efficient season yet, finishing with a career-low five interceptions (1.0 INT %). He completed 66.1% of his throws for 4,110 yards and 31 touchdowns with a 106.3 passer rating.

Wilson was also tied for first place this past season with five game-winning drives.

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Ben Arthur covers sports for SeattlePI. He can be reached by email at benjaminarthur@seattlepi.com. Follow him on twitter at @benyarthur.