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Seahawks vs. Chargers preview: First preseason game big test for Hawks

By Marc Rosen
Published  August 8, 2013 4:50pm PDT
FOX 13 Seattle



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SEATTLE -- The leaves aren't quite turning yet, but it's already football season.

And with such a strong showing by the Seattle Seahawks last year, football season couldn't come soon enough.

The Hawks open up the preseason against the San Diego Chargers at 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego. Sports Director Aaron Levine, former Huskies Quarterback Brock Huard and others will preview the action and anazlyze the game on Q13 FOX starting at 6:30 p.m.

Hawks coach Pete Carroll recognizes the importance of the first preseason game of the season. He told Seahawks.com reporter Claire Farnsworth that the first game will be a good chance to evaulte existing talent, and take a look at fresh faces.

"We want to be really sharp," Carroll said. "We have a lot of orchestration that we do now, it's all of the game management stuff and all of the communications that are going on. There's a lot of stuff that's going on."

Carroll said a strong showing last year doesn't mean much in 2013.

"We won't take it for granted," Carroll said.

Photo courtesy of Seattle Seahawks



This year there is one noticeable difference in the first preseason game: The Hawks are going into the season with a designated and confident starter. Second-year quarterback Russell Wilson said he feels different knowing for sure the starting job will fall on his shoulders.

"I do feel a tad different," Wilson said. "As the leader of a football team, you have to adjust to different guys."

Wilson played in 16 games with a 64 percent completion rating and passing for 3118 yards. He was frequently ranked as one of the standout quarterbacks of the year, and was talked about to win the NFL's Rookie of the Year award. The award went to the Washington Redskins' Robert Griffin III.

He said he will play the first preseason game just like it was in the regular season.

"I have to do my job," Wilson said.

The Hawks finished 11-5 in 2012, and ended their season with a close loss to the Atlanta Falcons in NFC Divisional Round playoffs. The Chargers finished 2012 with an 8-8 record and failed to make the playoffs.

For more on Thursday's game, click here.  For an ESPN preview of the game, click here.