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Carroll: Wilson a true veteran after taking 'clear step ahead'

Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Pete Carroll couldn't be more impressed with the progress Russell Wilson has continued to make ahead of his fifth NFL season.

The Seattle Seahawks head coach heaped praise upon his young quarterback at the conclusion of last week's minicamp, suggesting that the football world is still yet to see the type of player Wilson can become.

"He has had a great camp," Carroll said, via the team's official website. "You guys have asked me, 'When’s he going to arrive?' or 'How long is it going to take?' and all that, and I kept telling you, it's going to be down the road. It takes four, five, six years - you don't know - for these guys to develop. He has made a clear step ahead."

Carroll went on to make particular note of Wilson's command, his ability to move defenders with his eyes, and his overall accuracy as a passer. Though all of which are far easier to demonstrate in non-contact practices held during the offseason, team officials can undoubtedly draw conclusions from such workouts.

"This is year five. It has taken all of this time to get to this point, and he'll still improve, but you can really see him as a real true vet now," Carroll added. "I think coming off of last year, with the great success of the second half of the season, he has taken it right in the offseason and here we go. It's been our best offseason and I think it's an indication of the development of our guys."

Coaches will make a point of talking up their players at this time of year, and Carroll's comments can certainly be taken as a way of doing just that. But there are also plenty of reasons to believe that Wilson will continue his ascent into the NFL's elite in the years ahead.

Some consistent development as a pure passer, complementing his unmatched ability to escape the pocket, saw Wilson put together a historic stretch to close out the 2015 regular season.

The 27-year-old rebounded from an underwhelming start to tally 1,906 yards, 24 touchdowns and just one interception over his last seven games, capping off what was easily his most productive season to date.

Wilson continuing on this path, leading a productive unit opposite what's still one of the league's elite defenses, should have Seattle in Super Bowl contention for the foreseeable future.

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