SEATTLE — Containing quarterbacks who can run isn’t so tough.
But the ones who know when to gallop downfield and when to stay in the pocket is the most difficult facet a team can prepare for.
That’s what Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. He’s got one of those quarterbacks in Russell Wilson, but to reach the first Super Bowl in his career, he’ll have to prepare for one in San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
“He’s very adept at taking off,” Carroll said. “That’s something that’s very special about him, and Colin is great at it.”
Kaepernick rushed for the fourth-most yards among quarterbacks in the regular season with 524 yards, trailing Carolina’s Cam Newton (585), Oakland’s Terrelle Pryor (576) and Wilson (539). But only Pryor took
off less, and Kaepernick has rushed for 375 yards in five career postseason games.
He threw for 227 yards and ran for 98 against the Green Bay Packers in the wild card round. His 11-yard run on third-and-8 in the fourth quarter essentially punched the Packers in the gut and led to PhilDawson’s game-winning 33-yard field goal.
Sound familiar? If it does, it’s because he did something similar against the Seahawks in Week 14.
The Seahawks used their final two timeouts with San Francisco inside their own 20 with 3:24 to play. On third-and-seven, Kaepernick ran left, picked up eight yards, a first down and allowed the 49ers to run down
the clock and get a go-ahead Dawson field goal with only 26 seconds to play.
“(Kaepernick) has become such a tremendous factor,” Carroll said. “He throws the ball accurately, he’s decisive with the ball, they vary the style of throws from deep down the field to the quick rhythm stuff.
“But really, the factor that truly separates him, like Russell here, is they have the ability to get out and run and make yards running.”
That poses a tough challenge for the Seahawks that might be more difficult considering the quarterback they faced last week, Drew Brees, is a much different QB than Kaepernick.
“Totally different,” said Seahawks safety Earl Thomas. “It’s going to be a more physical, downhill attack. We definitely have to put on our big-boy pants this week.”
Injury update
Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin (concussion) did not practice Wednesday and Carroll said Harvin was being checked by doctors Wednesday afternoon.
But linebacker K.J. Wright did practice and is day-to-day going forward. He last played when the Seahawks visited San Francisco before leaving with a fractured bone in his foot.
Defensive tackle Jordan Hill (groin) did not practice Wednesday, nor did Marshawn Lynch (non-injury) — typical for Lynch on Wednesday during game week.
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