Pete Carroll has said that he has been impressed with quarterback Russell Wilson during the Seattle Seahawks' off-season practices.

The 24-year-old won the starting role with the side with his performances during pre-season last year, before leading the Seahawks to the 2012 playoffs.

The head coach told the Tacoma News Tribune: "He threw a couple of balls today, things that we talked about over the off-season that he'd like to take a shot at, and he did it today just to see what would happen with full awareness of why he was doing it.

"We were talking about trying to throw the deep ball last year over guys' outside shoulder, we're just a million miles ahead of where we were. He's the kind of player that will affect other guys, he affects everyone around him, and hopefully that will help everyone play better and faster."

Wilson tied Peyton Manning's record for most touchdown passes by a rookie quarterback last season.