Before ESPN crowns Russell Wilson ...

[C-Gold]

Russell Wilson averaged under 200 passing yards per game. Let's compare that to some other NFL QB's.

Drew Brees #1, 323.6 YPG
Matt Stafford #2, 310.4 YPG
Tony Romo #3, 306.4 YPG
Ton Brady #4, 301.7 YPG
...
Andrew Luck #7 273.4 YPG
...
Ryan Fitzpatrick #24 212.5 YPG
Chad Henne #25 208.4 YPG
Ryan Tannehill #26, 205.9 YPG
...
Matt Cassell #29, 199.6 YPG
Jake Locker #30 197.8 YPG
Russell Wilson #31 194.9 YPG
Kevin Kolb #32 194.8 YPG
Mark Sanchez #33 192.2 YPG
Christian Ponder #34 183.4 YPG

He only averaged 24 attempts per game. Matt Stafford the leader in attempts averaged nearly twice as many every single game. RG3 averaged 26 attempts per game, Alex Smith 21 per game, Kaepernick 17 attempts per game. So if you have a running QB or a QB on a stacked roster you are going to be throwing a lot less. Even if you added every single rushing yard Russell Wilson earned and don't count other QB's rushing then he is still only at 225 per game which puts him in the same range as Ryan Fitzpatrick - a now backup QB.

His competion percentage was good but it's easier to be efficient when you are passing less and on a good team with a good defense. It it's not there you don't have to force it. Matt Schaub is a game manager on a good defensive team that runs the ball, he also completed 64% of his passes and he averaged 250 yards passing per game. I don't have to see Schaub's ugly mug on ESPN all the time.

Wilson's TD to INT ratio was great but he was on a good team with a great defense that forced turnovers. You get the ball in good field position and it's different. He doesn't have to take crazy risks or throw passes into coverage. Also that TD pass to Golden Tate was a complete gift. His numbers were again similar to Matt Schaub.



I am not saying Russell Wilson is a bad player, but at this point in his career he statistically looks much more like a game manager on a good team. ESPN has created this caricture of him that he's a mobile QB, on a crappy team who is willing his team to victories by throwing, running and doing whatever is neccesary. They talk about him like he's already elite. The stats don't support this notion at all. Seattle had the #1 scoring defense in the league last year and was #4 in yards give up, Russell Wilson's stats were at the bottom of the league for starters. Do you remember when David Garrard had some pretty good stats? In 2007 David Garrard threw 18 TD passes with 3 interceptions and his record was 9-3 as a starter. Was he really great at reading defense or was he very risk averse and throwing lots of dump offs to MJD?

The point is that Russell Wilson still has a looooooooong way to go. If you cut out the ESPN hype and stopped comparing him to RG3 or Cam Newton, right now he's a short game manager QB on a team with a great defense.

[iifold]

He will not live up to last year...

[nvrlose37]

Seahawks u10.5 wins is the bet. Soph slump upcoming.

[teaserpleaser]

He will live up to last year ....

[jjgold]

He easily could of won playoff game

It was actually a fluke they lost

[slacker00]

RW had 385 yards in the playoffs at Atlanta in his last game. He has it in him.

[C-Gold]

RW had 385 yards in the playoffs at Atlanta in his last game. He has it in him.

Atlanta had a 27-7 lead with 2 min left in the 3rd quarter, you don't think they'd start playing back on defense? Atlanta knew their pass rush wasn't very good and neither was their secondary. Way to rack up some yards in a losing effort when the game is already over. Where was Russell Wilson in the 1st half of that game?

[C-Gold]

He easily could of won playoff game

It was actually a fluke they lost

He had the #1 scoring defense in the NFL behind him, #4 in yards. By all accounts they were the best defense in the league, of course he would have had success. They were gift wrapped a win with peg leg handicapped RG3 scooping his snapped like a tree limb leg off the grass.

[Ghenghis Kahn]

why does he need to pass for 300 yards with that running game and defense?

[C-Gold]

why does he need to pass for 300 yards with that running game and defense?

He was bottom of the league in yards, right there with Kevin Kolb, Mark Sanchez and backup or future backup quarterbacks like Matt Cassell, Christian Ponder and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

He's not elite, he's not even close. Right now he's a game manager. I'm sick of ESPN talking about him like he's Drew Brees. He's a game manager on a good team with the #1 defense in the league. Stop making him out to be something he's not.

[El Nino]

ESPN's Jaws touted him as the 12th best QB going into this season. That isn't elite. Very average.

[Monitor-Tan]

He was bottom of the league in yards, right there with Kevin Kolb, Mark Sanchez and backup or future backup quarterbacks like Matt Cassell, Christian Ponder and Ryan Fitzpatrick.

He's not elite, he's not even close. Right now he's a game manager. I'm sick of ESPN talking about him like he's Drew Brees. He's a game manager on a good team with the #1 defense in the league. Stop making him out to be something he's not.

Game management is a skill not every QB has, ask Romo.

[InTheDrink]

i agree with the op but there were a couple sea. games that the d scored multiple td's and took the air out of the ball whenever rw got on the field

he's a middle of the pack qb...can make big time throws but never will be an air it out kinda guey

[pologq]

having the best defense and running game with a good o line helps a lot. he also has the home field advantage. put him on the jets and he gets ignored.

[slacker00]

Atlanta had a 27-7 lead with 2 min left in the 3rd quarter, you don't think they'd start playing back on defense? Atlanta knew their pass rush wasn't very good and neither was their secondary. Way to rack up some yards in a losing effort when the game is already over. Where was Russell Wilson in the 1st half of that game?

RW gave SEA the lead with 34 seconds left in the game. The game was hardly over, as you say.

[MoneyLineDawg]

He's a damn good QB and was a rookie.....Yes in a very good situation and on a great team but he's a smart player that makes the right decisions with the bal.....Also got some playmaking ability and can escape the pressure in the pocket with the best of em

Don't really see him slipping at all this season, but I don't think his ceiling is insanely high either.....Could see him settling down in a few years as a top 5-8 ish QB.....Certainly good enough to win it all on a team like the current Seawhawks

[TheMoneyShot]

ESPN needs to stop going down on everyone. Network is getting ridiculous.

[GunShard]

#8 on QBR.

http://espn.go.com/nfl/qbr

[Speedy88]

That's just the system that he plays within, you can't fault him for it.

[C-Gold]

He averaged under 200 yards per game. Stop talking about him like he's Johnny Unitas.

A game manager is a skill to have? I don't recall ESPN hyping up Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, or Matt Schaub.

ESPN is alllllll about running QB's. They sucked Vick's Dik for 10 years, they sucked Mcnabb's dik for 10 years, they are sucking RG3's dik, they suck Cam's dik before last year, they are sucking Kaep's dik and they are sucking Russell Wilson's dik. You'd think these guys were winning all the super bowls or something.

If you aren't Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning or a running QB then ESPN doesn't give a shit about you.

[Speedy88]

He averaged under 200 yards per game. Stop talking about him like he's Johnny Unitas.

A game manager is a skill to have? I don't recall ESPN hyping up Trent Dilfer, Brad Johnson, or Matt Schaub.

ESPN is alllllll about running QB's. They sucked Vick's Dik for 10 years, they sucked Mcnabb's dik for 10 years, they are sucking RG3's dik, they suck Cam's dik before last year, they are sucking Kaep's dik and they are sucking Russell Wilson's dik. You'd think these guys were winning all the super bowls or something.

If you aren't Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Eli Manning or a running QB then ESPN doesn't give a shit about you.

Russell Wilson isn't the O-Coordinator for Seattle. He can't help that the Seahawks ran the ball more than they passed the ball. If you had a great O-Line, a great RB, and great defense......why would you even need to throw the ball 30+ times a game? Yards is the most meaningless stat in the NFL, didn't Matthew Stafford finish 2nd in yards last year and he had a pretty awful year.

Wilson #8 in QBR
Wilson #4 in Yards per Attempt (much better stat than total yards, Stafford was #21)
Wilson #4 Passer Rating
Wilson #9 in passing TD's
Wilson #7 in compeltion pct.
Wilson #9 in TD/INT ratio


Exactly what do you want him to do? And it's not like he had studs to throw to. His WR core was Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Zach Miller. It's not like he had a Calvin Johnson/Brandon Marshall type of player on his team.

He won a playoff game on the road as a rookie, and nearly beat the Falcons if it weren't for the Seahawks defense letting down in the last 30 seconds of that game. In case you didn't see, when the Seahawks needed him most, he threw for 385 yards, ran for 60 yards, and scored 3 TD's against the Falcons in that playoff game.

I'm not saying he is the greatest, but you have to give the guy props for what he did in his rookie year. I mean c'mon, the guy tied Peyton Manning's rookie TD record.

[slacker00]

If you pay any attention to ESPN whatsoever, you deserve exactly what you get from ESPN.

[C-Gold]

Russell Wilson isn't the O-Coordinator for Seattle. He can't help that the Seahawks ran the ball more than they passed the ball. If you had a great O-Line, a great RB, and great defense......why would you even need to throw the ball 30+ times a game? Yards is the most meaningless stat in the NFL, didn't Matthew Stafford finish 2nd in yards last year and he had a pretty awful year.

Wilson #8 in QBR
Wilson #4 in Yards per Attempt (much better stat than total yards, Stafford was #21)
Wilson #4 Passer Rating
Wilson #9 in passing TD's
Wilson #7 in compeltion pct.
Wilson #9 in TD/INT ratio


Exactly what do you want him to do? And it's not like he had studs to throw to. His WR core was Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and Zach Miller. It's not like he had a Calvin Johnson/Brandon Marshall type of player on his team.

He won a playoff game on the road as a rookie, and nearly beat the Falcons if it weren't for the Seahawks defense letting down in the last 30 seconds of that game. In case you didn't see, when the Seahawks needed him most, he threw for 385 yards, ran for 60 yards, and scored 3 TD's against the Falcons in that playoff game.

I'm not saying he is the greatest, but you have to give the guy props for what he did in his rookie year. I mean c'mon, the guy tied Peyton Manning's rookie TD record.

Tied Peyton Manning? Peyton Manning was a rookie in a different NFL with different rules. You can't compare the stats of guys today to guys like Dan Marino. Receivers used to get mugged back then and you were allowed to hit the QB back then. Plus Manning didn't have a great rookie season.

He won a playoff game as a rookie? With the #1 defense in the NFL while RG3 was picking up his leg off the turf. Oooooo he beat a gimpy quarterback with a snapped leg and Kirk Cousins another rookie.

Yards are overrated. They can be but his passing stats rival Sanchez and other backup QB's. I mean under 200 yards per game? Yes he was efficient running that gimmick offense but the point is that he's a game manager. A GAME MANAGER. Last year he was a short, good little game manager.

[C-Gold]

Let's put it this way.

Russell Wilson 2012 is a lot more similar to Mark Sanchez going to two AFC championships on a team with a good defense, and good running game than Drew Brees or the top passers.

[Speedy88]

Like I said, Russell Wilson can't help that his O-Coordinator is only asking him to throw the ball 25 times a game. Call it what you want, Game-Manager or whatever, but I'll take Russell Wilson's game managing 2012 over Matthew Stafford's gun slinging 2012 any-day.

And your comparison to Sanchez is your opinion. Personally, I don't see the comparison.

I guess we agree to disagree on Wilson.

[swordsandtequila]

2011 Seattle without Wilson (7-9)
2012 Seattle with Wilson (11-5)

Comparable roster minus the quarterback.

Leads NC State to their best season in 7 years, then unceremoniously released by sorry ass Tom O'Brien because he won't quit baseball. Transfers to Wisconsin. Leads Wisconsin to the Big Ten title, winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship game throwing 3 td's and winning MVP. Sets Wisconsin single season td record, second only to Drew Brees in Big Ten history. Sets single season FBS (NCAA) record for passing efficiency. Totals 314 yards and 3 td's in the Rose Bowl, losing 45-38 to Oregon. Tom O'Brien fired.

As many playoff wins as Romo in 7 less years. Let us know when Stafford wins one. Matt Ryan was seconds away from another year of "can't win in the playoffs". All have much better receiving corps than Seattle. Sanchez, Locker, Kolb, Cassell? Not even close.

Who give's a f*k about passing yards. Scoreboard is all that matters. Bottom line the guy's smart and a winner. Not a fluke teams get better with him. Not saying he's the next coming of Unitas, but he's a lot more than just a game manager.

[Harry N. Lloyd]

Wilson and Kaepernick were both awesome last year. Take it to the bank that at least one of them, and maybe both, will suffer the dreaded sophomore slump. Everyone seems to have the 49ers and Seahawks in the Top 5 teams of the league. Short 'em.

[Hi Everybody]

[InTheDrink]

^smoker

[Speedy88]

2011 Seattle without Wilson (7-9)
2012 Seattle with Wilson (11-5)

Comparable roster minus the quarterback.

Leads NC State to their best season in 7 years, then unceremoniously released by sorry ass Tom O'Brien because he won't quit baseball. Transfers to Wisconsin. Leads Wisconsin to the Big Ten title, winning the inaugural Big Ten Championship game throwing 3 td's and winning MVP. Sets Wisconsin single season td record, second only to Drew Brees in Big Ten history. Sets single season FBS (NCAA) record for passing efficiency. Totals 314 yards and 3 td's in the Rose Bowl, losing 45-38 to Oregon. Tom O'Brien fired.

As many playoff wins as Romo in 7 less years. Let us know when Stafford wins one. Matt Ryan was seconds away from another year of "can't win in the playoffs". All have much better receiving corps than Seattle. Sanchez, Locker, Kolb, Cassell? Not even close.

Who give's a f*k about passing yards. Scoreboard is all that matters. Bottom line the guy's smart and a winner. Not a fluke teams get better with him. Not saying he's the next coming of Unitas, but he's a lot more than just a game manager.

Took the words right out of my mouth. Exactly, who gives a fukk about passing yards. Wilson was 4th in yards per attempt. If the system let him throw 35+ times like most QB's do, he would be throwing for 275 yards a game.

[El Nino]

^smoker

[El Nino]

Took the words right out of my mouth. Exactly, who gives a fukk about passing yards. Wilson was 4th in yards per attempt. If the system let him throw 35+ times like most QB's do, he would be throwing for 275 yards a game.

For real. This isn't fantasy football. Everyone knows if Romo has to throw as much as he did last year the Cowgirls are fukked. Brees, Rodgers, and Brady are the exceptions for getting it done with little to no run game. Also, since this is a gambling forum I will take Russell Wilson and the Seahawks 7-1 home ATS over Romo and the Cowgirl's 1-7 home ATS, Stafford and the Lions 3-5 home ATS, and anyone else. Out of the high profile "elite" QB's, only Peyton Manning had a winning home ATS record. Luck and the Colts were also 7-1 ATS at home. Everyone else overvalued at home, where they should play their best football. Let everyone keep undervaluing Wilson and his team while we cash tickets. Arguing about who is "elite" and who isn't is filler for sports talk radio and slow days at ESPN. We should be concerned on who is overvalued/undervalued by the market and the betting public and exploiting it.

[daneblazer]

The Seahawks are going to learn sooner or later to not go after Viking receivers.

[MoneyLineDawg]

Wilson and Kaepernick were both awesome last year. Take it to the bank that at least one of them, and maybe both, will suffer the dreaded sophomore slump. Everyone seems to have the 49ers and Seahawks in the Top 5 teams of the league. Short 'em.

Disagree.....Defense and running game too dominant overall, can't see either team slipping much

Both teams don't even rely on their QB all that much to expect a sophomore slump

Good as advertised

[face]

can throw while running around avoiding people, probably will be pretty good again. seemed like he could read the defenses.

i bet against him a lot last year and got my assed kicked so i know all about how good he can be (11-5 ats last year)