Russell Wilson showing that 2015 breakout wasn’t a fluke
By Keith Myers
Russell Wilson has been dominating the OTAs for the Seattle Seahawks in a way that he’s never done so before.
The reports out of the VMAC from the organized team activities all seem to have one thing in common: Russell Wilson is dominating. If anyone was worried that his record setting 2015 season was an aberration, all sign right now say that isn’t the case.
Brock Huard, a former backup QB for the Seahawks and Colts and current Seattle radio personality, raved about Wilson after Thursday’s practice:
"In warmups, not a throw on the ground. Routes vs. air, not a throw on the ground. Seven-on-seven, not a throw on the ground. One-on-ones – he just did not miss one throw. Not even one."
That means that every Wilson pass was a completion. There were no errant throws where the ball placement was off; no throws where the timing was off; and no throws to covered receivers where the defense could make a play on the ball. Everything was on time and on target.
Seattle’s All-Pro safety Early Thomas, speaking to John Clayton on Inside the huddle on Saturday, used almost the identical line. When commenting about how sharp Wilson had been, his also brought up that “no pass hit the ground.”
Cynics will point out that there’s no pads, and that we shouldn’t read too much into non-contact practices. While there’s some truth to that, it is also important to note Wilson’s mastery of the offense if different than in past offseasons.
There’s always been praise being heaped on Wilson after each OTA or minicamp. He’s a great player, and has been since the Seahawks drafted him back in 2012. This year has just been different.
More from 12th Man Rising
- 4 prospects Seahawks could reach for at No. 20 in 2023 NFL Draft
- Seattle Seahawks Mock Draft: Post-first wave of free agency
- Seahawks podcast: A review of the first week of free agency
- 4 experiments the Seattle Seahawks could cut short in 2023
- 3 pros and cons of Seattle Seahawks drafting Anthony Richardson
In that past it was that Wilson was “making plays” or “finding a rhythm” or “moving the offense.” There was never talk about him completing ever pass, or that he’s getting the ball out really fast. This is new for him this offseason.
Not that any of this is surprising. One of the big differences between the first half of last season when the offense was stagnant, and the second half of last season when the offense was dynamic, was that Wilson had finally begun getting the ball out quickly.
He was trusting his reads and letting it fly. It helped that Doug Baldwin and Tyler Lockett looked uncoverable in those weeks as well. Wilson’s transformation and the general improvement of the receivers turned Seattle’s offense into a unstoppable force.
The Seahawks have to be ecstatic to see that the offseason hasn’t led to a regression of Wilson back into the guy that held onto the ball too long looking for the big play. Wilson is still the guy that can beat defenses with both his legs and his deep ball. Now he’s showing that he’s also the guy from last season that’ll beat defense with his short and intermediate throws as well.
Next: Ifedi starting to buy-in to Seattle off the field as well as on it
As long as the offensive line can give Wilson a little bit of protection, he is going to have a monster season in 2016.