Predicting the Seahawks offensive statistics in 2021
By Andy Excell
What can Russell Wilson produce in 2021?
As if to emphasize how passing-dominant the league has got, just take a look at some stats from Russell Wilson’s career.
Wilson averages 235.7 passing yards per game, 19.58 pass completions per game and 1.85 passing TDs per game. But in the last four seasons, Wilson averages 246.1 passing yards per game, 21 pass completions per game and 2.18 passing TDs per game.
I believe with Waldron as offensive coordinator, this upward trend in Russell Wilson passing numbers will continue in 2021, but I also believe we will see an increase in Wilson’s ground game numbers too.
Wilson averages 31.2 rushing yards per game and a mere 2.33 rushing TDs per season. over the last four seasons that had reduced to 28.4 rushing yards per game and just 2 rushing TDs per season.
As mentioned earlier with a generally shorter drop and resultant decision-making process from Wilson, we could well see him take off on the run more often too.
As a result of the above, I can see Wilson averaging 250 passing yards per game, which is only a slight increase on his recent history, but neither the less indicative of allowing Wilson to take an even more prominent role as the leader of this offense.
With a shorter drop and quicker release, Waldron and Wilson would be using some of the Patriots style offensive scheming Waldron was introduced to in his initial NFL coaching days. Tom Brady has averaged 24 pass completions per game over the last four seasons, and I can easily see Wilson’s making 22.5 completions per game by implementing this alternative scheme.
The one number I do not see increasing significantly on the passing side is passing TDs per game which I would anticipate staying around 2.2 passing TDs per game.
Rushing-wise I can see Wilson being closer to the average of 38 rushing yards per game he achieved in his first four years in the NFL than the 28.4 per game he has managed in his last four seasons. Making opposing linebackers and safeties respect Wilson’s running ability more would prevent them from just being able to sit in pass coverage.
My Wilson projections for the 17-game 2021 regular season are 4,257 passing yards, 381 pass completions from 575 attempts resulting in 37 passing TDs. Add to that 578 rushing yards and 4 rushing TDs from Wilson and the Seahawks will put 16.7 points per game on the board via Wilson’s efforts.