Is it really the WR's?

[NFSeahawks]

This thought has been in my head for a while, and before I post anything I want you to first know how much I love Russell Wilson and think you should look at my artwork in my sig.

I know about the O-line struggles I get it, and I know that has an effect on how much time RW has, but did anyone else see WR's wide open that Russell Wilson at times just didn't throw to? I felt like a few times there was enough separation between the defenders and WR's to throw the ball in there. Is RW being too careful?

This is all food for thought and I'm just curious to see what everyone thinks on this.

 

[FlyingGreg]

I you watch the All-22, you will see open receivers more often than not.

But I think the protection issues are hurting us big time. And yes, I think Wilson is a little skittish.

 

[Ozzy]

I'm not sure where I stand on this. I was at the Tenn game and at times it did look like guys were open but someone more knowledgeable than me said they were playing a zone and could close that gap quickly making the routes not as open as they might appear. He may have a point, a few of the open routes were way down the field and the safety was playing back and in position to move on the ball.

I don't think it all boils down to wr talent either. I think the combination of a patch work line changes what routes are called. I bet guys seem to get open more often once we are healthy on the line.

I'm sure Wilson has missed on a couple (what qb hasn't) but I don't think its him not finding the open guy. Scouts keep saying he is great at progressing thru reads and I have to think he would see more than we realize.

I'm with Brock and Danny.....I think the offense explodes in the near future.

 

[DavidSeven]

I'm sure there are some missed reads, but ultimately the receiver has to be open at the right point in the progression for it to matter. No QB can see the entire field all at once. I don't necessarily put that on the receivers either. The O-line issues have given Russell very little time to survey the field. Against Houston and Indy, Russell was often left with a "first read or run" decision. I heard Carroll say himself that the current O-line issues were preventing him from evaluating the receivers.

And as has been discussed frequently here, opposing defenses are playing safeties deep against the Seahawks in an effort to eliminate explosive passes. A receiver might look open, but that ignores how fast a safety could close on a ball that has enough air to make it deep.

 

[hedgehawk]

Russell misses open receivers quite often. I think part of it is the O-Line issues, Carroll preaching about protecting the ball, and Russell is still learning and growing as a QB.

 

[Mtjhoyas]

A QB is limited to what he can see and is dependent upon progressions, timing, and protection. A WR might be "open" but it doesn't matter if there are protection issues and/or they weren't open during the proper timing/progression. Furthermore, what looks "open" on tape might not look "open" from the QBs perspective and most don't understand the play concept/design/call. Be careful of loosely saying "he's missing a bunch of open WRs."

It's tantamount to watching a MLB hitter take strike 3 on a fastball over the heart of the plate. "You idiot, that was so easy to hit." In reality, the hitter was 0-2 and the pitcher is known to throw a slider on the outer half to get the hitter to chase. Things are never as easy as "he's open" or "that was an easy pitch to hit."

 

[MontanaHawk05]

When the WR's get open, Wilson doesn't get time. When he does get time, he can't see them. When he does get time to see them, they're not open. When they're open, Wilson might not want to throw because they're not open enough. That's kinda where we are right now. Damn good thing Wilson can scramble.

 

[CANHawk]

I finally got to my first game of this year on the weekend and was able to see the entire play develop (can't bring myself to pay for All-22). I was SCREAMING from my seat about how open recievers were on many plays. Sidney should have had 10 receptions for 100 yards on the weekend if he was targeted every time he was open. Russ (and I too love him to death) missed him on several occasions. He missed other guys too. I know the game looks entirely different from field level, but I can't see how you miss those guys. I don't think it's a height thing either because he was out of the pocket and still missing them. They weren't super deep and Russ has a cannon. I think he could have beaten zone coverage on plenty of those plays.

Russ doesn't seem to scramble with the same downfield vision as last year. Perhaps it's because he's running with his butthole all a pucker from the O-line woes we've been having lately, but he just doesn't seem to be seeing guys...

 

[ImTheScientist]

Its our WRs.

/thread

 

[CANHawk]

It isn't just our WRs.

\thread

 

[bestfightstory]

I finally got to my first game of this year on the weekend and was able to see the entire play develop (can't bring myself to pay for All-22). I was SCREAMING from my seat about how open recievers were on many plays. Sidney should have had 10 receptions for 100 yards on the weekend if he was targeted every time he was open. Russ (and I too love him to death) missed him on several occasions. He missed other guys too. I know the game looks entirely different from field level, but I can't see how you miss those guys. I don't think it's a height thing either because he was out of the pocket and still missing them. They weren't super deep and Russ has a cannon. I think he could have beaten zone coverage on plenty of those plays.

Russ doesn't seem to scramble with the same downfield vision as last year. Perhaps it's because he's running with his butthole all a pucker from the O-line woes we've been having lately, but he just doesn't seem to be seeing guys...

I always trust your observations. You and mojo over just about anyone else around here.

Interesting to hear about Rice. And it confirms my suspicions/observations.

Partly due to the line's protection and partly due to RWs height or whatever else, he is missing lots of open receivers this year. The myth of 'No Separation' needs to be put to rest.

(I am fully confident the team will get this problem fixed and we are 5-1 and I am thrilled so don't turn what I have said here into something it isn't.)

 

[Seeker]

Russell Wilson is the quarterback of a run first team.
His prime directive is to not turn the ball over, even if that means opting out of potential completions, especially if they look too risky.
you guys would complain to no end about hasselbeck trying to be a hero on every play only to throw the game breaking pic, then got mad when Jackson would take the sack, now you got a guy who can opt to run it in for 20 yards each time and you still mad?

 

[RolandDeschain]

I think part of the problem is that Papa Pete might have beaten "don't turn the ball over" into Wilson's head a little too much, and DangeRuss is looking for receivers to be too open. Just a thought, I don't have any evidence or proof of this assertion.

 

[bestfightstory]

Russell Wilson is the quarterback of a run first team.
His prime directive is to not turn the ball over, even if that means opting out of potential completions, especially if they look too risky.
you guys would complain to no end about hasselbeck trying to be a hero on every play only to throw the game breaking pic, then got mad when Jackson would take the sack, now you got a guy who can opt to run it in for 20 yards each time and you still mad?

I never got mad at TJack. Bite your tongue.

 

[Smelly McUgly]

I also think Wilson, who I love so don't take this as jaded criticism, is less likely to make some of the more dangerous stick throws that guys like the Mannings, Brady, Rodgers will make. This means less turnovers, but it also means that he'll probably pass up chances for gains through the air that other QBs will take.

 

[AF_Hawk]

A QB is limited to what he can see and is dependent upon progressions, timing, and protection. A WR might be "open" but it doesn't matter if there are protection issues and/or they weren't open during the proper timing/progression. Furthermore, what looks "open" on tape might not look "open" from the QBs perspective and most don't understand the play concept/design/call. Be careful of loosely saying "he's missing a bunch of open WRs."

It's tantamount to watching a MLB hitter take strike 3 on a fastball over the heart of the plate. "You idiot, that was so easy to hit." In reality, the hitter was 0-2 and the pitcher is known to throw a slider on the outer half to get the hitter to chase. Things are never as easy as "he's open" or "that was an easy pitch to hit."

This.

 

[nanomoz]

I finally got to my first game of this year on the weekend and was able to see the entire play develop (can't bring myself to pay for All-22). I was SCREAMING from my seat about how open recievers were on many plays. Sidney should have had 10 receptions for 100 yards on the weekend if he was targeted every time he was open. Russ (and I too love him to death) missed him on several occasions. He missed other guys too. I know the game looks entirely different from field level, but I can't see how you miss those guys. I don't think it's a height thing either because he was out of the pocket and still missing them. They weren't super deep and Russ has a cannon. I think he could have beaten zone coverage on plenty of those plays.

Russ doesn't seem to scramble with the same downfield vision as last year. Perhaps it's because he's running with his butthole all a pucker from the O-line woes we've been having lately, but he just doesn't seem to be seeing guys...

I always trust your observations. You and mojo over just about anyone else around here.

Interesting to hear about Rice. And it confirms my suspicions/observations.

Partly due to the line's protection and partly due to RWs height or whatever else, he is missing lots of open receivers this year. The myth of 'No Separation' needs to be put to rest.

(I am fully confident the team will get this problem fixed and we are 5-1 and I am thrilled so don't turn what I have said here into something it isn't.)

Touche--I'm on the Russell bandwagon as if it were a glorious tit--but I've suspected CAN's observations based on the few wide angle replays I've seen. It seems like Russell struggles reading the middle of the field early in his drop backs, and once he roles out, he focuses on the near sideline (which he should).

 

[CANHawk]

I finally got to my first game of this year on the weekend and was able to see the entire play develop (can't bring myself to pay for All-22). I was SCREAMING from my seat about how open recievers were on many plays. Sidney should have had 10 receptions for 100 yards on the weekend if he was targeted every time he was open. Russ (and I too love him to death) missed him on several occasions. He missed other guys too. I know the game looks entirely different from field level, but I can't see how you miss those guys. I don't think it's a height thing either because he was out of the pocket and still missing them. They weren't super deep and Russ has a cannon. I think he could have beaten zone coverage on plenty of those plays.

Russ doesn't seem to scramble with the same downfield vision as last year. Perhaps it's because he's running with his butthole all a pucker from the O-line woes we've been having lately, but he just doesn't seem to be seeing guys...

I always trust your observations. You and mojo over just about anyone else around here.

Interesting to hear about Rice. And it confirms my suspicions/observations.

Partly due to the line's protection and partly due to RWs height or whatever else, he is missing lots of open receivers this year. The myth of 'No Separation' needs to be put to rest.

(I am fully confident the team will get this problem fixed and we are 5-1 and I am thrilled so don't turn what I have said here into something it isn't.)

Thanks buddy! But I don't think I'm fit to carry Scotte's luggage though. That guy's a boss! I played Canadian football, which amazingly both Roland AND Pehawk will agree makes me a girly man...

I think Seeker and Roland are on to something. Ball control, pound the rock and play great D are the hallmarks of a Pete Carroll team. If we're throwing it, we're looking for the big back breaker and if there's even a sliver of a chance we could turn it over, Russ has probably been coached to just hang onto it. Russ is a pro bowl quarterback and I'm some hack who played 3 down football, so he's probably making the right decisions for the system he's in. Yes it'd be hella fun to see him sling the rock around like it's Madden on rookie mode, but that's not in the game plan.

Looking at the team stats as they sit currently, we're 2nd in total defense, 3rd in points against, 2nd in rushing with a 5-1 record tied for 1st in the NFC. The formula is working, so who are we to judge..?

 

[Evil_Shenanigans]

Settles it we need shorter lineman for him to see over.

 

[jamsomatic]

Settles it we need shorter lineman for him to see over.

Ingenious, really. Like when that guy had a midget bat.