O' Wilson! My Wilson!

[Pandion Haliaetus]

If you’ve been frustrated with the play and decision-making of Russell Wilson, I did a shoddy analysis comparing Wilson’s first 4 games of 2012 to his first 4 games of 2013.

2012 Opponents: @ARI (L), vs. DAL (W), vs. GB (W), @STL (L), SEAHAWKS 2-2
2013 Opponents: @CAR (W), vs. SF (W), vs. JAX (W), @HOU (W), SEAHAWKS 4-0

I would argue:
@Carolina was a more difficult task than @Arizona. Longer travel, into a harder weather handicap, against a better offense, and a more talented defense with Seahawks out key defensive players plus a few of them playing through nagging injuries.

Vs. San Fran was a more difficult task than Vs. Dallas. One of the most anticipated games of the summer, and a rivalry game, the 49ers were to avenge their 42-13 loss from last year. SFO D > DAL D.

Vs. Jax. Seahawks caught a break with the Jaguars like they simultaneous caught a break in the GB game.  Yet, it was still a challenge to compete with a lesser team and play your best football.

@Houston was a more difficult task than @STL. Better team, better fans, scarier offense, more intimidating defense with the Seahawks down 3 starters on the O-line + 10 am start in 95 degrees of Texas heat.

While Wilson was a rookie in 2012, and was building chemistry, he had more veterans surrounding him in 2012 with guys like Michael Robinson, Leon Washington, Frank Omiyale , Mike Person, Anthony McCoy, Braylon Edwards, and Charly Martin being much more experienced than Derrick Coleman, Christine Michael, Michael Bowie, Alvin Bailey, Luke Willson, Jermaine Kearse, and Stephen Williams.

In 2013, teams also have a bead on Wilson, a better understanding of what he can and cannot do, which equates to a more effective game-plan and strategy against him. Seahawks played good defenses in the first 4 games of 2012, but again the defenses front 7 the Seahawks face in 2013 were much scarier. It also didn’t help the Offensive Line hasn’t been 100% with their 3 best players currently out with injuries.

Passing Statistics
2013: 59 Cmp for 96 Att (61.5 Comp%) for 787 Yds, 8.2 Y/A, 13.3 Y/C, 6 TDs, 95.3 QB rating
2012: 60 Cmp for 100 Att (60.0 Comp%) for 594 Yds, 5.9 Y/A, 9.9 Y/C, 4 TDs, 80.1 QB rating
2013: +1.5 Comp %, + 193 Yds, + 2.3 Y/A, + 3.4 Y/C, + 2 TDs, + 15.2 QB rating

Rushing Statistics
2013: 27 Carries for 131 Yards, 4.9 Y/C, 0 TDs
2012: 22 Carries for 80 Yards, 3.6 Y/C, 0 TDs
2013: + 51 Yards, +1.3 Y/C

Negative Statistics
2013: 3 INTs + 2 FL = 5 T.O., 13 Sacks For 84 Yards (6.5 Yards Loss/Sack)
2012: 4 INTS + 1 FL = 5 T.O., 8 Sacks For 71 Yards (8.9 Yards Loss/Sack)

Russell has made about the same number of poor decisions gone bad and like last year with a little help from his WRs. However, it was interesting to see he’s been taking less yardage loss per sack which could mean he’s been more intelligent against the pressure and minimizing his losses (for the most part, he’ll take a monumental loss every now and then).

Comparatively, Wilson is ahead of schedule than where he was last season. We know in Wilson’s last 9 games of the 2012 season, he was statistically one of the best QBs in the NFL. To compare, this is what Wilson’s stat-line would be if you project the rest of his season off his current 2013 stat line:

2013: 236/384, 3148 Yards, 24 TDs, 12 INTs, 108 Carries for 524 Yards, 52 Sacks, 8 Fumbles
2012: 252/393, 3118 Yards, 26 TDs, 10 INTs, 94 Carries for 489 Yards, 33 Sacks, 6 Fumbles

Can Wilson play much better? Certainly, he’s an extraordinary player but he’s also been facing a greater deal of pressure and better teams behind an injury riddled O-line in 2013 than then he was in 2012.

Does he deserve the criticism and doubts? Possibly. However, in my opinion, he does not because despite all his struggles and bone-head mistakes, he’s still on schedule for a similar season statistically to his amazing 2012 run. And we haven’t even gotten to his good stuff yet on a consistent basis. #WaitForItWilson

 

[SalishHawkFan]

IF he can stay uninjured and IF the oline can ever stay healthy, his numbers should improve.

 

[AVL]

Looks like some enjoy misery, or too much fantasy.

 

[Seahawkscrazy]

Good Lord 52 sacks!!! I doubt he will hit that Mark but that certainly highlights the ineptitude of the pass pro so far...

 

[brimsalabim]

Do you guys realize that our offensive line is the only one in the league that is ranked bottom 5 in run blocking And pass protection? We are second to last in pass protection by the way... Behind this crap of a line our QB has led us to the best start in franchise history? Russ ain't the problem here. We have a bunch of Oline and TE that so far have spent more time in the sauna than on the field. Get those guys strait or replace them with starting caliber NFL talent and you will see much improvement from the QB position.

 

[brimsalabim]

Also please check your stats for how many 1st and 15 or 1st and 20's due to penalty's he has had to overcome to keep our offense on schedule?

 

[SomersetHawk]

Good Lord 52 sacks!!! I doubt he will hit that Mark but that certainly highlights the ineptitude of the pass pro so far...

This. Wilson's already shown us what he's capable of, the questions asked should not be of him, but our pass pro; and granted I'm not really sure there's a quick fix when we've got our three most important members of the O-line out; two of which are pro-bowlers. As we saw last year it takes time to gel, I just hope we're able to do so whilst Okung's out.

 

[sutz]

Good lord, why did you choose that poetic line for a thread title?

It's from a eulogy.

:34853_doh:

 

[Blitzer88]

If the oline play improves, so will Russell's stat lines.

 

[joeseahawks]

Teams have plenty of film on RW. Teams know how to prepare for him and they DO prepare for him.
4:0 beats 2:2 any time, any day, any where.
4:0 also means, we know how to close out games.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

You guys are always great. This wasn't a bash Russell Wilson thread, you would know that much from my closing paragraphs.

I just used statisitics to prove he's been better than last year Russells in his first four games despite facing better defensive fronts behind a more ailing O-line.

Its also pretty obvious and goes without saying... better o-line play = better qb play.

And I thought the title was very fitting with some here trying to "bury" him with negative opinions on his play.


Also, I think this last game @Houston unlocked his "taking control" instincts, where he's not trying to force the play to develop but rather he's taking contolof the situation and what the defense gives him. #WaitForItWilson #TheArchAng3l...is a cometh.

 

[acbass]

Anyone that is down on Wilson can kiss it. The kid is a winner. Does he make his mistakes? Absolutely. But he is a winner and can do things no other quarterback can. He's the definition of clutch. There is only one number I care about. 4. 4-0. After tomorrow I will care about 5. 5-0. And if we some how lose, I will still take that 4-1 over 400 pass yards any day.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

I thought I'd update these numbers through six games.

Opponents:

'12: @ARI*, DAL, GB*, @STL*, @ CAR*, NE
'13: @CAR*, SFO*, JAX, @HOU*, @IND*, TEN*

* Denotes quality defenses faced.

Passing Statistics
'12: 95/152, 62.5%, 1108 Yards, 7.3 Y/A, 11.7 Y/C, 8 TDs, 89.4 QB Rating
'13: 97/158, 61.5%, 1254 Yards, 7.9 Y/A, 12.9 Y/C, 8 TDs, 92.6 QB Rating

Rushing Statistics
'12: 32 for 109 Yards, 0 TDs, 3.4 YPC
'13: 50 for 294 Yards, 0 TDs, 5.9 YPC

Negative Statistics
'12: 6 Interceptions, 2 Fumbles Lost, 12 Sacks Taken For 90 Yards, -7.5 Yards Lost Per Sack
'13: 4 Interceptions, 3 Fumbles Lost, 17 Sacks Taken for 93 Yards, -5.5 Yards Lost Per Sack

Injury Impact.
'12: Other than Carpenter/McQuistan and Sweezy/Moffitt flip-flopping, Omiyale's start WK 2 for Okung, and Baldwin's slow start due to injuries, the '12 squad on offense was relatively healthy.

'13: Counting Miller as the 6th component to the O-line, our starting O-line, has missed a collective of 11 games out of 36 total. The Seahawks starting O-line has been operating at 70% efficiency, thus far. And what makes it worst is that 30% loss is made up of the best and most important players on the O-line, so the impact has been far greater.

Order of Importance, Games Missed

1. Okung 4.5 games
2. Unger 2.0 games (likely injured before that)
3. Breno 2.5 games
4. Miller 2.0 games
5. Sweezy 0 games
6. Carpenter 0 games
7. McQuistan 0 games


Wilson to do what he does and has been doing, is not only special and awe-inspiring but its an incredible feat considering the O-line mess thus far.

 

[seahawks08]

Man, we need to draft a coupe of Okungs, so that we can keep continuity in this line.

 

[Pandion Haliaetus]

Man, we need to draft a coupe of Okungs, so that we can keep continuity in this line.

Even if the O-line doesn't continue to get better, I still think Wilson and Lynch will continue to adapt to the O-line's play and be as efficient as they can possibly be in spite of it.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

Frustrated with Russell Wilson?? How cute

 

[BleedGreenNblue]

Great thread! I have nothing but faith in russel. He can make something out of nothing
the comeback king