RW3-and-out doing his thing...

[Lagartixa]

Yeah, the ideal situation is that he plays just well enough this year for the Title Stealers to give him a big multiyear contract, and then he reverts to form. I just don't think that's very likely. He might have a game or two in which he looks good, but he's not a top-half-of-the-league starting QB, and it is with some sadness that I say I expect the Stealers to be protected from making that big mistake.

 

[Ostatehawk]

RW3'S performance was fools gold. He IS capable of being the guy we saw last night - but he is incapable of continuing to be that guy long term.

He can't help it; he will start holding the ball too long and try to play hero ball and take dumb sacks.

 

[bigskydoc]

I don't get it. Russell Wilson is who he is. As one poster put it, he excels at his game, but not at the game.

He is one of the best in a Carroll style ball control and explosive play type offense, but a terrible fit for a modern NFL QB role. He's an awful match for a complex Payton/ Shannahan/ McVay type offense. He understands the complexities of modern offenses and defenses, but it looks like his processor freezes up, and he reverts to his simple reflexes, when faced with processing it all at game speed. It's just that those reflexes are so dang amazing, when they can be steered appropriately.

If Pittsburgh will build a game plan around his strengths and weaknesses, he can return to the statistically impressive oddity that he was from post-Suh injury 2017 to 2020ish (when his mobility became limited). With a dominant defense, and a Carroll style offense, I do believe that he can return to post-season success. Possibly even a second ring.

His undoing in Seattle may have been his hubris, but the lack of success at the end of his time here was more because Carroll could no longer bring the kind of defense needed to keep Wilson in games, and let him do his thing. If, and it's a big if, Wilson has learned his lesson, and he doesn't have delusions of being a field general, he can certainly find success. Tomlin is probably the only currently active coach who can provide the environment for him to find that success.

 

[hox]

It wouldn't shock me if RW has a good season. He's in the right place. A great defense, strong and rebuilt OL, running game, a quality #1 receiver... On Pittsburgh he doesn't have to be "the man".

He has a great run game and #2 ranked defense for support, so he could do well in that system. Sound familiar?

Minus those things, ask him to throw 30+ times a game (ie, LRC), and it's no bueno.

 

[hox]

He had a good season last year too

Yet that Denver offense was 20th in scoring and 26th in yards. There's a reason why Payton was willing to eat that $85 million dead cap hit.

 

[bileever]

Good fit for him in Pittsburgh. Just couldn't run the offense Sean Payton wanted to.

 

[bigskydoc]

I believe Pittsburgh can capture lightning in a bottle here.

RCW will never be able to command a top ten salary. If I'm Pittsburgh, I'm offering him 10-15 million APY, and let him hit the open market if he turns it down. He isn't getting more than that elsewhere.

Pittsburgh can use the money saved to build a Carroll dream team around him. Elite defense, mobile offensive line, power running game.

I think Wilson has eaten the humble pie, and wants to salvage what is left of his reputation. He is uniquely positioned to take that seemingly mythical "team friendly deal." With a strong supporting cast, he can do what he does best. Ball control and splash play offense. He still hasn't lost that moon shot.

 

[Ostatehawk]

I was shocked that he didn't offer up a catch line after the sideline reporter asked him to. Someone seems to have given him some sage advice to tone down his shtick.

 

[Ozzy]

Yet that Denver offense was 20th in scoring and 26th in yards. There's a reason why Payton was willing to eat that $85 million dead cap hit.

I think it’s more nuanced than that but I don’t want to rehash the same old argument.

Russ is going to play very well in Pittsburg while Denver is going to be near league worst in offense this year without him.

 

[Ozzy]

I believe Pittsburgh can capture lightning in a bottle here.

RCW will never be able to command a top ten salary. If I'm Pittsburgh, I'm offering him 10-15 million APY, and let him hit the open market if he turns it down. He isn't getting more than that elsewhere.

Pittsburgh can use the money saved to build a Carroll dream team around him. Elite defense, mobile offensive line, power running game.

I think Wilson has eaten the humble pie, and wants to salvage what is left of his reputation. He is uniquely positioned to take that seemingly mythical "team friendly deal." With a strong supporting cast, he can do what he does best. Ball control and splash play offense. He still hasn't lost that moon shot.

He threw a couple of beautiful deep balls last night. I still say he’s the best deep ball passer of all time.

 

[Ozzy]

He has a great run game and #2 ranked defense for support, so he could do well in that system. Sound familiar?

Minus those things, ask him to throw 30+ times a game (ie, LRC), and it's no bueno.

I don’t think that’s true though. He had a couple of monster years with zero running game or a good defense. He was flat out a great QB and I’m not sure why people hate admitting that.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

The year that many claimed he only won because of the defense and RUNNING GAME, he literally led the team in rushing. They had NO running game. All these years later, denial.....so odd. But still funny. Though it's kind of old and boring now.
And for the record, I absolutely understand why people wanted him to fail that first year.

 

[bigskydoc]

Completely forgot to say why he is uniquely positioned to be successful in PBurg.

1 - Tomlin is one of the few coaches who's vision for a team aligns with what makes Russ special.

2 - Russ has to realize that his shot at the HOF is slipping through his fingers. His fall from grace has to be humbling, and has to have been a mortal shot to his over-confidence, and his belief in "Mr. Unlimited." He is the kind of guy who will do whatever it takes to make the HOF, including humbling himself. Prior to the trade, and during his time in Denver, he surrounded himself with yes men. I suspect his eyes are open now, and he is willing to listen to people who don't buy all that BS.

If that's true, I think he may be able to salvage his HOF nomination.

 

[hox]

I don’t think that’s true though. He had a couple of monster years with zero running game or a good defense. He was flat out a great QB and I’m not sure why people hate admitting that.

Does any of these "monster" seasons include a playoff win? That should be the bar right?

 

[Palmegranite]

Playoff wins in 2016 (Lions) and 2019(Eagles).

 

[Shanegotyou11]

The Russ hate is wild to me.

People pick and choose who to hate which is fine but still wild.

 

[Ozzy]

Does any of these "monster" seasons include a playoff win? That should be the bar right?

Is it? We can’t seem to get that without him?

 

[Ozzy]

Again hate on him all you want but prime Russ was so good. Was it unique and looked a little different than a Brady? Sure, but it doesn’t diminish how good he was.

 

[SoulfishHawk]

He was flat out one of the best closers in the history of the NFL. Period. Cold blooded killer with the game on the line his first 8 years.

 

[hox]

Playoff wins in 2016 (Lions) and 2019(Eagles).

2016 game. Rawls with 27 carries and 167 ground yards. He had strong run game support.
2019 game. Wentz went down. Defense sacked J. McCown 6 times and kept them to 9 points. He had strong defensive support.

In what universe has RW carried a team deep into the playoffs without a strong running game and defense?

Again hate on him all you want but prime Russ was so good. Was it unique and looked a little different than a Brady? Sure, but it doesn’t diminish how good he was.

Prime Russ was excellent when he was a dynamic dual threat QB, who would actually keep on read option keepers. Once he became the highest paid QB (at the time) and tried to become a pure pocket passer, he didn't deliver. Playoffs 2020... Not good.