Should we be concerned?

[Taehwk]

First time poster, been lurking on the boards trying to absorb as much hawk info as possible! Really enjoy reading all your posts and sharing in the excitement of this team. Hoping for a injury free win this weekend! So... On to my question...

I was having a discussion with a co-worker and they brought up a interesting point.

1) do we risk RW developing bad habits playing behind a poor put together OL? It seems like a lot of young QB don't hone in their internal clock of when to get rid of the ball because they can't rely on their pass protection. Guys like David Carr who were behind piss poor OL never developed. Luckily, RW is so evasive that he negates some of this, but if we were to rely on him to be more of a pocket passer could this be a hindrance later?

 

[DavidSeven]

I think a lot of people would say Russell simply prepares to hard to let this affect him over the long-term. But you're right, we've seen this happen with a lot of QBs in the past. Many do develop happy feet and become poor-decision makers after playing behind a line that they can't trust. But what can you do? If we shelved him until our entire line got right, he might not play this season.

 

[Taehwk]

Oh I wasn't suggesting we shelve RW until the line gets healthy. I was just wondering if cable's tendency to go for OL men who are good run blockers could have a detrimental effect on his development. But I love the identity and smash mouth nature of this team, so I guess it's a risk we have to take. I hope you're right that RW studies enough that he can learn to trust the line again.

 

[DavidSeven]

Oh I wasn't suggesting we shelve RW until the line gets healthy. I was just wondering if cable's tendency to go for OL men who are good run blockers could have a detrimental effect on his development. But I love the identity and smash mouth nature of this team, so I guess it's a risk we have to take. I hope you're right that RW studies enough that he can learn to trust the line again.

I think this is a fair concern. I also wonder if we’re losing more than we’re gaining with the guys we plug in at the guard spots. I think we can find a better balance in terms of run/pass protection than we’re currently getting at those positions. A healthy Okung/Unger help mask some of those deficiencies, but they aren’t even technically Cable guys.

 

[Smellyman]

David Carr was a nervous nellie because he couldn't run at all and was getting drillled.

RW isn't nervous. Dlineman and LB's are

 

[Scottemojo]

Adapt, or die.

xoxo
Richard Sherman.

 

[SouthSoundHawk]

You don't sit your franchise QB because a few guys on OL are under performing.

If the OL can't compete, then they'll be gone next season (or sooner). That's something you can count on.

 

[TwistedHusky]

I think the bigger issue we should be concerned about is that mobile QBs now have a target on their back.

There has always been a defensive stress to "soften up the QB" but with the new rules and the tendency to favor the QB at any opportunity, the word is out (and I pointed this out at the beginning of the season), given the opportunity hit the QB at any and every opportunity. More importantly, when hitting the QB always aim for the knees because even if you get the flag, so what? You have the same risk or more of getting the flag if you aim higher.

Look at yesterday's game as a prime example of this, but you can probably see 1-2 serious shots at the knees of a QB per day on a typical Sunday.

Browns lost their QB, and Buffalo nearly lost theirs but always any shots at the QB are going to be taken low now. Even if you aim at the chest, if the QB ducks down (as they instinctively do when they see they are about to get hit), you run the risk of hitting the helmet.

So add a running QB to the mix and almost every attempt to get him down is going to mean diving at the knees, and frankly it is probably worth the flag anyway even if you are caught. So my worry is that with a porous line, Russ trying to scramble means he gets hit and too many of these open him up to the risk of not getting back up.

Thankfully Russ had enough time with a good line, that he already has developed habits which is going to make it harder but not impossible to pick up new bad habits.

The other good thing is that since we focus so much on the run, hopefully it protects Wilson but I worry about the read option looks putting the QB in danger even on carries by the RB.

 

[brimsalabim]

I think the bigger issue we should be concerned about is that mobile QBs now have a target on their back.

This! And when most of the pundits talk about this they only discuss that its too dangerous to let your QB carry the ball. The real issue is that its that its now dangerous to execute a play fake....( unless your Manning or Brady.) The biggest hit Russell has taken was after handing the ball off in the RO and the defensive player knew he didn't have the ball.

 

[TJH]

I honestly believe he is to a small extent so far. He has far worse vision downfield this year even when he has the time because he is used to having to scramble after one read.

 

[hawkfan68]

I'm concerned for Russ. He's going to be running for his life. Right now, the Seahawks have one serviceable player - Jeanpierre, 3 barely serviceable players - McQ, Sweezy, and Carp, and 1 rookie on the OL.

 

[hawks4thewin]

I don't agree.. our Line is AWESOME..... even the back ups back ups.
We don't need miller, either.... book it.
championship !

 

[Bobblehead]

IF 3 was a pocket passer alone, I doubt he would make it. Russell depends on mobility to find seams through the line.

 

[SalishHawkFan]

The concern is valid. Even Hasselbeck got shell shocked and started displaying bad judgment once his internal clock got shattered. I know Wilson looks so polished for such a young QB and the upside potential os great, but Matt was a polished Pro Bowl QB who'd been to the Super Bowl. Having a revolving door for an oline is definitely a concern for Wilson's development. I know Pete Carroll would be the first to agree. I read somewhere that he went and spoke to Bill Walsh and learned from him the importance of creating a situation in which your QB could be comfortable. It is the most important thing to consider when building a team. That's why Pete went out and got Okung right off the bat.

Wilson does NOT look comfortable.

 

[The Radish]

Welcome to Seahawks.net all the way from San Jose.

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