Terry Mosher 3

TERRY MOSHER

 

SEATTLE, WA - JANUARY 19:  Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks drops back against the San Francisco 49ers during the 2014 NFC Championship at CenturyLink Field on January 19, 2014 in Seattle, Washington.  (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Russell Wilson

RUSSELL WILSON

Trying to find reasons for the Seattle Seahawks 2-4 record in the NFL, experts, so-called experts and fandom all have chimed in with various reasons why the two-time Super Bowl entrant is struggling.

I think it’s pretty simple, although there is more than one explanation. The first is pretty obvious: the NFL is built to achieve purity. The salary cap makes that possible because teams can’t load up on talent like the New York Yankees once did in baseball. That’s why you see every off-season teams dumping all-pro caliber players. They have to get in under the salary cap and if there is a pressing need to pay one of their players a ton of money (see Russell Wilson) then top talented players have to go, either through free agency or just releasing them.

Two teams have so far figured out how to rub up against the salary cap ($143.28 million this season) and still maintain enough talent to contend each year. One is the New England Patriots and the other is the Green Bay Packers. I really thought the Seahawks had that figured out, too, but it’s now obvious that in signing Wilson to his big contract ($87.6 million over four years with a $31 million signing bonus and guaranteed money of about $60 million) that it caused enough talent to be jettisoned that the overall team performance has been negatively impacted.

So that is one reason. I believe the biggest reason, and I have written about this before, is that teams have figured out how to reduce the effectiveness of Wilson, who at five-foot-10 and change, is really too short to be as good as he is as a professional quarterback.

This started in the last third of last season when teams decided to concentrate on keeping Wilson in the pocket, where he would have to peer over much taller defenders to seek out his receivers down field. By containing him in the pocket they also reduced the change of him scrambling for a big gain down field.

Wilson is Houdini-like and does manage to escape here and there, and he is really effective on his passes when he does escape because receivers cut off their pass routes and find open spaces to help him out. But this defensive strategy has resulted in Wilson being sacked 26 times already this season, which puts him on pace for 70.

And I would further suggest that Wilson has not improved much from last season to this season. Are we seeing a quarterback who has reached his pinnacle? Sure, we can access some blame for a rebuilt offensive line that is finding it difficult to protect him, but is that the sole reason for this?

I would further suggest that Wilson’s inability to feel comfortable in the pocket because of what defenses are doing to him directly correlates to the problems the Seahawks are having finishing a game on a positive note. I think when you force your defense to be on the field longer than necessary because your quarterback can’t generate a consistent offense, particularly late in games when your opponent has had time to make the necessary adjustments, that can lead to teams undoing what your defense has been doing for three quarters and then  that leads to defeats.

The Seahawks’ defense is not that bad. It’s good. Well, Cary Williams is not good. But on the whole, this year’s Seahawks’ defense is capable of shutting down good teams and producing wins. The big IF though is you can’t expect them to always come through when you put unnecessary pressure on them by not being able to generate a consistent offense late in games because your quarterback can’t make plays.

I don’t know how Bill Belichick does it at New England. He consistently runs a talented team on the field, including an excellent offensive line that keeps future Hall of Fame quarterback Tom Brady largely unscathed.

Although Wilson is not Tom Brady, if Wilson had the offensive line that Brady has the Seahawks would not be 2-4. Opponents would not be able to consistently put pressure on Wilson as they do now.

So what is the solution to all of this for the Seahawks?

I’m afraid the only answer is a much improved offensive line that would allow Wilson more time to search for his second and third pass options, which in t urn would take pressure off the defense because you would assume that would lead to more point production.

In lieu of that, I would suggest that Wilson, unless he grows a couple more inches, will continue to have trouble and the Seahawks will continue to play in close games that could lead to more defeats.

Fact is, as bad as the San Francisco 49ers are, that is no guaranteed win Thursday night in Santa Clara. Or the following week in Dallas against a Tony Romo-less Cowboys team that could be ripe for the picking.

You may have to get used to a Seattle Seahawks’ team that is less than stellar and certainly may not be close to a Super Bowl contender. And as much as I don’t like to say it, you can contribute some of this to the salary cap. I thought Pete Carroll and general manager John Schneider had this all figured out like New England and Green Bay have, but now I’m not so sure.

Time to go watch the Chip Kelly and the Eagles try to take down Eli and the New York Giants.

Be well pal.

Be careful out there.

Have a great day.

You are loved.