Seattle Seahawks: 5 Keys To Success In 2015
Dec 21, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; NFL referee Walt Anderson tends to Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson (3) after being tackled in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
3. Russell Wilson Must Be Kept Safe And Happy
It’s no secret that quarterback Russell Wilson is scheduled to make only $1.5 million in 2015, which will be the final season of his current contract. It’s also no secret that he and the Seahawks have had trouble coming to an agreement on a long-term deal. He’s one of the cornerstones of the franchise, and if he isn’t locked up with a good contract, Seattle may be facing different troubles altogether in the near future.
He’s locked up for 2015, however, and he can be franchised in 2016 and 2017, so Seattle doesn’t exactly have to worry about losing him anytime soon, but they do need to be careful that they don’t upset him or create any distractions. At this point, it seems as though Wilson is set on focusing on football, and not letting his contract issues distract him:
"“I love Seattle, it’s a great city,” Wilson told ESPN’s Hannah Storm, “I’m going to play my butt off every day. That’s all I know, and we’ll see what happens.”"
Luckily for the team, he seems to be able to compartmentalize, and is willing to continue to play for what we can all agree is less than he is worth. However, the team must continue to work with him, and do what they can to keep him happy, or the team may face some internal discontentment.
It is equally important to keep Wilson happy on the field as off the field, and that means protecting him as well as possible. Last year, Wilson was the sixth most sacked quarterback in the league. He was taken down 42 times, an average of almost 3 hits a game. In 2013 he was sacked 44 and in 2012 he was sacked 33 times.
Wilson also ran the ball 118 times last year, up from 96 and 94 respectively in 2013 and 2012. He’s taking hit after hit after hit, and if he’s not careful, this is going to wear on his body. He’s shown himself to be resilient so far, starting every game in his three year career, but surely that can only last for so long.
All it takes is one hard hit to send Wilson to the bench and leave the Seahawks looking for their answer behind center. The team relies heavily on their quarterback, and keeping him safe and happy should be one of their top priorities if they want to continue to have success.
Next: Staying On The Field