NFL Spin Zone
Fansided

Russell Wilson: Dissecting two plays that make him special

By Kevin Parvizi

facebooktwitterreddit

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is one of the top ten players at the position right now, and he is following up a strong performance against the Chicago Bears dumpster fire of a defense with a dismantling of the Detroit Lions vastly underachieving defense. Not only is Wilson dazzling with his legs (he has seven carries for 39 yards to lead the team in rushing yards, which is especially important with Marshawn Lynch out and Fred Jackson now injured), but he’s doing even more damage with his arm.

ALSO ON SPIN ZONE: Where Does Wilson Rank Among Best QBs?

As of this sentence, Wilson has completed 14 of 18 passes for 199 yards and a touchdown, including an average of 11.1 yards per attempt. He’s at the top of his game right now, and he’s wowed us all with two specific plays that show off his dangerous skill-set as a quarterback.

Let’s take a look at his 24-yard touchdown strike to Doug Baldwin, who has once again been his most reliable target this season with a team-high 17 receptions.

Wilson had flawless protection on this pass and quickly saw that Baldwin had burned his man badly. The Lions have had major issues covering the slot this season, and they’ve been far more burn-prone this season than last year. Without adequate safety help, Baldwin, who has underrated long speed, had no trouble getting separation, and Wilson delivered a perfectly-thrown ball over the defense.

You would obviously expect Wilson to make this “gimme” pass for six, but it’s the way he makes this throw that causes it to be worth writing about. Wilson puts absolutely perfect touch on it, because it’s easy to get this wrong with the receiver moving so quickly towards the back of the end zone.

He has to make sure he doesn’t underthrow it into the defender’s arms, but Wilson also can’t overshoot the ball. It’s safer to throw it further and avoid the risk of the interception, but Wilson knew he could make this throw. If Baldwin had open space ahead of him, then the accuracy and arm strength on this pass wouldn’t have needed to be so good.

Wilson’s pass to Jermaine Kearse, which led to a 34-yard pick-up for the Seahawks offense, is an even easier play to appreciate. On third-and-12, Wilson is under immense pressure, and yet he’s able to escape it with style, pulling off a phenomenal spin move in the process, though it’s the type of move that’s become a signature play of his.

The athleticism and slipperiness displayed by Wilson here are impressive enough, but what’s especially noteworthy is the throw. Just before he gets pummeled, he’s able to make the sideline throw to Kearse, as he had the presence of mind to keep his eyes moving downfield to spot that gain. That’s what separates Wilson from other athletic QBs, and, well, it’s what also separates him from a lot of non-athletic QBs. When the interior pressure gets fired up, Wilson can evade it and make a throw to pick up big yardage.

Next: Who Are The NFL's Most Important Players?

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/Seattle Seahawks