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Russell Wilson upgrades Steelers’ QB situation
I’ll admit, I was highly skeptical of what Russell Wilson would bring to the table as the Steelers’ starting quarterback. Team record aside, pulling Justin Fields was a defensible enough decision because he left several dimensions on the table. I just wasn’t sure if the current version of Wilson, coming off a poor but statistically fradulent 2023 season with the Broncos, would fill in the gaps.
One game in and I’m ready to say Wilson provided a tangible upgrade for the Steelers under center.
We saw Wilson make quick decisions and execute the offense. He didn’t hold the ball forever and took layups when available. Darnell Washington caught four passes out in the flat for 36 yards. These weren’t game-changing plays but they came as a result of Wilson’s quick decision-making. He helped set up the hulking Washington for yards-after-catch opportunities.
Wilson really activated the core play-action concepts of Arthur Smith’s offense on Sunday Night Football. This was the most consequential difference between Wilson and Fields.
The biggest difference between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson was on the play action shot passes.
Wilson went 8/9 for 150 yards on play action, per @NextGenStats. That was the most yards on play action in a game by a Steelers QB since 2016.
Justin Fields was worse on… pic.twitter.com/RwL8pLZhg0
— Matt Harmon (@MattHarmon_BYB) October 21, 2024
Wilson is also specifically a good fit with No. 1 receiver George Pickens. All of Pickens’ production came on outside-the-numbers targets in Week 7, per Next Gen Stats. He didn’t catch his lone between-the-numbers target.
Fields’ strengths as a passer also overlap with Pickens’ strengths as a deep and outside-breaking-route receiver. However, Wilson throws a better ball on go routes and fades. That is where Pickens really cooks. Pickens is essentially a better version of Courtland Sutton, who Wilson enjoyed a strong…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/week-7-caredont-care-for-the-jets-problems-davante-adams-is-not-enough-041430729.html
Author : Yahoo Sports
Publish date : 2024-10-21 04:14:30
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