Is Russell Wilson the greatest young QB of all time?!

[SP33Demon]

https://www.numberfire.com/nfl/news/1734/is-russell-wilson-the-greatest-young-quarterback-ever

Numberfire with an interesting new article out.

The conclusion?

I’m a believer. I believe we’re watching the best young quarterback in NFL history.

That’s not to say he’ll end up as the best passer to ever play the game, or that other players – like an Andrew Luck – won’t outperform him from here on out. This is just to say that, even if we throw quarterback wins (a stupid statistic) out the window, Russell Wilson still wins.

Other than Marino, I would agree that we haven't seen someone this young and dominant in his first 30 games. The fact that he's 2X as efficient as Cam and 3X Luck should tell us something.

 

[Printer Bandit]

Would he be as good if the rest of his team was shitty?

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Let's not forget that the game has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Wilson is playing under a different set of rules than 99.9% of quarterbacks that came before him and comparing offensive stats now to stats then is like comparing the dead ball era in baseball to the steroid era. Wilson's numbers are hugely inflated.

 

[Ban Bot]

Would he be as good if the rest of his team was shitty?

Obviously special teams and defense make a difference but did you watch his games the last couple years? In 2013 he was the most pressured QB -- and for good reason as the line is average at best and their LT and RT were out half the season and their C and blocking TE a handful of games. Their line was BAD at times. Yet he found ways to win.

Ditto his receivers. He lost his #1 (Rice) for half the season and #2 (Harvin) for the entire regular season sans 17 plays.

Good QBs struggle when they lose key cogs (see Brady and Luck this year) but that is a sign of a good QB: they do more with less. Wilson is very well considering his weapons within their offensive scheme (~25 passes a game).

 

[glenn1]

https://www.numberfire.com/nfl/news/1734/is-russell-wilson-the-greatest-young-quarterback-ever

Numberfire with an interesting new article out.

The conclusion?



Other than Marino, I would agree that we haven't seen someone this young and dominant in his first 30 games. The fact that he's 2X as efficient as Cam and 3X Luck should tell us something.

Ben Roethlisberger's first 2 seasons were WAY better than Russell Wilson. The dude is a douche and probable rapist, but he was freakishly good in the beginning of his career despite playing for a team whose fans are generally retards.

 

[SP33Demon]

Let's not forget that the game has changed dramatically in the last 10 years. Wilson is playing under a different set of rules than 99.9% of quarterbacks that came before him and comparing offensive stats now to stats then is like comparing the dead ball era in baseball to the steroid era. Wilson's numbers are hugely inflated.

If you read the article, he already addresses that. He compares Wilson to current QBs (2010 to Present) and Wilson destroys them all. Wilson destroys modern era QBs (2000-2009) which includes Brady. Wilson also destroys all qbs pre-2000 not named Dan Marino and Otto Graham.

 

[Jeffg010]

I'll say Ben Roethlisberger was better.

13 and 0 as rookie starter then wins the supper bowl.
When you look at this years super bowl no one says that Russell Wilson was a diffence maker, Even Tebow would won if he was the starter. With Ben he was a differnce maked in his super bowl win he kept some key drives alive.

You can't compare Wilson 2 seasons then everone else more then 2 that is flawed stats. Fuck this guy stupid if Wilson drops then what? Wilson would be where Roethlisberger is.

"Before I go in depth with this chart, I want to first point out what some may consider a flaw with looking at Passing NEP per season. Because we’re viewing this from the perspective of just two or three seasons, one bad year can skew the average quite a bit. For instance, Ben Roethlisberger slumped after winning the Super Bowl, accumulating a Passing NEP of under four expected points in his third year. That alone took his average from 66.50 to 45.61.

However, I don’t think this distortion is necessarily a bad thing. It at least show us who was consistent, no?"

 

[GagHalfrunt]

If you read the article, he already addresses that. He compares Wilson to current QBs (2010 to Present) and Wilson destroys them all.

Wow, both of them?

Seriously, how many guys is he up against? Luck is a different style, RGIII got hurt and no other quarterbacks of note were playing for a team with any offensive weapons. "Destroys them all" is not much different than crowning somebody as the greatest hockey goalie ever to come out of Ecuador since 2005. A three year sample size is a joke.

 

[Red Storm]

He's surrounded by a very good team, and more importantly, his team's defense is top notch.

Michael Jordan never won anything until the right coach and team mates came to town.

 

[KeithTalent]

Yeah I would have gone with Big Benjamin. I do love Wilson though, definitely one of my favourite players.

KT

 

[Ban Bot]

I'll say Ben Roethlisberger was better.

13 and 0 as rookie starter then wins the supper bowl.
When you look at this years super bowl no one says that Russell Wilson was a diffence maker, Even Tebow would won if he was the starter. With Ben he was a differnce maked in his super bowl win he kept some key drives alive.

You have to be kidding. Big Ben was *horrible* in Super Bowl 40.

Roethlisberger
9/21, 123 yards, 5.9 average/att, 0 TD, 2 INT.

Wilson
18/25, 206 yards, 8.24 average/att, 2 TD, o INT.

Wilson has a passer rating above 120; Ben under 25.

I posted this in the game thread for another poster who was lamenting how Wilson isn't that good. Wilson made way more BIG plays in SB48 than Ben did in SB40.

As for the swing at the young upstart QB, I think you should take that back Wilson's line isn't great and they were missing Okung (LT) and Unger (C) for long stretches as well as their Right Tackle making a below average line even worse (Wilson was the most pressured QB and sacked 44 times). They also did not have Harvin all season and Rice for most of it--they were literally functioning with #3 and #4 receivers all season. And how did he do?

13-3 record, ~ 64% competition percentage, 26 TDs, only 9 INTs, 100+ passer rating, and like 500 yards rushing.

Look at his Super Bowl line: 18 of 25 (72%), 2 TDs, no INTs. Looking deeper you would see Wilson made a lot of timely plays (third down conversions through 3 quarters):

• Third-and-9 from Denver 30: 12-yard completion to Jermaine Kearse.
• Third-and-6 from Denver 14: Scramble for 5 yards (almost converted).
• Third-and-7 from Seattle 31: 9-yard completion to Golden Tate.
• Third-and-4 from Seattle 46: 6-yard completion to Baldwin.
• Third-and-5 from Denver 43: 37-yard completion to Baldwin.
• Third-and-14 from Denver 14: Incomplete to Kearse.
• Third-and-4 from Denver 5: First down on pass interference (attempted pass in back of end zone).
• Third-and-17 from Seattle 19: Complete to Tate for no gain.
• Third-and-7 from Seattle 45: 12-yard completion to Luke Willson.

The problem with Wilson is the same issue with the Broncos: People over-weigh stats. The Broncos had 5000+ passing yards, 55 TD passes, and 4 players with 10 TDs or more. BRONCOS = BUFFED in minds of fans. Wilson only passes ~ 25 times a game and averages 200 yards. WILSON = NERFED in minds of fans.

 

[MetalMat]

Kurt Warner was awesome his first few starting seasons

 

[Ban Bot]

If you read the article, he already addresses that. He compares Wilson to current QBs (2010 to Present) and Wilson destroys them all. Wilson destroys modern era QBs (2000-2009) which includes Brady. Wilson also destroys all qbs pre-2000 not named Dan Marino and Otto Graham.

They are not even reading the article. e.g. Big Ben the author noted even with the down season out after the SB Wilson's metrics were still better.

As for the other poster says Wilson's numbers are "inflated" that is the point--they are not. The dude throws 25 times a game. The article looks at NEP and NEP per Pass. NEP = expected average result +/- real result.

Wilson's NEP per pass is better than Luck et al. By a lot. Counter argument: Well, Wilson only passes opportunistically and Luck et al are more volume passers.

The counter argument is destroyed by Wilson's TOTAL NEP. A volume passer, even with a lower average per pass, should if better have a much higher NEP. Instead Wilson, with far fewer passes, has a better total NEP. Toss in rushing and his numbers are off the charts.

The kid is 28-9 in 2 years and won 4 playoff games, including a SB. He averages over 8 yards an attempt (one of the best in the league), completes 64% of his passes. His TD/INT ratio is 2.7 which is EXCEPTIONAL by all standards (26:9 2013; 26:10 2012) and blows away "young QBs" and is right up there with the elite QBs.

I don't think anyone can say who the best ever is--even the author says Luck may have a better career here on out--but the point is the first couple years Wilson is in rarified air.

 

[SlitheryDee]

You can certainly see something when watching him play. The main thing that impresses me about him is how good he is at making the correct decision for any particular moment. When he throws the ball, the receiver is usually open. When he runs, he usually has plenty of room to get the first down. He doesn't force anything or takes big risks with the ball. This seems like obvious stuff, but it's why he's able to repeatedly get his team out of 3rd and long situations, and why he rarely turns the ball over. I see the best quarterbacks make those kinds of bad decisions WAY more often than Wilson does.

I think he only works this well alongside a strong running game though. If you try to make him do too much to make up for a weak running game I think he makes a lot more mistakes.

 

[zinfamous]

Would he be as good if the rest of his team was shitty?

Probably. did you see him play for 3 years at NC State?

also, consider that Wilson has played behind a shitty O-line with average, at best, to below average receiving options the last two years.

so...basically, he's performing very well with generally shitty options.


As to the OP--I'm going to say yes, because I am a homer.

Though I do remember Randall Cunningham having a really nice start to his career. Ditto Donovan McNabb. (but yeah, neither of them had the same success)

 

[Zenmervolt]

What impresses me about Wilson is how calm he stays in clutch situations. I don't think he's got the best arm or even the best scramble, but I seldom see him make bad decisions. He keeps his head, finds ways to keep the play alive, and doesn't make stupid decisions. I'll take that every day over a quarterback who is alternately brilliant and a dumbass.

ZV

 

[zinfamous]

Ben Roethlisberger's first 2 seasons were WAY better than Russell Wilson. The dude is a douche and probable rapist, but he was freakishly good in the beginning of his career despite playing for a team whose fans are generally retards.

I love this post. I agree with everything, too

 

[bradley]

Have Seahawk fans become overzealous or what? They have seized the obnoxiousness crown from Philly, Boston, New York and Dallas.

 

[Shlong]

Those #'s in the articles makes you appreciate how Matt Ryan has played as well, he has pretty awesome numbers.

 

[zinfamous]

Kurt Warner was awesome his first few starting seasons

yeah, well...he was pretty much a "veteran," though.

 

[Drako]

Yes, he may be.

 

[zinfamous]

Have Seahawk fans become overzealous or what? They have seized the obnoxiousness crown from Philly, Boston, New York and Dallas.

dude...it's been like, 4 days. jesus.

 

[HTFOff]

Have Seahawk fans become overzealous or what? They have seized the obnoxiousness crown from Philly, Boston, New York and Dallas.

Reminds me of the explosion of warrior fans circa baron davis. Like where the hell did you guys come from?

 

[Yongsta]

Would he be as good if the rest of his team was shitty?

Would Joe Montana be as good and have won 4 Super Bowls if he were on the Tampa Bay Bucs instead of the 49ers in the 80's?

 

[Fern]

Is Russell Wilson the greatest young QB of all time?!

No.

He's pretty good though. He's not afflicted with the Cam Newton disease of trying to be a super star (doing too much). Many say he's just a 'game manager' and that's a little unfair I think.

I think his coach and team are good and he's in the right system/situation for him.

Fern