What Russell Wilson's frustrations could mean for him, Seattle Seahawks moving forward
SEATTLE -- Three sacks and eight quarterback strikes failed to tell the story of just how much Russell Wilson was under fire through a 17-9 loss to the Green Bay Packers from the 2017 season opener. Wilson was pressured on 44 percent of his dropbacks. The Seattle Seahawks' pass block win rate of 24% still stands because their third worst in almost any game since ESPN started tracking the stat this year.
Afterward, Wilson tipped his cap to Green Bay's defense, praised some of his offensive teammates looked ahead to another game with his normal positivity. "We'll have to figure out what we will need to do to get just a little bit better; it's really that easy," he explained. "It wasn't like we were far off or something like that."
Wilson replied questions that afternoon exactly the exact same way he has during his nine-year NFL career -- without even uttering a important word. That is the reason why it was so jarring when he went public with his frustration over all the hits he's taken and said his desire for more say in the team's personnel decisions.
"I think that is a big thing that we've got to fix," he said of Seattle's pass protection. "That's got to be repaired and must be at the end of the day, as my purpose is to play with 10 to 15 more years" It doesn't look to be a coincidence that Wilson's comments came two days after Super Bowl LV. He wants to do what Tom Brady is doing -- play and win well into his 40s -- but understands that may not be sensible if the status quo continues.
He'll be 33 next year and performs in a division with star pass-rushers like Chandler Jones, Nick Bosa and reigning Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald, whose dominance of the Seahawks continued with two more sacks from the wild-card around to send Seattle into another early playoff exit.