Why the veteran QB can lead the Steelers to the playoffs
Following the acquisition of the star quarterback before the 2022 season, the Denver Broncos experienced a rapid decline. Their offense failed to find its rhythm, Russell Wilson faced challenges, and head coach Nathaniel Hackett was dismissed before the season concluded, joining a short list of first-time NFL head coaches who didn’t complete a full season in the role, alongside Urban Meyer and Bobby Petrino.
In 2023, Russell Wilson saw improvement on the field, but encountered challenges behind the scenes. Denver opted to bench Wilson towards the end of the season to prevent the $37 million owed to him from becoming guaranteed if he failed a physical after being released. Wilson himself revealed that the Broncos gave him an ultimatum to adjust his salary or face benching, to which he did not comply, resulting in Jarrett Stidham taking over.
Despite facing disagreements with Sean Payton and Broncos management, Wilson still managed to throw 26 touchdown passes (ranking 8th in the NFL) with just eight interceptions. He also ranked 8th in the NFL in passer rating and orchestrated four game-winning drives.
Moreover, the Super Bowl champion achieved these feats within an offensive system that didn’t entirely align with his playing style. Now, he’s transitioning into an offense that maximizes his strengths, particularly his proficiency in deep-ball passing. Last season, Wilson ranked fourth in the NFL in completions of 25 or more air yards, according to Sports Info Solutions. Additionally, he ranked third in yards and fourth in touchdowns on such passes.
Under Arthur Smith, the Steelers plan to heavily utilize play action passing, which aligns with Wilson’s proficiency in deep-ball throws. Notably, the Falcons’ offense excelled in play action deep passes last season. Desmond Ridder ranked third in the NFL in completions of 20+ air yards off play action, while Wilson ranked seventh in passing yards on similar throws and seventh in passer rating among all quarterbacks with at least 10 pass attempts in such scenarios. Remarkably, Wilson led all quarterbacks in average depth of throw at 36.4 yards, indicating his exceptional efficiency in deep passing despite consistently launching balls farther than any other quarterback in the league.
Another factor that will greatly benefit Wilson is his ability to throw with his feet firmly planted, rather than relying too much on scrambling. In 2023, when he threw with planted feet, Wilson ranked fourth in the NFL among quarterbacks with at least 100 attempts in terms of catchable pass percentage. Additionally, his passer rating while throwing with planted feet also ranked fourth in the league. With the Steelers’ strong offensive line providing protection and allowing him ample time to execute his throws, Wilson will have the opportunity to excel in an offense tailored to his strengths. In this environment, Wilson has the potential not only to perform well but to thrive and create impactful plays.
I’m not suggesting that Wilson will replicate his 2020 performance and throw 40 touchdowns. However, in this offense, he has the potential to fulfill exactly what the Steelers require of him – a dependable quarterback. Last season, the Steelers were derailed by subpar quarterbacking, forcing them to rely on luck akin to the Fast and Furious movies just to reach the playoffs. Wilson possesses the capability to steer them back on track and, perhaps, finally put an end to their lengthy playoff win drought.