NFL playoffs thread

[Tonus]

It's also clear that Russell Wilson is frighteningly talented for a second-year quarterback. I don't want to speculate too much, but I'm quite pleased that Seattle *finally* drafted a quarterback who shows this much promise - and delivers.

I shudder when I think about how close we were to having Matt Flynn as the starter for these past two seasons. The Seahawks would probably have been able to win enough games to pretend that he was good enough (good run game, great defense). Getting Wilson in the third round was sheer genius; you get a top-level QB at a bargain rate, which allowed them to sign guys like Avril (who stripped Brees of the ball, leading to the first TD in the MNF game).

Aside from the high level of confidence that any QB needs to succeed in the NFL, Wilson has an incredible arm and a throwing motion that should really get more attention than it does. His throwing motion is very quick and very compact. He brings the ball up along his body and slingshots it once he's got it in position. It allows him to throw on the run with very little adjustment and still deliver a hard and accurate throw. He made two or three of those against NO, throws where he had only a fraction of a second to throw and delivered a near-perfect ball to his receivers. He may actually have a quicker release than Dan Marino (and I grew up watching Marino torch the NFL).

He's very mobile but avoids the problem that so many running QBs have, which is that they take off if their first read is covered. He uses his feet to give himself and his receivers more time, and with that throwing motion he can complete passes on the move and into small windows. I think he will still occasionally scramble too much and waste an opportunity, but he seems to be learning very quickly. Smart, athletic, and far more savvy than his years. He has been fun to watch and I think we haven't seen his best yet.