On Sunday, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Russell Wilson did one thing that no Steelers quarterback has completed since Ben Roethlisberger. When he discovered new WR Mike Williams for the game-winning rating, Wilson threw his third landing of the sport. No Steelers quarterback since Roethlisberger had achieved that feat till Wilson did so in opposition to the Washington Commanders.
Since taking on because the Steelers’ beginning quarterback, Wilson has thrown six landing passes versus one interception and run in one other landing. The offense as a complete has seemed higher than it has in years as properly. So regardless of the variations in stature, Colin Cowherd is invoking Roethlisberger’s title when discussing Wilson and the Steelers’ offense.
“The Steelers are 3-0 with Russell Wilson, averaging about 30 a recreation,” stated Cowherd on the Colin Cowherd Podcast per The Quantity on X/Twitter. “It’s the primary time in a number of years they’ve the offense shifting. He’s not nice from the pocket, however he throws a very nice deep ball. And once I watch what he’s completed to Pittsburgh, it’s a bit of Massive Ben. He’s a completely totally different participant. He’s introduced the deep ball again to the Steelers.”
Little Massive Ben sounds oxymoronic, like jumbo shrimp. However I don’t suppose Cowherd is asking Wilson a bit of Massive Ben right here. We will’t anticipate Wilson to wriggle out of a few of the spots that Roethlisberger made look routine throughout his profession. Cowherd is saying the impression is a bit of like having Massive Ben again beneath middle throwing deep. And up to now, Wilson is certainly attacking downfield at one of many highest charges in his profession.
Per Professional Soccer Reference, Wilson’s supposed air yards per try is at 9.5 yards by means of three video games. This tracks how far a quarterback is throwing the ball down the sector whether or not accomplished or not. It’s second solely to Wilson’s final season with the Seattle Seahawks in 2021. Sadly, PFR’s numbers solely return to 2018 so we will’t see earlier in his profession.
However Wilson’s quantity is definitely larger than any of Roethlisberger’s final 4 seasons in Pittsburgh. So we’ve been speaking about how Wilson is doing issues that haven’t been completed since Roethlisberger was quarterback. However he’s throwing the ball downfield greater than even Roethlisberger was late in his profession.
And that’s what Cowherd is getting at. The Steelers are scoring factors and shifting the ball higher with Russell Wilson at quarterback than they’ve in years. And at this level, which may even embody Ben Roethlisberger’s closing years in Pittsburgh, too.
