Keep in mind that time Russell Wilson led the Steelers to 37 factors and all was proper with the world? He solely took one sack in that recreation, and it appeared just like the offense had lastly discovered its stride. Effectively, if they’d a stride, they’ve actually fallen off of it.
That’s no extra true than in go safety, through which Russell Wilson shares appreciable blame. Traditionally some of the sack-prone quarterbacks, he’s dwelling as much as the billing with the Steelers. Actually, since his clear begin, he has been taking sacks at a career-worst fee. It seems the sport towards the Jets was a mirage.
Excluding scrambles, Wilson dropped again to go 29 instances towards the Jets, taking one sack. That may be a very wholesome sack fee of simply 3.33 %, which is the place you wish to be. The issue is, he and the Steelers have been round or above 10 % for the previous 4 weeks.
Russell Wilson has taken 543 sacks in his profession, quickly to go Ben Roethlisberger for the fourth-most in NFL historical past. He has taken a sack on 8.54 % of his drop backs since coming into the NFL, with two seasons above 10 %. At his worst, the present Steelers quarterback was sacked on 10.67 % of his drop backs in 2018 in Seattle.
Over the previous 4 video games, he takes a sack at charges even increased than that. For the season, Wilson is being sacked on 9.7 % of his drop backs, which is already the fourth-worst for his profession. However since Week 8, he takes a sack on 11.11 % of his drop backs.
The Steelers have allowed a sack on Wilson 15 instances over the previous 4 video games, at the least three in every. He has 120 go makes an attempt in that point. With 135 drop backs and 15 sacks, he’s on tempo to take probably the most sacks per drop again of his profession.
Russell Wilson is the frequent denominator in his career-long excessive sack fee, in fact. Nevertheless it’s laborious to actually assess the Steelers in go safety on condition that Justin Fields additionally traditionally takes a excessive fee of sacks. With the attention take a look at, it does seem like an space of concern proper now, particularly at proper sort out.
However Wilson’s personal points solely exacerbate the issue, together with his diminished mobility over time. At instances, he appears each bit his age, even when he thinks he can nonetheless run like he’s 25. The Steelers have to avoid wasting him from himself in these conditions, however they’re not.
It doesn’t assist that the Steelers are pressured to begin two rookies. RG Mason McCormick admitted the Browns threw some completely different fronts at them that gave the offense points. Zach Frazier has had an excellent rookie season. However enjoying with a rookie has a ripple impact on the entire line, and on the quarterback. Wilson and firm at all times have to make certain they know what they’re doing—even when they virtually at all times do.
