Following the signing of veteran quarterback and future Corridor of Famer Russell Wilson, pleasure has been relatively excessive surrounding the Pittsburgh Steelers, particularly because the Wilson signing was a part of a really busy offseason so far.
Expectations although, these are one other factor totally.
Whereas Wilson has the resume to succeed in Canton someday, he isn’t the identical quarterback he was throughout the peak of his powers on the place. In reality, he’s coming off a tough stretch to shut his profession in Seattle after which a foul first season in Denver. Whereas he turned it round in 2023 for the Denver Broncos, throwing for 3,070 yards, 26 touchdowns and simply eight interceptions, expectations relating to Wilson and the match with the Steelers appear to be all over.
For ESPN and FTN analyst Aaron Schatz, Wilson isn’t a washed-up quarterback, and he definitely isn’t an amazing one at this level both. Throughout an look on the “North Shore Drive” podcast Wednesday with the Put up-Gazette’s Christopher Carter, Schatz summed up Wilson by calling him “meh.”
“He’s not washed. He’s simply meh,” Schatz stated of Wilson, in keeping with video through the Put up-Gazette on YouTube. “He hasn’t been horrible. Two years in the past, he was fairly dangerous. Final 12 months he was not horrible. We had him twenty second in whole worth, passing worth, and he was a bit of bit beneath common, ? So I believe that’s what you’re getting with Russell Wilson. You’re getting a bit of bit beneath common with some highs and a few lows.
“He’ll make some choices that’ll drive you nuts, and he’ll do some good issues, too. And I believe if the protection performs in addition to the Steelers protection can play, then this crew could make the playoffs with that.”
Realistically, based mostly on the best way the Steelers have constructed their roster and leaned into the fashion of play that they need below head coach Mike Tomlin, which is a ground-and-pound fashion offensively whereas leaning on a star-studded protection to win low-scoring video games, Wilson matches effectively.
He’s not going to make the essential mistake, he’s going to handle the soccer, often hit the large play down the sphere, and can present a gradual presence to the Steelers, one thing they haven’t had on the place since Ben Roethlisberger retired.
Listening to that the brand new beginning quarterback is simply “meh” definitely can’t be thrilling for a lot of Steelers followers, however based mostly on the play the franchise has gotten the final two seasons on the place, “meh” and completely common ought to be greater than adequate for the Steelers to win 10-plus video games and possibly even squeak out a win within the playoffs.
Wilson’s numbers final season in Denver had been sturdy earlier than he was benched to keep away from harm, permitting the Broncos to get out of his contract.
Now, he’s in Pittsburgh, rejuvenated and again in a help system that would get the most effective out of him once more. Keep in mind, in Seattle throughout his early days he had an amazing working sport and a star-studded protection round him to hold the load, permitting Wilson to play inside himself, to not do an excessive amount of, and win a variety of video games.
The Steelers are hoping that’s what occurs once more at this level in his profession with Wilson. It’s all there for him.
The query then turns into: will Wilson need to play that manner? That continues to be to be seen. However at 35 years outdated, he’s nearing the tip of his profession and has to know he isn’t what he as soon as was.
Pleasure is excessive following his addition to the Steelers, however expectations are one other factor totally. Schatz tried to mood these expectations.
