Russell Wilson Question

[Spaulding]

The part that still confuses me is that he played behind a line that was arguably as big if not bigger than the average NFL line. How does he perform so successfully at the collegiate level and then suddenly not in the NFL? I know the game is far faster but it's not going to be a speed thing for him. I could also see where they thought he only made plays when scrambling out of the pocket but that wasn't the case either as he played quarterback the way it was meant to be played, pass first from the pocket and only scramble on breakdowns.

Would love to the Pack snag him in the 5th if possible. I think he's going to pleasantly surprise whoever drafts him as he's mature beyond his years, a natural leader and has the arm strength necessary to complete all the throws. Lack of height e damned

[Deputy Nutz]

If he was available in the later rounds the Packers would be fools for not taking him, he would be the second best starter on the roster. Thompson was around Seattle when they took Seneca Wallace so I don't think he has a adversion for taking shorter QBs.

[Smidgeon]

If he was available in the later rounds the Packers would be fools for not taking him, he would be the second best starter on the roster. Thompson was around Seattle when they took Seneca Wallace so I don't think he has a adversion for taking shorter QBs.

I'm assuming he's a more talented passer than Seneca? I ask that having gone to school at Iowa State when Seneca was there. He couldn't throw the ball, but he could destroy you running.

[woodbuck27]

1 inch more and he's a million or two ahead in the bank. Ouch.

and not possibly headed to the CFL.

[Deputy Nutz]

I'm assuming he's a more talented passer than Seneca? I ask that having gone to school at Iowa State when Seneca was there. He couldn't throw the ball, but he could destroy you running.

If Wilson was a 2 inches taller he would have been invited to New York for the Heisman presentation. He was that good and had a 70% completion rating. He is a pass first qb with the intagibles of a great athlete. He is a very smart and talented young man, but he is 5'10" and 85% of the teams out there won't draft him regardless. Usually teams stayed away from short QB because they usually had average to below average arm strength, and were also of frail build, but Wilson his stocky, can make all the throws, he can make the right reads, and he can also run.

The team that ends up with Wilson is going to be really happy, and then have a QB controversy down the road.

[Rutnstrut]

Just put lifts in his cleats

[mraynrand]

If he was available in the later rounds the Packers would be fools for not taking him, he would be the second best starter on the roster. Thompson was around Seattle when they took Seneca Wallace so I don't think he has a adversion for taking shorter QBs.

Wilson has a much higher ceiling (no pun intended) than Seneca Wallace. I've seen Seneca in practice. Wilson has better accuracy, better mechanics, better velocity. Seneca runs better.

[packrulz]

Packers GM Thompson: UW QB Wilson 'impressive' at Wisconsin's pro day

Written by
Tom Mulhern
Wisconsin State Journal
The one thing former University of Wisconsin quarterback Russell Wilson can’t change about himself prior to the NFL draft is his height.

Or can he?

Wilson measured at 5-foot-11 at UW’s pro timing day on Wednesday, or 3/8 of an inch taller than he measured at the combine and Senior Bowl.

Maybe it was his longer hair style, but it was an indication of how well things went for Wilson in front of a large contingent of NFL coaches and personnel executives.

He threw 63 passes inside the McClain Center during a lengthy workout run by former NFL quarterback Chris Weinke, who has worked with Wilson the last seven weeks.

Wilson was on target with 59 of his throws, including two drops. He clearly looked comfortable, in his element, throwing to former Badgers such as wide receivers Nick Toon and David Gilreath, tight end Jake Byrne and fullback Bradie Ewing.

“We were just trying to show everything I could possibly do,” Wilson said. “I think I had a very, very efficient day today.”

Wilson said he threw every route he could possibly throw in the NFL, including several deep balls.

“A lot of times, in these situations, at the end, scouts want to see certain throws,” Weinke said. “My plan coming in was we were going to make every throw they could ever want to see from him — and he passed with flying colors today.”

Wilson was extremely accurate last season, completing 72.8 percent of his passes (225 of 309). His accuracy didn’t drop much on the run, either.

But what he also showed the scouts was his arm strength and velocity on the ball.

When Weinke was asked about Wilson’s overall accuracy, and accuracy on the run, he said, “Those are both things he does well. But I also think what he showed today was some serious arm strength.

“Being able to drop back smoothly and be able to deliver the ball on time, with not only accuracy but some serious velocity and then to be able to show he can throw the ball down the field, I heard some ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ once he dropped a couple of those long ones in.”

Throwing against “air,” with no defenders on the field, Wilson completed several deep throws. The only deep incompletions included one overthrow to Gilreath and a drop by Gilreath, who finished his UW career in 2010.
The only other poor throws by Wilson were overthrows to Toon on an out, as well as to Toon a flag route; and a pass when Wilson led Byrne too much over the middle.

A couple of the receivers helped Wilson out with nice catches: Gilreath reached back to snag a pass slightly behind him and also made a nice catch on a ball at his knees. But most of the throws were right on target.

“I think (accuracy) is something that’s going to be huge in the NFL,” Wilson said. “Obviously, you always want to be accurate with the football. You want to deliver the ball on time and put it in a place where only your guy can get it.”

While Wilson threw at the combine in Indianapolis last month, he said that included only five different routes. This was his chance to show he could make every throw.

In addition to throwing to familiar receivers, former Badgers center Peter Konz snapped for Wilson. Konz didn’t do anything else for scouts, electing to work out in April instead, when his injured ankle should be 100 percent.

Konz missed three games last season, prior to the Rose Bowl, following a dislocated left ankle. He estimated he is about 90 percent healthy.

When asked about Wilson’s performance, Konz said, “Fantastic. We all expected that out of him, just because he’s as good as everyone thinks he is and probably even better than that. He just needs his shot.”

The NFL scouts also seemed impressed, including Green Bay Packers General Manager Ted Thompson, who is in the market for a backup quarterback.

“He’s a very impressive fellow,” Thompson said of Wilson, “articulate, knowledgeable, confident, and he projects that confidence. He’s going to be a good get for somebody.”

Wilson certainly hasn’t ended all questions about his height leading up to the draft. But he has answered them the best way he knows how, with his play.

“I’ve been this way my whole life,” he said. “My height’s not a factor. I played this way my whole life. I think I only got three balls batted down all (last) season. The key is finding lanes and delivering the ball on time.

“There’s not that much of a difference if I was 6-1, or 5-11, to be honest with you, playing behind the offensive line we play behind and the defensive players in the NFL. You don’t really see over guys, you throw through lanes, deliver an accurate ball, throw the ball with a little arc and pace and just make plays.”

[Patler]

Interesting remark in one article. Thompson apparently never misses USC pro days because of the depth of their talent. This year he passed on going to USC this week, as well as many others, to go to Wisconsin's. Speculation was that he is very interested in either Konz or Zeitler as centers and Wilson as a backup QB. Wilson and Zeitler worked out, Konz is still waiting for his ankle to heal.

[woodbuck27]

Some one who has never been in your kitchen.

Your so nice and kitchen implies simply 'milk and cookies'. Really so uncomplicated without any recourse towords considering RW's scrambling abilities.

Oooohhhhh Caaaaa Naaaaa Daaaaaa.

[Fosco33]

Interesting remark in one article. Thompson apparently never misses USC pro days because of the depth of their talent. This year he passed on going to USC this week, as well as many others, to go to Wisconsin's. Speculation was that he is very interested in either Konz or Zeitler as centers and Wilson as a backup QB. Wilson and Zeitler worked out, Konz is still waiting for his ankle to heal.

I heard Zeitler saw Thompson in Indy - outside a facility. He walked by and Ted said something like, "hey Zeitler - you're not gonna stop and say hi?".

Pretty funny.

Also interesting that Wilson grew ~.5 inch in a month. He must be getting stretched daily.

[swede]

Also interesting that Wilson grew ~.5 inch in a month. He must be getting stretched daily.

There might be some new technology out there. I get a lot of e-mails wondering if I want to add more inches.

[Smidgeon]

“He’s a very impressive fellow,” Thompson said of Wilson, “articulate, knowledgeable, confident, and he projects that confidence. He’s going to be a good get for somebody.”

AKA: Someone else will get him. If Thompson praised him this much, he's not looking at him.

[woodbuck27]

There might be some new technology out there. I get a lot of e-mails wondering if I want to add more inches.

Yea me too; fortunately it ends up in my SPAM account. Besides adding inch's doesn't improve on perfection in terms of competence.

[swede]

“He’s a very impressive fellow,” Thompson said of Wilson, “articulate, knowledgeable, confident, and he projects that confidence. He’s going to be a good get for somebody.”

AKA: Someone else will get him. If Thompson praised him this much, he's not looking at him.

^^^^
If there was a book called "The Ted Thompson Translator's Companion" this would be in it as an example of what Ted means when...