Mike Tomlin eloquently answered an innocent question the other day about comparing emerging NFL rookie Jayden Daniels to Lamar Jackson, who appears to be on track to win his third NFL MVP award. the NFL.
“Dude, be real slow about comparing people to Lamar Jackson,” the Pittsburgh Steelers the coach said after the comeback victory against the Commanders on Sunday. “He’s a multi-time MVP. It’s Mr. Jackson. We will see Mr. Jackson in a few days.
Hardly a knock for Daniels, Tomlin’s response expressed the ultimate respect for Jackson, coming up for the Steelers this weekend.
Which brings us to Tomlin’s own quarterback, Russell Wilson.
Tomlin’s respect for Wilson — a definite contrast to what the veteran quarterback got last season from Sean Payton in Denver — is undoubtedly a driving factor in this revival.
It’s not just the moon ball, stupid.
Tomlin, as he reminded us a few weeks ago when he moved from Justin Fields to Wilson, is well paid to make such a courageous move in the face of all the critics, analysts, pundits, armchair quarterbacks, talking heads and pundits who proclaimed he was basically off his rocker for making that decision while his team was producing a 4-2 start with Fields.
I guess Tomlin, who has never had a losing season in more than 17 years as Steelers coach, didn’t see this as the big risk so many others have assumed — if Wilson was fully healed from the calf injury that destroyed his rise since the first week of training camp. He surely sensed months ago where this might lead us.
And look at them now. Critics have been silenced, at least for now. They are 3-0 with Wilson at quarterback and the Steelers offense has had numbers, production and sizzle not seen since Ben Roethlisberger was in the mix. Although Fields, 25, gave the Steelers dimension that involved runs designed for the mobile quarterback, new coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense came alive with balance and explosive passing plays. The Steelers are averaging 30.3 points per game since Wilson (6 TD, 1 INT) became a starter.
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Of course, there’s so much football left and Wilson, 35, will make his official introduction to one of the NFL’s most intense rivalries on Sunday when the Baltimore Ravens travel to Burgh with first place in the AFC North in game.
Yet what happened for the Steelers (7-2) with Wilson under center illustrates what Tomlin undoubtedly imagined he could achieve with a seasoned warrior. Along with Wilson’s arcing rainbow-fueled deep passing game and connection to emerging big-game artist George Pickens, which complements the traditional commitment to a rushing attack and big play defense, quarterback presence is a huge part of the equation.
An example of what you’ve been doing recently happened on Sunday. To knock out the win in Washington, the Steelers overcame a 10-point second-half deficit, a fourth-quarter goal-line fumble and a lost pass on a fake punt from their 16-yard line early of the game which put a touchdown of the commanders.
Despite all that, Wilson didn’t flinch when it mattered most. This has been quite a trend in his three starts, with Wilson posting a perfect 158.3 passer rating in the fourth quarter thanks to a 78.6% completion rate, three TD passes and zero picks.
The game-winning touchdown against the Commanders came on a beautiful 32-yard throw to Mike Williams from the Jets just before the trade deadline Tuesday. The victory was clinched by a penalty after Wilson used his cadence to draw rookie defensive tackle Johnny Newton offside, thwarting a punt that would have given Washington the chance to play football on a late drive. minute.
Big-time quarterback stuff. That balance with the game on the line – Wilson has now led 32 fourth-quarter comebacks, more than any other quarterback since entering the NFL with the Seahawks in 2012 as a third-round pick – is surely one of the reasons why Tomlin had it changed.
“I think he’s still writing that story,” Tomlin said during his Tuesday news conference. “To be completely honest with you, there were a myriad of reasons why I had that posture; his CV is part of it, his experience. And I thought his experience could be an asset to our unit and our team. And it played out. His talents. His appetite for big moments, and I think that came into play.
“There are a myriad of reasons and I think that will continually be revealed because of the circumstances that he and we will be in. I’m excited to face these things with him. Frankly, I’m excited that he is improving.
Of course, while Pittsburgh hasn’t won a playoff game since 2016, another reason for confidence in Wilson could be just a few weeks away. The resume that Tomlin often cites so reverently when discussing Wilson includes two Super Bowl appearances with the Seahawks – one a blowout victory powered by the Legion of Doom defense, the other a sealed defeat with the Wilson’s goal-line interception in the final minute.
Whatever edge Wilson has to prove he can still be a championship quarterback is part of this equation. We’ll see how it goes.
He protected the football well; his only turnover was a deep third-down heave at Washington that was essentially a punt. Meanwhile, while the success rate (58.8%) is lower with deep shots, there is little grace with a 50% scorer in the red zone (7 touchdowns in 14 possessions) – especially given a busy schedule which includes all divisional matches. against the Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals and Cleveland Browns, plus a Christmas game against the Kansas City Chiefs and a cross-state trip to Philadelphia.
As Tomlin says: “There is an element of ‘getting better’ to this discussion. »
Meanwhile, it is clear that these about-faces cut both ways as some prominent analysts – among them Dan Orlovsky, Mark Schlereth and the apologetic Chris Long – have walked back their previously harsh criticisms.
But why was the hatred against Wilson so intense in the first place?
Either way, at least Wilson is back in position – in the right place, at the right time, with the right supporting cast – to have a chance to prove Tomlin right and earn major respect by seizing this moment .
This article was originally published on USA TODAY: Russell Wilson and Mike Tomlin silenced critics of Steelers QB decision
