Wilson at home, Flynn on the road: Seahawks need to run a 2 QB set
Jamie Squire / Getty Images
When the New York Jets brought the Sanchez/Tebow show to Seattle, commentators were quick to point out the tandem Quarterback scheme was not an effect use of manpower. The reason may have more to do with the employment and not the concept. The Seattle Seahawks are the best team in the NFL to test this theory and maybe the only team that can make the concept work. Much has been made of Russell Wilson’s progression as an NFL quarterback and it is true that he has outplayed his draft slot and like Tom Brady, the QB’s drafted before him. Despite this Russell Wilson has one glaring shortfall, an inability to win on the road. With Matt Flynn riding the pine now may be the perfect time for Head Coach Pete Carroll to run the two-man system.
Home field advantage is real, many an athlete can attest to that. Is this the reason Wilson is winning at home and losing on the road,or is something else causing his less than mediocre play outside the Emerald City? No matter the reason for the differences in his home and away performances, it is clear at home Wilson is a Superstar, on the road he is a dud. Many fans choose to ignore his shortcomings and continue to proclaim the Seahawks one of the best in the NFL. Truth is at this point they are not even the best in their division. By division record alone they are dead last in the NFC West having lost to each of the three other teams. The best Carroll, Wilson and crew can hope for in the NFC West is .500, but that may be a tall order to fill. With six games to go Seattle’s coaching staff would be wise to let Wilson handle the home games and give Flynn the ball on the road.
This is not an all together new concept in the NFL. In fact it seems the only position that does not take as seat is the Quarterback. NFL teams used to hold to the notion of the “Workhorse” Running Back, while today the two and even three back schemes have become the standard. Think of the implications a move such as this could have on the NFL. Teams would seek carry QBs for different situations. Have the best game manager and two minute drill signal callers on your bench, no problems fans you will get to see them both. Much like the starter/reliever/closer set up in Baseball, football would play the best man for the situation vice just the game.
The Seahawks would benefit in more ways than just a better road record. With two QB’s sharing the load their stats may not be as impressive but their health and durability would not be tested as often as their opponents. Each player would be able to prepare in advance for an upcoming games better because both players would have extensive playing time with the starters, and this would make the back up just that much better should he be needed. Many people have anointed Wilson the QB of the future, they have even attempted to project the number of Super Bowls he will win for Seattle. Wilson does in fact have the potential for a bright future ahead of him but he will not be elite and Seattle will not even win another division for that matter until he starts winning some road games. Then again Seattle might win some Lombardi’s, if they give the ball to Flynn for the games Russell Can’t win.
Andy Plumlee is an NFL writer for TPF and can be contacted at APlumlee@ThePenaltyFlagBlog.com.
You can’t be serious. Nobody with a football IQ would write such a piece. First off, MF & RW are two totally different QBs. One is a pocket passer where the other has the ability to make things happen with his feet. RW has been sacked 19 times and with this O-Line you could double that number with MF. What makes you think MF would be better on the road? If you recall, first game against AZ was won three separate times only to have receivers drop the ball on touchdowns. Ram game was driving for a touchdown when the receiver tripped over his feet, which led to an interception (pass was on target). He won the Carolina game. 7-drops by the receivers in the SF game and he led the game winning drive against the lions only to have the defense give up a 16 play drive to lose it. Ya bring in MF…..FOR WHAT? He won’t be a Seahawks after this year.
Stupid article. The hawks have been in every game and to put the losses on Wilson is rediculous. They were in a position to win every game. How about the rest of the team pick it up on the road? Enough said. Stupid article written by someone who doesn’t know what they are talking about.
wow! I guess you do not follow the seahawks..they have been in every loss this season..RW did his job in Detroit..the D gave up a 16 play drive!! The AZ game went to OT they barely lossed to a SB contending 9ers
What, are you insane? Where the hell do you think Flynn is better than Wilson on the road? RW has shown real progress every game. I would like some of the weed you’ve been smoking. What a crock.
Flynnn should have been the starter anyway. It was a scripted so-called competition with Flynn playing against a top D in Denver with no starting WR’s ( I don’t think any of them made the team) and half the O-line . While RW played against worst in the league D of Kansis City . We have seen RW look great and look terrible. It made no sense to not let him learn from the sideline while Flynn started and then have a more prepared player later in the year or next year!
Well HAWKMAN w/9 TD’S and 0 Int’s and a QB rating of over 125 in the last for games, its clear the kid has already surpassed anything he may have learned from Flynn and his vast NFL experience of 2 starts, wait till next year? COME ON MAN!!!
worst article I have ever read
Until Coach PC leads the Seahawks to win the Lombardi trophy, the Seahawks are just a NFL team in the NW corner of the USA.
Wilson’s one glaring shortfall is his play on the road? The Seahawks have been in every road game this year up until the end, and most of the reasons the team hasn’t won in them is either due to the Defense, drops by wide receivers, or offensive penalties, not the play of the quarterback. Wilson has led the offense on scoring drives within the final 5 minutes to bring his team ahead several times, only to have a penalty bring them back, or the defense let the opposing team march for a victory (Arizona, Detroit, and Miami, to name a few). This article looks like it was written by someone with access to a Monday morning newspaper box score article sand not an NFL Ticket television package to actually watch the games. Also, divisional records are only a PART of the team’s entire record, all of the Seahawk’s divisional games thus far have come on the road. Wait until those same teams play in Seattle.
I’m all for picking this team apart, but do it with qualified points, not just a ridiculous, far fetched take of an idea that will never work in the NFL.
Perhaps the Seahawks should have a road and home defense and an away offensive line? Not really, most likely, they should just focus on the 3rd down shortcomings. As for you Raggedy Andy, I hope you learn from your reader’s comments that you should watch the games you offer opinions on. At a minimum study the stats, the film, or at least consult someone who understands the subject before you pen another article bound for national publication and certain criticism.