Winning NFL MVP is a huge honor that few people have ever had, and Russell Wilson is still getting better. This is his year. The defense is going to look radically different and so more pressure will be put on Wilson. He was the entire offense on his back already, as evidenced by him scoring almost every single touchdown the Seahawks got last year. Now the pressure is mounting and I think he will respond like he always does. Wilson will attack his training and preparation and I am predicting he throws for more than 30 touchdowns in 2018.
This will be his seventh year with the Seahawks, and while with the team he has averaged almost 3,700 yards passing, close to 27 passing touchdowns, a 64% completion rate and less than 10 interceptions a year. I agree, those aren’t out of this world but he has shown the ability to be the most dominant quarterback in the game today. Everyone remembers in 2015 when he threw for 24 touchdowns and one interception in the last 7 games of the season, he was the hot pick for MVP that year. Cam Newton ended up winning after having a spectacular season too. Newton passed for one more touchdown and two more interceptions with a lower completion percentage in 2015. He won MVP because the Panthers went 15-1 and he had ten rushing touchdowns to go along with the passing stats. That is what it takes to keep Wilson from the MVP, an extraordinary player having a terrific year.
Wilson is losing some of his favorite targets this year like Jimmy Graham, Paul Richardson and Luke Willson. I don’t think this will slow him down as much as people think. Doug Baldwin and Wilson have some weird telepathy or something and they have the ability to make almost any play together. Baldwin has proven himself as one of the best receivers in football and I think he is going to have a very good year this year. Tyler Lockett has had some growing pains as a young receiver and injuries have not helped his learning process, but he has wheels and very good hands. Lockett is a natural receiver and is dangerous on short and long passes because of his run after the catch ability, it is one of the things that make him such a dangerous kick returner.
The Seahawks got rid of Tom Cable this offseason and brought back Tom Solari as their offensive line coach, he coached the offensive line for the Seahawks before Pete Carroll and John Schneider came in. I think this will be a good thing for this offensive line. Having Duane Brown for a whole offseason working with the young guys and everyone working together can only mean improvement for them as a unit. Having a better offensive line will make the run game smoother and will open up the passing game and protect Wilson.
Even before the draft has started, I can see the Seahawks are in a good spot with Russell Wilson at the helm for this season and any seasons to come. Let’s see if he can win an MVP along the way.
