Class of ’12 QBs are taking big hits
Wilson, Smith going down at record rate
Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson darted this way Monday night against the Detroit Lions. He darted that way. He eluded. He improvised. It certainly wasn’t by choice. The pass rushers of the Lions were on his heels or in his face practically the entire night.
So it has gone this season for Wilson. And so it has gone quite regularly for the quarterbacks of the 2012 NFL draft class.
Wilson has joined the other members of that celebrated group — the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck, the Washington Redskins’ Robert Griffin III and the Miami Dolphins’ Ryan Tannehill — in dealing with offensive line issues.
They have been, at least until this season, a mostly accomplished class. Griffin was the NFL’s offensive rookie of the year in 2012. Luck quickly established himself as one of the league’s most productive passers and took the Colts to an AFC title game last season. Wilson has been to two Super Bowls and won one of them. Tannehill appeared to be an ascending quarterback.
But there have been struggles, particularly this season. And pass-protection woes have played a role in that.
Griffin’s magnificent rookie season has been followed by injuries and disappointing play. He has lost the starting job to Kirk Cousins and his future with the Redskins is uncertain. The number of hits absorbed by Griffin, both as a runner and as a passer, has been raised as an issue by many observers throughout his NFL tenure.
He was under heavy passrush pressure from the Lions and exited a preseason game this year with a concussion. Cousins took over as the starter at that point and has not relinquished the job. The praise being given to the Redskins’ offensive line for its improvement this season has come with Griffin on the bench.
Luck has been hit with such regularity during his Colts career that Coach Chuck Pagano said earlier this season the young quarterback should be accustomed to dealing with it. Has that caught up to Luck and the Colts? He missed his team’s last two games — Sunday’s overtime win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ailing right shoulder, giving way to veteran backup Matt Hasselbeck, and the Colts’ Thursday night win over Houston.
Tannehill was sacked a total of 139 times in his first three NFL seasons with the Dolphins even while improving his passer rating each season from 76.1 as a rookie in 2012 to 81.7 in ’13 to 92.8 last season.
But things have unraveled this season. Tannehill has a passer rating of 77.1, Miami is 1-3 and after the firing of Joe Philbin, Tannehill must now adapt to a new head coach.
Wilson is the third-round pick who landed in a great situation in Seattle, one with a productive running game and dominant defense, and made things even better with his play.
Despite his elusiveness, he was sacked 119 times over his first three seasons. But that has gone way up this season as Wilson has been sacked 18 times in four games.
That ties him with Kansas City’s Alex Smith as the league’s most frequently sacked quarterbacks this season. They are on pace to be sacked 72 times each, which would be four shy of the NFL record suffered by David Carr with the Texans in 2002.
“We’re taking … sacks at an alarming rate right now,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said at a news conference this week. “We can improve it. … We can all do better — the quarterbacks in terms of getting the ball out at times, receivers shaking open on time, offensive line protecting him, myself helping in any way that I can to give us better chances to do all three of those things.”
Wilson was sacked six times Monday night by the Lions and lost two fumbles. But he also managed to throw for 287 yards and a touchdown as the Seahawks, aided by a late officiating gaffe acknowledged by the NFL, held on to win, 13-10.
It gets no easier for Wilson and the Seahawks this weekend as they play today at Cincinnati. The Bengals are 4-0 and their defense is tied for sixth in the NFL with its 11 sacks.
Former NFL offensive lineman Ross Tucker said recently he sees league-wide offensive line issues.
“It’s not great,” Tucker said. “Everyone says there aren’t enough good players to go around. That’s part of it. But there’s more to it than that. Teams are throwing the ball more than ever. They’re throwing the ball more and more from spread formations. That’s harder on an offensive line.
“Defenses are doing a better job of making sure they have four really good pass rushers out there. You didn’t used to see that when I played. Teams have recognized that these part-time guys, these passrush specialists, are basically starters, and they are valued. You’re seeing more and more exotic blitzes.”
Many offensive linemen come into the NFL unprepared for what they will face, Tucker said, and few offensive lines around the league remain intact long enough to become truly efficient. But he said he’s not ready yet to pass final judgment.
“Let’s see it in November and December,” he said. “Right now, it’s just the offensive lines that have been together (performing well).”
Seahawks at Bengals, 11
a.m., Fox: It is a short workweek for the Seahawks after they benefited from an officiating mistake to even their record at 2-2 with Monday night’s triumph at home over the Lions. Things get much tougher now as they go on the road to face one of the league’s best teams and one of its hottest QBs in Andy Dalton.
Top games to watch
Patriots at Cowboys, 2:25
p.m.: The Patriots return from their bye to continue attempting to exact their DeflateGate revenge. It’s not airing on the local CBS affiliate, which opted to show Denver at Oakland. Find a satellite, a sports bar, or a radio.
Redskins at Falcons, 11
a.m.: Falcons offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan has an accurate pocket passer in Matt Ryan, a dominant receiver in Julio Jones and an emerging runner in Devonta Freeman. Will that enable him to get the best of the franchise that fired him and his father?
Rams at Packers, 11 a.m., CBS: The Rams already have wins over the Seahawks and Cardinals this season. Can they beat another of the NFL’s top teams? Jaguars at Buccaneers, 11 a.m.: This game is about as unsightly as it gets.
Bears at Chiefs, 11 a.m.: Which is less effective: Jay Cutler throwing the ball to the other team or the Chiefs throwing the ball sideways?
Saints at Eagles, 11 a.m.: Is there any way for Chip Kelly to make things worse?
49ers at Giants, 6:30 p.m., NBC: Did the 49ers really think parting ways with Jim Harbaugh was a good idea? Steve Smith Sr., WR, Ravens ( back) : Smith is out vs. Cleveland.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks ( hamstring ) : Did not play Monday night against the Lions and it’s not clear if he’ll be ready to face the Bengals.
DeSean Jackson, WR, Redskins (hamstring): Participated in individual drills Wednesday, raising the possibility he is nearing a return.
LeSean McCoy, RB, Bills (hamstring): Has missed one game and didn’t practice Wednesday.
Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills (calf): Like McCoy, did not practice Wednesday.
Best matchup
Packers QB Aaron Rodgers vs. Rams’ pass rushers: St. Louis is tied for second in the league with 17 sacks. DT Aaron Donald leads the Rams with 3.5 sacks and DE Robert Quinn has three. If the Rams can put pressure on Rodgers without having to blitz, it increases their chances to pull off another upset.