How Russell Wilson thinks he can improve

By Brady Henderson

Brock Huard has asked a handful of former NFL quarterbacks this offseason for their take on how the Seahawks’ Russell Wilson can take the next step in his second NFL season.

Russell Wilson

Hall of Famer Warren Moon thinks Wilson can improve on his intermediate throws and establish a better rapport with his slot receiver, something Moon felt was lacking during what was an otherwise stellar rookie season.

For Jim Zorn, another former Seahawk who’s now the Chiefs’ quarterbacks coach, it’s being prepared for the new looks Wilson will see from defenses who will have had a year’s worth of his tape to study.

On Wednesday, Huard got a chance to ask Wilson himself the same question.

“The thing that I’m always trying to harp on is just my footwork,” Wilson said. “Being at the Pro Bowl with guys like Drew Brees and Peyton Manning and talking to other players as well and asking them questions, the biggest thing that they said took their game to another level was just their footwork, how they worked on it every single morning, every single day.”

It makes perfect sense that Wilson would solicit advise on footwork from Brees, who’s slightly taller than Wilson but still short by NFL quarterback standards. For shorter quarterbacks, the ability to efficiently move around the pocket to find passing lanes is essential. For Brees in particular, sound footwork is commonly cited by experts on the subject as a reason he plays at an MVP level despite lacking prototypical height.

“This game’s all about timing, this game’s all about being able to maneuver,” Wilson said.

That will be a focus for Wilson as he continues his on-field work over the offseason.

“It’s about when you’re taking those extra reps in seven-on-seven, it’s not just doing the same five- or seven-step drop, you’ve got to be able to move and make the throws, even if nobody’s there,” he said. “You’ve got to have an imagination to the game. I think being able to visualize that and work on that it’s really going to allow my game to continue to elevate.”