I've come to appreciate Wilson's overall game and think he's a top quarterback despite his flaws, but I'll reiterate exactly what I've been saying for years about him and why isn't as great as his passer rating:
- He's under 6'0", and it really stands out because he can't see over linemen on a lot of plays. This leads to him scrambling around and buying time when taller QBs would have read the field a lot easier.
- He's actually better when the play breaks down and he throws on the run; that's where he gets most of his big plays and he relies on receivers athleticism over anything else.
- He seems unable to run a discliplined system of precise route running and quick passes which would lead to less sacks, mainly due to the first two points. That style doesn't suit him.
- His entire career has been a whining fest about the offensive line even though Seattle has attempted to fix it many times. Basically every quarterback that scrambles as much as him or did at one point (Watson, Rodgers) always use the line as an excuse, but 320 lbs linemen are built to be stationary and not to run around blocking guys from different angles as you tuck the ball and run like a game of playground tag.
Notice how the Packers offensive line suddenly became the best unit in football since Rodgers reigned in his scrambling under Matt LaFleur's guidance, or how the Buccaneers offensive linemen are suddenly elite when they know what they need to do for a 2.5 seconds? The Steelers supposedly had the worst line in the NFL for years, followed by the best, coinciding with Roethlisberger playing more in the pocket.
That said, I would take Wilson in a split second as the Patriots quarterback. He is a Hall of Fame QB. It's just that I wouldn't expect protection to be much better anywhere else.
