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A Mobile Russell Wilson Is Key To Seattle Seahawks’ Super Bowl Hopes

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If the Seattle Seahawks want to avoid a loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLIX, the focus is going to have to be on getting Russell Wilson comfortable.

The Green Bay Packers did a masterful job of keeping Wilson stationary in the pocket, and it showed, as Wilson tossed four interceptions and didn’t ever really look settled until overtime. Such is the curse with mobile quarterbacks:  there’s a natural tendency they rely on to run away from the pressure. It’s a great weapon when you have that ability, but it makes a huge difference if a defense can take that option away and force a quarterback to be less dimensional.

With this approach, it’s where the Packers’ weakness becomes the Patriots’ strength. The Packers have a secondary that is adequate — not elite, but certainly not the worst — but there’s no real game-changer back there. Conversely, the Patriots have a strong secondary led by All-Pro Darrelle Revis. Add in solid players like safety Devin McCourty and the ex-Seahawk Brandon Browner, and it’s safe to say that they won’t be missing the plays the Packers’ back four did. That wild two-point conversion throw? No way does that work with the Patriots.

You also have to look at how the Seahawk receivers match up against this formidable pass defense. Revis is going to win his matchup more often than not — that’s just a given. Not only does Browner have the size advantage, he used to practice against these receivers every day and knows their every tendency.

But this is where Wilson’s mobility can become a big difference. With that strong secondary behind them, I have to think the Patriots commit extra resources to stopping Marshawn Lynch and let the secondary handle business on its own. Stacking the box may slow Lynch down, but it’s going to leave them vulnerable on the edges where Wilson’s speed can be a killer. If Wilson can get to the edges and pick up yardage, he’ll stretch out those linebackers and give Lynch some more room to work with in the middle.

Also important to note is that if Wilson can own those outside runs, Revis and Browner will feel the need to close in on him more, thus opening up room behind them for Doug Baldwin and Jermaine Kearse. Wilson has plenty of accuracy when he’s settled into a groove — those two big throws he had in overtime were just about perfectly placed in there. He can put the ball where it needs to be, and with a little extra space, Wilson can take advantage and maybe get his hands on that Lombardi Trophy once again.

Doug Green is a blogger for www.RantSports.com covering the Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.  Follow him on Twitter @DGreenNFL

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