Volin On Russell Wilson: 'Schoolyard Quarterback'
BOSTON (CBS) - After talking about "DeflateGate," 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich and Ben Volin of the Boston Globe discussed the matter at hand: Super Bowl XLIX.
On Sunday afternoon, Seattle played poorly for 55 minutes and barely survived Green Bay in overtime, which changed the way Volin views the Seahawks.
The big game is just under two weeks away, and there will be plenty of time for x's and o's talk, but on Tuesday morning Volin gave an early Patriots-Seahawks preview.
"Entering Sunday I felt like Seattle was a very difficult matchup for the Patriots, if only because they do so many things well. They can get after the passer, they have linebackers that are fast enough to cover Rob Gronkowski, they have a fantastic secondary in Richard Sherman and Earl Thomas, they can run the football with Marshawn Lynch and they have a really mobile quarterback in Russell Wilson, who tends to give the Patriots problems," Volin began.
While all those points are still true, what the Packers were able to do against Seattle gives Volin reason for optimism.
"What surprised me the most was how effectively the Packers ran the ball all over the Seahawks. They've had some injuries up front this year, and while they're still fast and can get to the passer, they're susceptible to the run. They've lost a few guys in free agency from the Super Bowl team, some injuries up front, so I was very surprised to see the Packers dominate the line of scrimmage.
"I think that's where the Patriots can control the game and really establish their offense. We'll probably see a lot more LeGarrette Blount and Jonas Gray in the Super Bowl based on what I saw from the Packers. I can see the Patriots do a lot of their sixth offensive lineman, two tight ends, a lot of ground-and-pound and a lot of Tom Brady play-action, as well. If the Patriots can get the run game going against Seattle, I give them a very good chance in the Super Bowl."
Volin is also confident in the New England defense's ability to stop the Seahawks offense.
"I think the Seahawks passing game is not nearly as advanced as what the Patriots faced earlier in the year; certainly when they went through that gauntlet with Green Bay, San Diego, Detroit and those teams. I think you'll see a similar [defensive] game plan as you just saw with Andrew Luck, where they rarely blitzed, and most of the time they sent three, and even two rushers at him and dropped eight or nine guys into coverage.
"I think they'll play a lot of zone and contain Russell Wilson; don't let him escape the pocket, run around and improvise plays. Keep him in the pocket, make him stick to his first or second read and depend on your coverage guys in Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner to lock them down. Seattle has pretty average receivers -- I don't think they have too much to write home about in the passing game."
Volin, because he's a short guy as well, has an affinity for Russell Wilson.
Wilson is a tremendous athlete, but as we saw against Green Bay he can be pretty limited at times as a passer.
"I think most of [Seattle's success] has to do with Marshawn Lynch and the defense. Wilson is a nice complementary piece. He can make some throws and some unbelievable plays, but he was absolutely putrid against Green Bay for three quarters. If you can keep him contained, keep him in the pocket and make him go through his reads, I don't think he'll be very effective that way.
"I think he's mostly a schoolyard quarterback, and when the play breaks down he's so smart and heady ... he's awesome at the schoolyard stuff. If you keep him contained and on script, I think the Patriots can be successful against him."
Listen below for the full interview:
