The Seattle Seahawks traded a first-round pick (among others) for Percy Harvin in anticipation that he would provide a dynamic weapon for the Russell Wilson-led offense.
Regrettably, Harvin was forced to undergo hip surgery, with initial reports speculating that he could miss the entire 2013 season. Surgeons fortunately completed the procedure without any complications. The Seahawks (as of Aug. 1) now project their marquee offseason pickup returning to practice by late November.
Still, Harvin would miss his team’s first 12 games under that prognosis. Assuming that timetable holds true, how will Harvin’s absence affect second-year quarterback Wilson?
Wilson took the football world by storm during his very first year as an NFL starter. He completed 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,118 yards and 26 touchdowns next to just 10 interceptions, earning an impressive 100.0 passer efficiency rating.
He earned the respect of his peers and coaches by logging top-10 marks in seven different statistical categories, not to mention top-three honors for passing TD percentage and game-winning drives with five. We also must not forget his effectiveness at running the ball. Totaling 489 yards and four scores on a 5.2-yard average are testament to his dual-threat ability.
So, if Wilson accomplished such lofty numbers without Harvin—and with the likes of receivers Sidney Rice, Golden Tate and running back Marshawn Lynch—what could he have attained with him on the field?
Harvin would have served as the perfect weapon in read-option formations.
Wilson could sell the dive himself or handoff to Lynch, while Harvin advances in the ball in a reverse-like fashion out of the backfield. Wilson could also execute a more traditional play-action fake to one of his running backs and then hit Harvin bursting from the slot or out wide.
Yet another option would involve Harvin as a decoy. He could fake the pitch to Harvin and either take it himself, hand it to Lynch or utilize his strong arm by launching it to a streaking Rice downfield.
Wilson would have executed a dynamic quick-strike, quick-score offense with Harvin utilizing his speed and elusiveness all over the gridiron. Without the receiver-returner-running back extraordinaire, Seattle’s offense becomes more predictable. It places more pressure on Wilson and Lynch—who accumulated a physically punishing 315 carries last year—to make plays.
But regardless of said pressure or Wilson averaging a mere 182.2 yards passing per game, he still made it happen game in and game out. He simply possesses the intangibles, moxy, football intelligence and comprehensive skill set to consistently win at the pro level.
No. 3 may very well end up throwing more interceptions as a result of an increased passing attack with limited weapons and an absent Harvin. But it won’t cost the Seahawks a spot in the postseason.
Wilson will just have to work that much harder. We believe he’s up to the task.
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