If there is one player who will have the biggest say in today’s Rose Bowl tilt between the Oregon Ducks and Wisconsin Badgers, it’s Badgers quarterback Russell Wilson. Don’t believe the height- or the knocks about Wilson’s height- because this guy is one of the best five quarterbacks in college football. Heck, he is probably a top three quarterback if people can look past his 5’11” frame (an inch or two too generous). This is a guy who can make all the throws and can beat you with his legs if need be; the Ducks have to be wary of his talent.
Wilson was a solid quarterback in his three years with N.C. State, but he has rose to an elite level in 2011 with the Wisconsin Badgers. The main reason is his decision making. In his three seasons with N.C. State, Wilson’s interception percentage was a respectable 2.2%. This season, it has been halved to a stellar 1.1%. His completion percentage has risen from 58.4% to an insane 72.5% in just one season, and this isn’t only about statistics. When watching Wilson play, you notice the difference in his approach to the game as a passer. He doesn’t force the ball into coverage anymore, and his accuracy has really improved.
We always talk about accuracy in terms of completion percentage, but the truth is that all accuracy isn’t created equal. That’s not a problem with regards to Russell Wilson, as he is accurate when throwing to all sections of the field. Over the course of this college football season, Wilson has completed 52.4 percent of his passes on throws of at least 15 yards with a TD-INT ratio of 5:1. In fact, those two picks both came in that infamous game-for Badgers fans- against Michigan State.
As far as intangibles go, Wilson is a hard worker, a leader, and performs well in the clutch. There is no doubt that he already has the Ducks exceptional secondary scouted out, but it will still be a tough, interesting matchup against such a deep and quick group of defensive backs. Wilson has two star wideouts Jake Abbrederis and Nick Toon, and he should be his usual self (elite) in the Rose Bowl.
Although Russell Wilson is one of the more athletic quarterbacks in college football and can do damage with his feet, he does a great job of not bailing too often. Wilson excels on bootleg passes and can hit his receivers on the run. However, Wilson sometimes struggles when under pressure in the pocket. He will be tested against a Ducks defense that averages 3.3 sacks per game and is among the top three defenses at generating sacks. The Badgers, on the other hand, have inconsistent pass blocking that is decent overall; but they do give up their fair share of sacks.
Wilson is easily the best quarterback in the Big Ten, and he led the league with 11.8 adjusted yards per attempt. He had 31 touchdowns with just 3 interceptions and 10.1 yards per attempt off of a completion percentage of 72.5%. His overall passer rating is an astounding 191.6, and he can beat you deep with an average of 14.0 yards per completion.
One of the biggest problems with Russell Wilson as a quarterback is his pocket presence. He has the accuracy, the incredible arm strength that allows him to zip throws in there, and the athleticism and ability to elongate plays with his feet. However, he gets uncomfortable in the pocket, struggles without a clear passing lane, and he starts to throw off his back foot and is far less accurate in these situations. Wilson especially struggled with this in the game against Michigan State, because he is considerably worse when junk gets around his feet.
The Ducks are going to have an extremely difficult time stopping Russell Wilson, and he is the biggest factor in this Rose Bowl matchup. Oregon must do all they can to stop such an elite passer, and this is yet another thing that makes this Rose Bowl matchup so enticing. I really can’t wait to watch some football today; this game is going to be great no matter who wins.
Go Ducks!
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