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Russell Wilson has had one of the worst debut seasons with a new team in recent memory. Everything that could go wrong pretty much did, but the 2023 campaign is not going to be a repeat of that and he will prove his haters wrong.
As is often the case in professional sports, there is a bizarre fascination, bordering on enjoyment, when elite names or teams fail. The Dallas Cowboys have found this to be the case, with almost the entire NFL rooting against them on an annual basis. Russell Wilson can consider himself to be a similar victim in 2022.
Having pushed his way out of Seattle, the Denver Broncos felt they were just an elite QB away from Super Bowl contention. Wilson arrived and expectations hit fever pitch in Colorado. However, what followed was a 5-12 season in which many began to consider the Wilson trade as one of the worst financial moves in NFL history.
There is no denying that 2022 has been a poor year for Wilson and that his contract has a long way to run. However, you don’t become a bad quarterback overnight, especially as a Super Bowl winner.
2023 could be a bounce-back year for the former Seahawks star, and in Denver no less.
Why Russell Wilson will prove his haters wrong
#1. A new head coach
Denver entered 2023 searching for a new head coach. Despite being interviewed by a number of NFL teams, there is a belief that the cash-rich Broncos will have an advantage when it comes to hiring Sean Payton.
Payton is ready to return to the NFL and has an extremely good history with changing the fortunes of a quarterback for the better. He is credited with helping Drew Brees out of a potentially career-ending scenario and making him one of the best performing quarterbacks to ever play the game.
Russell Wilson is perfectly suited to Sean Payton's offensive scheme. It focuses on the quarterback being able to make big throws for significant yardage gains. It’s no coincidence that Drew Brees threw for over 5,000 yards in a season on multiple occasions under Payton’s watchful eye.
‘Let Russ Cook’ wasn’t something that Nathaniel Hackett was comfortable with before his firing. Payton would be. His entire offensive structure is centered around getting the best out of his quarterback.
On his day, Russell Wilson remains one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. You don’t lose that ability in one year. Payton will be able to rebuild his confidence with how easy it is to gain yards in his offensive scheme.
Even if the Broncos don't go for Payton, they will get someone who will build the offense around Wilson. They've simply invested too much in Russell Wilson to let him fail and if they meet him halfway, the results will follow.
Once his confidence is back up, Wilson will then begin to play in a more natural way and the results will be a vast improvement on 2022.
#2. Expectations will be lower
Denver Broncos fans are at their lowest point. For years, they were convinced that their roster was of Super Bowl quality if an elite quarterback finally arrived. Russell Wilson was supposed to be that elite quarterback. He was supposed to carry the Broncos to the promised land, but the results have been disastrous.
Many Denver fans have already given up on the former Seattle starter. They feel his contract is going to be a millstone round the franchise’s neck without any chance of an on-field reprieve. As such, there isn’t the level of expectation on Wilson that there was heading into the 2023 campaign.
At the start of the 2022 season, it was expected that Wilson would guide the team to the latter stages of the playoffs. At this point, Denver fans are expecting another season outside of the post-season in 2023.
These lowered expectations could remove some pressure from the QB’s shoulders, and in a new offensive structure that could help him regain his form.
#3. A calm offseason
Russell Wilson knew he wanted to be traded away from the Seahawks before the end of the 2021 season. However, the Seattle franchise didn’t necessarily make it clear they would allow him to move.
The start of the offseason was filled with statements from Seattle’s staff that they were planning for Wilson to be their starting QB in 2022. This caused a lot of disruption and Wilson had to try and force a trade.
An offseason period with a new team is rarely calm, and there are so many adjustments that have to be made. You need to relocate your family, get used to new football facilities and a new set of teammates.
Wilson’s preparations for the 2022 NFL season were chaotic, despite being traded relatively early. There will be no such disruptions in 2023. Everything is settled and there is very little chance of another trade.
Wilson will find out who his new head coach is early, and he will have a full pre-season focused on improving. Expect improved performances from a Denver Broncos outfit that has a lot to prove and the ability to prove it.
