Thank you, I appreciate that, I try to be fair on my takes on Russell; I'd rather be "accurate" than "right", and sometimes the evidence compels me to change my take to be accurate. I think a lot of us, at least me, are trying to re-frame and better understand Russell's legacy and time in Seattle, and the Carroll-Wilson-OCs relationship, now that we've seen Russell in Denver for a full season-plus, in a totally different environment.
We've seen LOB-SB 2012-2014 players show up more and more, and share different takes on Russell, Carroll, and the team dynamics during the glory years. We've seen Pete and Shane bring Geno up to speed and have Geno perform at a near-elite level, with possibly still significant upside, making it clear that it wasn't "Russell carrying the team despite Carroll". We've seen Russell in Denver fail to make basic, obvious reads that cost his team the game (the KJ Hamler helmet-throw play) and generally perform way below expectations. We've seen Russell's sack numbers match or exceed what they were in Seattle, so maybe the Seattle O-Line wasn't the huge problem Russell called it out as being.
We all saw Russell lead the team to 2 Super Bowls, and win 1. We all experienced the heartbreak of the SB49 last-second loss, and for me, grieving that loss, truly understanding it, and coming to terms with it has been a multi-year process. Then we watched season after season where the team just couldn't get over the hump, something that we had, the "secret sauce" that led us to back-to-back Super Bowls, just wasn't there anymore.
To me, multiple things here are all true at the same time.
Russell WAS absolutely elite at what his game is, scrambling, off-script football, read-option runs, and picking out a couple matchups, pre-snap, and only throwing if the window is there, outside-the-numbers deep throws, and especially, LIMITING TURNOVERS. Pete and Bevell crafted an offense around Russell's specific strengths, with the factor of having BeastMode and a run game the D had to respect at all times. That offense could score against any defense in the league. Teams could have the perfect defense called and Russell would often improvise a QB scramble, scramble drill or sandlot play that defeated the opponent's defense. The Legion of Boom was an all-time elite defense, and the mix of Russell, Beastmode, a balanced offense, and that elite defense were all required elements during those glory years of back-to-back conference championships. We absolutely should ALWAYS appreciate and revere Russell for his key part in those glory years. And also appreciate Pete, Bevell, John Schneider, and all the other players and coaches and Seahawks staff that led to those incredible years.
Outside of his perfect fit with the 2012-2014 Seahawks, Russell has always had some weaknesses in his game, and now circumstances are exposing those. It also seems that Russell came to see himself as bigger than the team, going to ownership to ask them to dump Pete (and John?) and build the team around him. That arrogance, narcissism, and "alternate reality" that Russell carries around in his head is why a lot of us, including me, seem to have a love-hate attitude towards Russell.
That's the best comment I've seen on this complex subject. Nice job.
