HawkRiderFan":1lx8qq9q said:
I was always 100% on the play-calling and o-line until things started going off the rails in the 2nd half of 2022. I started noticing holding the ball, and not taking underneath stuff when it was there etc. Remember that play in LA where Russ had all kinds of room to run and inexplicably threw into coverage across his body and got picked? That stunned me. I could not recall seeing him make a mental mistake like that.
Definitely lots of blame on managements side that caused this but I don't see Russ as blameless. I find the stories that the Hawks had interest in guys like Mahomes and Allen in their draft year fascinating. As a fan even entertaining the idea of looking at a QB would have been ridiculous. What was going on even then for that to even be a consideration?
I truly believe Russ was being non-compliant, and refused to go with a lot of Schottenheimers' schemes, and I believe that's why they canned him & hired Waldren.
First Bevell then Schotts, and finally Waldren...Russ was set in his ways, and he wasn't going to meld with whoever Pete brought in, because I believe Pete had stipulated to all of those OC's that he wanted a Run Game schemed into the mix.
I think Wilson felt that Pete over-valued the Running game, (I do not)
Sand Lot Football is fun to watch when all's clicking, and the Defenses are stymied, but when they bring in elite defenders that are Coached up well, you become one dimensional...Pete KNEW that without an accompanying ground game, Wilson wasn't going to be able to hold up for a full hour of physical abuse, ESPECIALLY playing against guys like Aaron Donald.
This whole Wilson trade to the Donko's should never have turned into the p*ss*ng match that it did.
Hopefully this turns out to be a Win - Win for everyone involved.