I think around that time, after 2015, NFL DC's started to figure Russ out, and it was hard for Russell to excel as the gunslinger he wanted to be. Russell seemed to understand single-high safety looks well enough, then teams figured out that he struggled vs two-high shell types of looks, so they started showing him a lot of that. Russell does NOT read defenses at the level of a Brady or Peyton, nowhere close. Even though he struggled to carry an offense with his passing at times, he does read some types of things well, like how he read the Packers' zero blitz in the NFCCG and threw the ball to Kearse for the walk-off, Super Bowl ticket TD. In fact he did a similar thing multiple times last game, vs the Browns, reading multiple blitzers, and throwing up a ball to Courtland Sutton for a nice completion or a PI.
To me it looks like Sean Payton is a much better OC and schemer that anyone the Seahawks have ever had. The Broncos *should* have a depleted roster after having squat for impact draft picks. Somehow, the Broncos are fielding an O-Line that is opening holes in the run game and giving Russell enough time to throw. Somehow, the Broncos are fielding a defense that is now generating turnovers and making red zone stops, despite giving up that 70-burger earlier this season to the Dolphins.
In any case, Payton has figured out how to maximize Russell and get him to play to his strengths. The Broncos strong run game opens up the play-action that Russell excels at. I've noticed a few more middle-of-the-field throws. Some (Sherm) say Pete treated Russell with kid gloves, like a delicate china doll. Seems like Payton has been very direct and clear with Russell about what he wants and has even gotten Russell to change and improve parts of his game. It seems to me like Russell and the Broncos are doing a little better at the 3rd and 4 types of situations that Russell sucked at with the Seahawks.
The receivers seem to have figured out the scramble drill much better, especially Sutton, but also Jeudy, and (IIRC) rookie Mims, TE Dulcich, and the rest. The scramble drill competence was totally missing last year, so I'll credit Payton's influence.
Some of my favorite memories of Russell are from his gunslinger games, which to me are these:
* Beating 2nd year Patrick Mahomes in a shootout
* Beating DeShaun Watson and the Texans in a shootout
* Beating Ben Rothlisberger and the Steelers in a shootout
It's actually kind of fun watching the Broncos now, and Russell seems to have bought into the Payton way, and is looking like a really good NFL QB again. I don't miss the version of Russell we had at the end of his time in Seattle, but it's also clear now that Geno+Waldron is not the answer, and the Hawks need a QBOTF, not just a better Tavaris Jackson.