We brought in a bunch of guys and developed them for a strategy that we are now not following.
Our offensive line is built to run the ball.
The problem is that we are trying to win by passing, which won't work. In fact, the balance of this offense still depends on the run being the primary threat.
So yeah Sweezy is not producing as a pass protector because his value is as a run blocker. Same with most of the rest of the line.
It comes down to a fundamental realization that this team runs to win, and passes to keep the chains moving or occasionally score. Trying to flip that equation is flipping our Ws into Ls.
It is a big mistake to try to make the engine of the team the QB, because our line does not support it (and thus Sweezy and others struggle at their jobs accordingly). The line looks terrible because it is being asked to do something it isn't built to do. Now could it run block better? Yes, but last year we did have a lot effectiveness running with some of the same guys - so the problem is:
1 - New guys making it harder on the others
2 - Everyone being asked to do things they really are not put together to do.
3 - Getting away from running to win.
Russell is not ready yet and this team will have to endure 2-3 years of losing any shot at competing for a SB if it wants to turn into a passing team.
QBs that are developing struggle. Just like Luck is doing now. And for all the feting that people are doing for Hasselbeck, I remember the crowd chanting the name of the other guy because Hasselbeck was terrible. He had to learn how to manipulate the defense, what worked and what didn't, where his limits were and where he just thought they were.
He had to develop his decision-making and to figure out how to use his own offensive options. That took time, and during that time - the offense struggled.
But even the good ones have some down years when more of the responsibility for the offense is heaped on them. Maybe Brady or Payton did not experience those dips quite so much, but Wilson is no Brady or Payton. That isn't an insult, hardly any QBs are either.
So instead of trying to put together a passing offense, which isn't something this team is built for and isn't something this QB can shoulder anyway - we need to focus on running the ball, passing in play action and running the RO. Or just admitting we are going to have to transition more of the offense to Wilson and this team won't be in contention for the SB for a 2-3 years as Wilson gets some more development in, and the team gets more supporting resources (line, WRs, etc) for him.
