Russell Wilson’s 12 Interceptions in 2014

In my previous article we took a look at Russell Wilson’s 33 Touchdowns during the 2014 regular and postseason. In this article we will take a look at the opposite side of the spectrum with his 12 interceptions that ultimately led to the downfall of the Seahawks versus the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Stats
Regular Season - 285/452 (63.1%), 3,475 yards, 7.7 y/a, 20 TDs, 7 INTs, 118 rushes for 849 yards and 6 TDs
Postseason - 41/72 (56.9%), 724 yards, 10.1 y/a, 6 TDs, 5 INTs, 17 rushes for 86 yards and 1 TDs

First let’s take a look at the intended targets of Wilson’s 12 interceptions during the 2014 season:

Receiver Breakdown

Jermaine Kearse	4
Doug Baldwin	2
Paul Richardson	2
Ricardo Lockette	1
Marshawn Lynch	1
Percy Harvin	1
Luke Willson	1

 

Quarter Breakdown

1st Quarter	2
2nd Quarter	5
3rd Quarter	1
4th Quarter	4

 

Down Breakdown

1st Down	5
2nd Down	1
3rd Down	6
4th Down	0

 

Distance Breakdown

Fewer than 6 Yards	3
Between 6 and 15 yards	4
More than 15 yards	5

 

Location Breakdown

Deep Left	Deep Middle	Deep Right
2	3	0
Intermediate Left	Intermediate Middle	Intermediate Right
0	1	3
Short Left	Short Middle	Short Right
1	0	2

 

Route Breakdown

Post	2
Corner	2
Slant/Drag	2
Dig/In	2
Angle	1
Seam	1
Hitch	1
Out	1

 

Play 1
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 14
Description: Q4 - (11:12) R.Wilson pass deep right intended for P.Harvin INTERCEPTED by C.Harris (A.Talib) at SEA 32. C.Harris to SEA 19 for 13 yards (P.Harvin).
Opponent: 3. DEN

Offensive Formation: Singleback Slot Right
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 2

Wilson in shtogun takes the snap and looks to WR11 Harvin on the out the route. The Broncos are playing Cover 2 with 5 underneath zone defenders across the board. The interesting thing about the Broncos coverage is that they are actually playing what’s called man-zone coverage, which is where you initially fake playing man coverage and then drop into your respective zones. This is evidenced by CB21 Talib playing man-to-man coverage and then allowing his receiver to slip into the deep secondary for his safety to cover him while taking the underneath route. Wilson read this as Cover 2 with pure man-to-man coverage where he though Harvin was breaking free underneath WR10 Richardson running the go-route up the sideline.

In this interception, I give credit to Talib for deflecting the ball into the air and realizing that Harvin was attempting to come underneath him from the outside. It’s difficult for me to blame Wilson for missing the underneath zone defender when Talib wasn’t even in his zone yet and Wilson thought he had Harvin breaking on the out route from the slot right position. So overall, I give the credit to a great defensive stop by the defense here.

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Play 2
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 25
Description: Q4 - (:48) (No Huddle, Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep middle intended for L.Willson INTERCEPTED by R.McClain at DAL 48. R.McClain to DAL 48 for no gain (L.Willson).
Opponent: 6. DAL

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Slot Right Far
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 2

The Cowboys are in Tampa 2 defense where the inside linebacker drops with the tight end on the seam route over the middle of the field. Wilson attempts to feed it to him over LB McClain, but McClain is able to locate the ball in the air and intercept it for the Cowboys’ defense. This interception falls on Wilson as TE82 L.Willson was covered the whole play.

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Play 3
Situation: 3rd and 7 at CAR 7
Description: Q2 - (:25) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short left intended for M.Lynch INTERCEPTED by J.Norman at CAR -1. J.Norman to CAR 26 for 27 yards (L.Willson).
Opponent: 8. CAR

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Twin Stacks Left/Right
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Goalline Cover 3 - 5 Zone Defenders - “Fire Zone” Concept

The Panthers are in Goalline Cover 3 with 5 underneath zone defenders. Once the twin stacks on the left side of the field drag the underneath zone defenders into the endzone, RB24 Lynch is open underneath on his angle route. Wilson rockets the ball to Lynch and it deflects right into the hands of CB24 Norman. Wilson made an excellent read and throw here, but Lynch HAS to hang onto the ball if it hits you right into the hands. Sure the ball was sightly high and in front of him and that’s something Wilson needs to throw more accurately at here, but Lynch should have made the catch. This interception is on Lynch.

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Play 4
Situation: 1st and 10 at SEA 18
Description: Q1 - (6:16) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass short right intended for P.Richardson INTERCEPTED by Z.Bowman [J.Hankins] at SEA 31. Z.Bowman to SEA 24 for 7 yards (P.Richardson).
Opponent: 10. NYG

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Slot Left Near
Offensive Personnel: 11
Defensive Formation: Cover 1

From shotgun, Wilson attempts to pass to WR10 Richardson on a hitch route from the right outside. Wilson leaves the ball behind and inside of Richardson allowing CB31 Bowman to come back to the ball for the pick. This interception is completely on Wilson. The hitch route is covered and he needs to place the ball outside and away from the defender who is playing inside technique on Richardson. Additionally, this is a timing pass that is thrown with horrible anticipation. This ball needs to be out a solid second earlier to make sure his receiver is the first at it.

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Play 5
Situation: 3rd and 5 at NYG 44
Description: Q3 - (12:11) (Shotgun) G.Gilliam reported in as eligible. R.Wilson pass deep left intended for D.Baldwin INTERCEPTED by Q.Demps at NYG 10. Q.Demps to NYG 10 for no gain (D.Baldwin).
Opponent: 10. NYG

Offensive Formation: Empty-Set Shotgun Slot Right Twin TE
Offensive Personnel: 02
Defensive Formation: Cover 2

This play is a smash concept meant to attack Cover 2 zone defenses with the underneath hitch route and corner route from the slot receiver. Wilson from shotgun attempts to pass to WR89 Baldwin on the corner route, but he leaves the ball too far inside allowing FS35 Demps a chance at the ball. Demps jumps up and shields out Baldwin for the pick. This interception is on Wilson. The decision to throw the ball to Baldwin is actually correct. It’s just the ball placement was not in the correct position. This ball needs to be 3-5 yards further to the left. If you watch Baldwin’s stem of his route he takes it inside and then cuts outside. This is meant to open up the left side of the field and pull Demps out of position. Baldwin actually does a good job of this.

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Play 6
Situation: 3rd and 10 at SF 29
Description: Q2 - (:08) (Shotgun) R.Wilson pass deep middle intended for D.Baldwin INTERCEPTED by E.Reid at SF 3. E.Reid to SEA 24 for 73 yards (R.Turbin).
Opponent: 15. SF

Offensive Formation: Shotgun Spread Formation
Offensive Personnel: 10
Defensive Formation: Cover 4

Wilson attempts to pass the ball to WR89 Baldwin on a post route underneath the 49ers’ deep Cover 4 defense in between FS35 Reid and LB57 Wilhoite. Wilson simply puts too much velocity on the ball and overthrows his intended target leading to the interception.

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