The idea that baseball helped Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston become better quarterbacks sounds like the kind of flawed reach that’s only discussed to fill time in a pregame show. But this breakdown is fascinating and makes a ton of sense.
Trent Dilfer and Matthew Hasselbeck took a look at some of the ways these two quarterbacks were aided by playing baseball. For Wilson, it comes down to the ability to throw off-balance with unconventional motions as well as the ability to scan the field. He showed both of these qualities while playing baseball at NC State.
Winston’s baseball background gives him a slightly different skill set. As a pitcher, he gained the ability to throw heat, while playing outfield provided him with opportunities to throw deep with accuracy.
The comparisons might be a touch labored, but this is still fascinating.
