Those same people who are saying the game passed him by were the ones saying SP's offense was old and the league had caught up to it. SP is doing just fine in Denver.
Compared to guys like Andy Reid, Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay, Ben Johnson (etc.), both Payton’s and Gruden’s offensive scheme is basic, and yes, a bit outdated (Gruden’s moreso).
What made Payton’s offense flourish in NOLA wasn’t so much the scheme, per se, but it was having a human computer like Brees at the line of scrimmage who could figure out what the defense was running (pre-snap) and get the offense in the right play. It was like Payton & Brees shared a brain.
That’s what Payton did not have in Russell Wilson. And it’s what he’s hoping to build in Bo Nix (and so far it looks promising).
So much rides on the QB. And Gruden is notoriously harsh on his QBs. Unless there’s another 2006 Brees out there waiting to be signed, I’m pessimistic about Gruden’s ability to develop a young QB (something he’s never done).