FanPost

Do Numbers Ever Lie? A Quarterback Comparison

Ok, I promise I didn't do this to trigger any unnecessary flashbacks, but since all three stat-lines are getting close to equal (in terms of attempts), I figured now was as good a time as any to compare these three players, all under the same coach on the same team, in three separate years.

The Quarterback Completion Attempts % Completed Passing Yards Yards/Attempt Touchdowns Interceptions Rushing Attempts Rushing Yards Average Rush TD Fumbles Fumbles Lost
Quarterback A 187 318 58.8% 2,405 7.6 12 6 94 298 3.2 6 8 4
Quarterback B 206 334 61.7% 2,757 8.3 24 11 94 264 2.8 7 9 6
Quarterback C 224 414 54.1% 3,257 7.9 27 13 11 -56 --5 0 0 0

As you might have guessed, QB-A and QB-B are quite a bit more mobile than QB-C, but the latter has done more to limit turnovers and mistakes, though he's also less accurate when passing. QB-B has a lot more passing touchdowns than QB-A, but has been more reckless with ball security.

To end the charade (which probably isn't even that disguised):

Quarterback A = 2012 Everett Golson

Quarterback B = 2014 Everett Golson

Quarterback C = 2013 Tommy Rees

What can we learn? Well, really I just wanted to run Golson's stats this year, compared to his first year to see just how many more turnovers he was responsible for, as well as to see if he had made improvements in yards, completion % and touchdowns (which, he has!). Then I figured, oh shoot, might as well see how old Tom E. stacked up to them as well

I hope someone will take something more from this, I think it goes to show how much Golson has jumped out this year in terms of having more success while throwing down the field, and creating more touchdowns, but it also unfortunately illustrates how much he has been burned with ball security issues.

Also, I think if Rees would have ended up closer to 60%, his numbers would have been a lot finer, and he would be remembered better. It's a shame that Kelly's scheme didn't fit him, but I still don't think they did Tom E. so many favors with some of the play-calling which seemed to stress a lot of low-percentage, deep passes that he couldn't make consistently enough.

It also provides some hope, because if Golson can make the next step and cut down on his turnovers and continue his maturation as a QB, he could potentially be a legitimate Heisman contender next season. And all these mistakes have probably answered any questions on if it's even a remotely a good idea for him to declare for the NFL draft for 2015- it's not.

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