Where have all the running QB's gone?

[Uptown]

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Joe flaco has more passing yards than Lamar Jackson through 3 quarters. And he didn’t play. Joe’s elite

 

[venecol]

Interesting that all 4 teams that lost bad running QBs.

Prescott had 29 rushing yards (same as Luck who won) and a TD and won. Trubisky only had 9 rushing yards and lost.

So not exactly accurate but I get your point.

 

[venecol]

So does Wilson. One of them had to win.

Exactly but Prescott went 6-29 and Wilson only 3-14, they both ran in a TD. So the so-called running QB in this case won not lost.

 

[borg]

As great as Ozzie Newsome has been as GM for Baltimore, he has a blind spot when picking QBs and his choice of Jackson at 32 was such a reach on several levels.

He chose a somewhat undersized, run-first QB, whose career collegiate passing accuracy was 9.4% worse than the Chosen One...Tim Tebow. (57% vs 66.4%)

Did Ozzie think Jackson was due to make a quantum leap like run-first ACC QB Russell Wilson did after leaving NC State (3 yrs / 57.8%) and finishing at Wisconsin (72.8%)?

I guess so. But 4 years in the mid to high 50% range screams..."work in progress project"....not first round.

 

[Clonamery]

The ER, the tests are preliminary.

 

[Rob0729]

Well, guys like Kaepernick and RGIII showed they were a passing fad and that that type of QB isn't long for this world.

 

[1960Pats]

Exactly but Prescott went 6-29 and Wilson only 3-14, they both ran in a TD. So the so-called running QB in this case won not lost.

There's a fine line between a running QB and a scrambling QB but I've always looked at Wilson as more of a runner than Prescott.

I know this for sure though. All of the QB's that entered the playoffs as pocket passers are still there.

 

[1960Pats]

Joe flaco has more passing yards than Lamar Jackson through 3 quarters. And he didn’t play. Joe’s elite

Flacco is elite compared to Jackson. The kid can't read defenses, has zero pocket awareness, doesn't protect the ball and is an inaccurate passer. Other than that he's a real find. I don't believe for a second that the Pats were interested in him.

 

[jmg17]

Pocket mobility and awareness. Every Single Time....

 

[maineman209]

Career avg, except where noted:

Darnold = 3.4 att ... 11 yds
Rodgers = 3.4 att ... 18 yds (att/yds both much higher before 2017)
Bortles = 3.7 att ... 24 yds
Mahomes = 3.8 att .. 17 yds
Prescott = 3.9 att ... 20 yds
Mariota = 3.9 att ... 23 yds
A. Luck = 4.1 att ... 21 yds
Trubisky = 4.2 ... 26 yds
Winston = 4.5 att ... 26 yds (2018 only)
C.Wentz = 4.9 att ... 23 yds (2017 only)
KAEPERNICK = 5.6 att ... 35 yds
Wilson = 5.8 att ... 33 yds
Watson = 5.9 att ... 36 yds
J.Allen = 7.4 att ... 53 yds (2018 only)
Newton = 7.6 att ... 39 yds
----------
EDIT to include Kaepernick.

 

[maineman209]

Well, guys like Kaepernick and RGIII showed they were a passing fad and that that type of QB isn't long for this world.

C.Wentz = 4.9 att ... 23 yds (2017) - SB Win
KAEPERNICK = 5.6 att ... 35 yds - SB Loss
Wilson = 5.8 att ... 33 yds - SB, 1-1
Watson = 5.9 att ... 36 yds (made playoffs in 2nd season)
J.Allen = 7.4 att ... 53 yds (rookie)
Newton = 7.6 att ... 39 yds - SB Loss

 

[1960Pats]

Fixed it for ya.

Thanks, it's a good change.

 

[Pat the Pats Fan]

Flacco is elite compared to Jackson. The kid can't read defenses, has zero pocket awareness, doesn't protect the ball and is an inaccurate passer. Other than that he's a real find. I don't believe for a second that the Pats were interested in him.

unless they spoke to him about converting to wide receiver....after all, Jules was a college QB.

 

[TinhWoodhead]

...they are running to clean out their lockers

 

[Thelonious]

Requirements for success as an NFL QB (Aside from the good fortune to be on a decent team):

1) The ability to throw - accurately.
2) Brains.
3) Calmness and courage under duress.

The "athletic ability" to run away from your shortcomings as a QB for a season or so until some tackler inevitably deprives you of the ability to do so doesn't even make the list.

Jackson is terrible.

 

[Rob0729]

C.Wentz = 4.9 att ... 23 yds (2017) - SB Win
KAEPERNICK = 5.6 att ... 35 yds - SB Loss
Wilson = 5.8 att ... 33 yds - SB, 1-1
Watson = 5.9 att ... 36 yds (made playoffs in 2nd season)
J.Allen = 7.4 att ... 53 yds (rookie)
Newton = 7.6 att ... 39 yds - SB Loss

Many of these are not running QBs. Many of these are QBs who can scramble. A running QB is a QB who can beat you with a designed running play on a consistent basis. Not a guy who can scramble when the play breaks down.

Newton used to be such a guy, but they have changed him to be more of a pocket passer. Same with Wilson.

 

[maineman209]

Many of these are not running QBs. Many of these are QBs who can scramble. A running QB is a QB who can beat you with a designed running play on a consistent basis. Not a guy who can scramble when the play breaks down.

Newton used to be such a guy, but they have changed him to be more of a pocket passer. Same with Wilson.

Sorry. I didn't realize that there were official and quantifiably precise definitions for "running QB" versus "mobile QB" versus QBs who only run when they're fleeing for their lives - or for "a scramble" versus "a designed run".

On an RPO play, there's technically always an option for the QB to run it himself based on his read of defensive keys. If Wentz pulls the ball away from the RB at the mesh point and runs it himself, is that a "designed run"? Or is it a "scramble?"

BTW - the stats in my post are career averages. Here are some recent numbers:

Newton 2016: 6.0 att/gm ... 24 yds/gm
Newton 2017: 8.7 att/gm ... 47 yds/gm
Newton 2018: 7.2 att/gm ... 35 yds/gm
8-year CAREER avg: 7.6 att/gm ... 39 yds/gm

Wilson 2016: 4.5 att/gm ... 16 yds/gm
Wilson 2017: 5.9 att/gm ... 37 yds/gm
Wilson 2018: 4.2 att/gm ... 24 yds/gm
7-year CAREER avg: 5.8 att/gm ... 33 yds/gm

 

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Many of these are not running QBs. Many of these are QBs who can scramble. A running QB is a QB who can beat you with a designed running play on a consistent basis. Not a guy who can scramble when the play breaks down.

Newton used to be such a guy, but they have changed him to be more of a pocket passer. Same with Wilson.

Yep, there's a big difference between guys that USE their mobility and guys who NEED their mobility.

 

[Deus Irae]

We must have different definitions on what a running QB is.

I’d say mahomes is mobile, but not a running QB. After all, he threw 50 Touchdowns

No.

Mahomes would rather pass on every play. Running is his last resort

Prescott ran 75 times... Mahomes 60. Mahomes is closer to Andrew Luck (46). I guess Andrew Luck is a running QB too... well, he mostly plays it straight up. LOL

People tend to break down QBs into 2 categories, and to ignore the gray areas. I try not to do that when I'm doing something beyond a surface labeling. I look at it more as 5 basic spots on a spectrum.

1. Statue - guy who stays in the pocket, stays in one spot, and takes the hit to make the pass (Bledsoe types, largely extinct)
   
2. Pocket Passer - guy who stays in the pocket, moving within that pocket to avoid hits (Brady, Marino)
   
3. Scrambler - guy who runs (a/k/a running QB) out of the pocket a lot, but often does it to extend plays (Mahomes, Rodgers, Wilson, S. Young).
   
4. Limited read running QB - guy who looks for his read, but breaks almost as soon as he sees coverage is there (RGIII, Early Mike Vick, Veteran Newton on his bad days)
   
5. Throwing RB - guy who's in with all sorts of runs and limited with the pass (Jackson, Early Newton)

The last 3 are running QBs. #3 just runs to pass as much as making straight runs. Historically, age and injury have a tendency to drive QBs from the higher number towards the lower number, if they're going to stay in the league, though recent rules may limit that trend, as QBs are more protected now, even outside the pocket.