NFL Passer rating and QB's: better or easier today?

[PatsFanSince74]

When I was a kid and a fan of the Cleveland Browns of Paul Brown's day, Otto Graham was considered the best quarterback in the league (late 1940s, early 1950s). His completion average over his career was 55.8% and only once did his QB rating surpass 100, with 107 in 1947. In that year, he threw 25 touchdowns. After that, his very best was 20, in 1952. His best year for yards per game was 1952, when he threw for an average of 234 yards and that year, he threw for a total of 2816 yards.

Of course, in those days, the season was 12 games long, which would have affected total yards and number of touchdowns, but not rating, completion average or average yards per game.

It is accurate, I think, to say that today's quarterbacks are taller, stronger and have even better arms. But the defenses are also faster and stronger. There's no reason to assume that quarterback athleticism has improved any faster than the athleticism of players at every other position, and yet today's quarterbacks typically complete more than 60% of their passes. Tom's average is 63.9 and his per game average yardage is 251, a figure Graham never hit. Also, he's had an over 100 rating five times, compared to Graham's one.

Today's game does bear a passing resemblance to the professional football of the pre-superbowl era, but only a passing resemblance--which is why comparisons are difficult, if not impossible.

Well-stated.

As a kid, I was lucky enough to see Chuck Bednarik, the last great two-way player, in his heyday and, so, there's a "romantic" part of me that can get whimsical over "The Greatest Game Ever Played" and even guys in leather "helmets" before that; but, in the final analysis, I do accept the changes as "for the better."

We just understand far too much now about the long term consequences of head/joint injuries/damage to be cavalier about dissing the rules designed to protect both high profile and "grunt" players. The only guy I ever knew and worked with personally who actually laced 'em up for an NFL team was a "grunt" (a lineman); he was already limping in his early 30's, several years after he last walked out of an NFL lockerroom. Most players don't leave the game as millionaires and have to figure out how to earn a living for many years after they leave the NFL.

 

[chris_in_sunnyvale]

No particular order...

- Rules favoring WRs over DBs
- More passing on 1st and 2nd down ("running downs" way back when)
- Short passes (Bill Walsh Offense)
- Better pass protection (both skill and schemes)
- More use of spread formations and shotgun to help QB make reads

Regards,
Chris

 

[Deus Irae]

No particular order...

- Rules favoring WRs over DBs
- More passing on 1st and 2nd down ("running downs" way back when)
- Short passes (Bill Walsh Offense)
- Better pass protection (both skill and schemes)
- More use of spread formations and shotgun to help QB make reads

Regards,
Chris

I'd also add:

Quarterbacks coming into the league better trained and prepared for leading passing attacks because of the evolution of the college game.