Passing to Win

[dalbuc]

Interesting article form Rick Gosselin: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/spt/stories/111309dnspogosselincol.3021ad0.html

Really highlights how this league has become a QB league and why the development of Freeman is so critical. The highlights:

As recently as 2004, quarterbacks who passed for 300 yards in a game were losing more often than winning. Of the 81 300-yard games that season, 45 came in losing causes.

This season, the success of 300-yard quarterbacks has shot through the roof. There have been 52 individual 300-yard passing games and those quarterbacks have won a staggering 73.1 percent of them. The 300-yard passers are 38-14 at the season's midway point – and four of the losses came when both quarterbacks in the game threw for 300. At the same point last season, 300-yard passers were 26-14.

 In 2000, the top 10 passing teams combined for an 88-72 record, a 55.0 winning percentage. Only one of the top 10 passing teams won a division title and three finished with losing records.

At the midway point of this season, the top 10 passing teams have a combined 57-24 record, a 70.3 winning percentage. Six of the top 10 passing teams are in first place and not a one has a losing record.

[Blaze688]

I hate hearing, "So-and-so needs to establish the run to win."

Teams pass to take a lead.  They run to close out the game.  That's why good teams usually have high rushing totals, because they hold their leads with second half runs.

[tenfive]

That is why it was important to draft Freeman vs the retreads that we went through under the previous regime. If Freeman turns out to be a top ten QB within 2-3 years then we will be a constant playoff contender if not then we need to draft a QB #1 in 2011. He has all the physical tools that you would want  and he seems to have 'it' which is the big intangible that you either have it or you don't. If he can progress in these last 8 games and  with a full off season and TC as the #1 QB we may be set for the next 10 years. The NFL is definetly a QB driven league if you don't have one you just can't compete.

[burger40]

having a good QB is obviously the most important aspect to a winning franchise. Good QBs make the receivers better and take pressure of RBs and can win close games for you.

If you don't have a good QB then you better have a phenomenal defense which is becoming incredibly tough in this day and age of hamstring defenses with asenine rules.

[Bash]

I hate hearing, "So-and-so needs to establish the run to win."

Teams pass to take a lead.  They run to close out the game.  That's why good teams usually have high rushing totals, because they hold their leads with second half runs.

And also why you hear that so-and-so team has such a good record when their RB goes over 100 yards. They likely were ahead much of the game.

[JavaBuc]

Without Garcia, the Bucs don't go 9-7 last year.   Hopefully one day Freeman can be as good as Garcia.

[CurtR1995]

The problem with Garcia is that he tends to get a year older every season, not younger.