Has Jake actually been underrated? Perusing passer rating.

[top dawg]

I was actually trying to decide if Eli was overrated, then came across this list, and noticed Jake. One thing about Jake Delhomme that really can't be argued with is his QB efficiency rating. Yeah, it's not at a "great" level, but it has been pretty good.

CAREER PASSER RATING LEADERS (at start of 2008 season)

*thanks to coldhardfootballfacts.com

Ranking Player Years Rating

1..............Steve Young.................1985-1999..............96.81

2..............Peyton Manning............1998-present...........94.72

3..............Kurt Warner..................1998-present...........93.17

4..............Tom Brady....................2000-present...........92.93

5..............Joe Montana.................1979-1994...............92.26

6..............Carson Palmer...............2004-present...........90.12

7..............Daunte Culpepper..........1999-present............89.95

8..............Chad Pennington............2000-present...........88.89

9..............Marc Bulger...................2002-present............88.08

10............Drew Brees...................2001-present............87.94

11............Jeff Garcia.....................1999-present............87.24

12............Trent Green...................1997-present............86.9

13............Dan Marino....................1983-99...................86.38

14............Matt Hasselbeck.............1999-present...........86.23

15............Donovan McNabb...........1999-present...........85.78

16............Brett Favre.....................1991-2007..............85.7

17............Jake Delhomme..............1999-present...........85.23

18............Rich Gannon....................1987-2004..............84.71

19............Jim Kelly..........................1986-96..................84.39

20............Mark Brunell.....................1994-2006..............84.21

21............Brian Griese.....................1998-present...........83.64

22............Roger Staubach...............1969-79...................83.42

23............Brad Johnson...................1994-present...........83.09

24...........Steve McNair.....................1995-2007..............82.76

25...........Neil Lomax.........................1981-88.................82.68

Now, I can see why some would use this to support why Jake is still our guy. But, from looking at the list from another perspective, you could also see why the passer rating stat doesn't always tell the whole story; and, why intangibles and anecdotal evidence may not be given their proper weight when making an overall judgment.

There are some notables and HOFERs way down the list.

I just find it interesting, either way.

[Cyclonus]

Jake is underrated in my opinion. We're living in the fantasy football era. Everybody thinks a QB sucks if he doesn't throw for 300 yards and 2 TDs a game.

[Sam Mills Fan]

This tells me that passer rating is the biggest BS stat in football. Every analyst on TV agrees with this statement as well.

[Sam Mills Fan]

I mean, unless you think that Pennington/Culpepper/Bulger are top 10 qbs all-time lol.

[Fireball77]

It is only part of the story, true. Also have to take into account the era they played in, and the type of offense they play in. I think Mr. Scot (and others) would likely want to see WCO QBs given a little bit of an asterisk due to the QB rating friendly nature of their offenses.

[Brandon]

This tells me that passer rating is the biggest BS stat in football. Every analyst on TV agrees with this statement as well.

So any statistical measure that doesn't agree with your ignorant and frankly ludicrous ideas is simply bullshit, correct?

[monstercat]

It is only part of the story, true. Also have to take into account the era they played in, and the type of offense they play in. I think Mr. Scot (and others) would likely want to see WCO QBs given a little bit of an asterisk due to the QB rating friendly nature of their offenses.

Count me in. As somebody already pointed out, the fantasy geeks go crazy over the QB's that throw for a lot of yardage whether it equals winning or not. Hell, it even happened here a few years ago when Weinke threw for big yardage against the Giants in a losing effort. A lot of people just ignored his mistakes and the fact that he lost, and proclaimed him better than Delhomme because he threw it 50 times and had about 400yds passing. That kind of thinking is just foolish.

[Fireball77]

Yardage is a volume stat that in and of itself means nothing, I agree.

Best example is Drew Bledsoe. Currently, it is Jay Cutler.

To an extent, yes, Brees suffers from that as well. I tend to look more at things that denote efficiency such as INT%, TD%, & YPA.

[carolinarolls]

Passer rating is only one stat to look at. It is an important one but not one that can give anyone a warm fuzzy about their QB all by itself.

EVERY stat has to be taken with a grain of salt because there is room for argument in virtually all of them.

Letting a number tell you if you have a good player at a particular position by itself is asinine IMO. Even PAT's are not definitive (virtually the easiest play in football) when you take blocked kicks into account.

It's a team sport and Jake seems to have a good hold on the team's loyalty (according to public statements made by players and staff) That is the one real thing he has going for him if indeed we all assume that the entire roster is 100% confident in Jake as their QB that can lead them to the 2010 SB.

Personal opinion aside, it's too late to hope for anything else this year anyway and I think we ALL hope he does a good job.

He certainly has a lot to prove coming off that debacle several months ago and one thing I can say positive about Jake above anything else is that I truly believe that in spite of his shortcomings as one of the 32 best Quarterbacks in the world (one would think since he has a starting job) he has a determination and motivation to get it done. Faults and deficiencies aside Jake believes he belongs and will bust his ass to do the right thing.

That quality is admirable and commendable.

[carolinarolls]

Count me in. As somebody already pointed out, the fantasy geeks go crazy over the QB's that throw for a lot of yardage whether it equals winning or not. Hell, it even happened here a few years ago when Weinke threw for big yardage against the Giants in a losing effort. A lot of people just ignored his mistakes and the fact that he lost, and proclaimed him better than Delhomme because he threw it 50 times and had about 400yds passing. That kind of thinking is just foolish.

That thinking in the way you described it is foolish when you consider a soft defense in particular (not saying there was one or was not one in that game). But if fans get excited about a QB slinging the ball all over the field, finding different receivers and racking up big yardage, you really cannot blame them for being intrigued.

Winning is the ultimate goal no question but the possibility of that effort translating into other games and maybe even maturing is a legitimate thing to get fans buzzing IMO.

[monstercat]

That thinking in the way you described it is foolish when you consider a soft defense in particular (not saying there was one or was not one in that game). But if fans get excited about a QB slinging the ball all over the field, finding different receivers and racking up big yardage, you really cannot blame them for being intrigued.

Winning is the ultimate goal no question but the possibility of that effort translating into other games and maybe even maturing is a legitimate thing to get fans buzzing IMO.

So, were you one of the dullards that got stars in your eyes over the big passing numbers by Weinke, while ignoring the bone-headed, drive killing INT's and the lack of pocket presence and leadership ability?

[Snake]

Passer rating is only one stat to look at. It is an important one but not one that can give anyone a warm fuzzy about their QB all by itself.

EVERY stat has to be taken with a grain of salt because there is room for argument in virtually all of them.

Letting a number tell you if you have a good player at a particular position by itself is asinine IMO. Even PAT's are not definitive (virtually the easiest play in football) when you take blocked kicks into account.

It's a team sport and Jake seems to have a good hold on the team's loyalty (according to public statements made by players and staff) That is the one real thing he has going for him if indeed we all assume that the entire roster is 100% confident in Jake as their QB that can lead them to the 2010 SB.

Personal opinion aside, it's too late to hope for anything else this year anyway and I think we ALL hope he does a good job.

He certainly has a lot to prove coming off that debacle several months ago and one thing I can say positive about Jake above anything else is that I truly believe that in spite of his shortcomings as one of the 32 best Quarterbacks in the world (one would think since he has a starting job) he has a determination and motivation to get it done. Faults and deficiencies aside Jake believes he belongs and will bust his ass to do the right thing.

That quality is admirable and commendable.

There are not many QBs that care as much as Jake. McNabb is a great example of a QB that could give a poo. I mean he ran out of gas in a hurry up in the SB. Even though Jake had a horrible game in the playoffs we have to cut him some slack for the fact he had missed a whole year of football and had his elbow reconstructed. I mean no one gave Payton Manning crap cause he sucked the whole first part of last year.

[guyinchesapeake]

The only 'old' name on there is Staubach's. Most of the others had their careers start in the 90s' or later. But it renforces why the QB rating stat is pure manure, look at who is NOT listed. Starr, Bradshaw, Graham, Van Brocklin, Fouts, Griese (Bob that is), and, the most egregious omission of all, JOHNNY U.! All these guys (except Fouts) won championships. Other notables missing are Tarkenton, Elway, and Aikman (again, the only one not winning a championship being Tarkenton!).

These ratings are a waste of time..

[carolinarolls]

So, were you one of the dullards that got stars in your eyes over the big passing numbers by Weinke, while ignoring the bone-headed, drive killing INT's and the lack of pocket presence and leadership ability?

Not sure you could classify me as a dullard but I was encouraged to see some offense. It was actually more (for me) a feeling of being happy for him. I always felt he was thrown to the wolves too soon and under bad leadership. He had his shot and blew it and probably was the backup for too long but the guy had talent that I feel was never realized. I cannot pin blame on him or the staff but it was really a shame to see him fail.

I am glad you included Weinke's name here. Otherwise I would not be able to tell if you were talking about him or Jake Delhomme.