Let’s clarify what passing accuracy really means

Bobhaze

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Here’s a simple definition of QB passing accuracy I really like: The QB’s passes are where the receiver can catch them.

I don’t know about you, but the Dak critics that continually point out that his passes don’t look pretty enough or he missed this throw or that throw are either not paying attention or will never accept Dak’s abilities. He may never be a top 5 QB in this league but if your QB helps you win, who cares? Dak will have a bad game at some point this year as he has had in the past. Happens to every QB. But he has had and will have a lot more good ones than bad IMO.

NFL history is littered with QBs who threw beautiful tight spirals in tight windows...and were perennial losers. How about the much ballyhooed (in his day) Jeff George, who had a great arm and an ego to match. He played and lost for multiple NFL teams and will fade from memory quicker than many QBs with less ability. Who could forget the canon arm of JeMarcus Russell? Or our former backup and former Browns #1 pick Brandon Weeden who Jerry said threw the prettiest pass?

What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it. Be a leader and don’t kill us with turnovers.

Remember the Bears’ Jim McMahon? He didn’t throw the prettiest ball but he will show you his super bowl ring if you point that out. And he was a great leader who just won. Or Joe Kapp of the Vikings or Billy Kilmer of the skins who both threw more wounded ducks than anyone I can remember. But somehow they both took teams to SBs.

Accuracy= The receiver can catch it. Dak is an accurate QB by that metric.
 

JBS

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Those Fools have nothing else that they can go to now


"That pass to Amari was soooooo underthrown, it should have been a touchdown "

"that one pass to Gallup was behind him"

Its hard for people to admit they are wrong
 
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cern

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Here’s a simple definition of QB passing accuracy I really like: The QB’s passes are where the receiver can catch them.

I don’t know about you, but the Dak critics that continually point out that his passes don’t look pretty enough or he missed this throw or that throw are either not paying attention or will never accept Dak’s abilities. He may never be a top 5 QB in this league but if your QB helps you win, who cares? Dak will have a bad game at some point this year as he has had in the past. Happens to every QB. But he has had and will have a lot more good ones than bad IMO.

NFL history is littered with QBs who threw beautiful tight spirals in tight windows...and were perennial losers. How about the much ballyhooed (in his day) Jeff George, who had a great arm and an ego to match. He played and lost for multiple NFL teams and will fade from memory quicker than many QBs with less ability. Who could forget the canon arm of JeMarcus Russell? Or our former backup and former Browns #1 pick Brandon Weeden who Jerry said threw the prettiest pass?

What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it. Be a leader and don’t kill us with turnovers.

Remember the Bears’ Jim McMahon? He didn’t throw the prettiest ball but he will show you his super bowl ring if you point that out. And he was a great leader who just won. Or Joe Kapp of the Vikings or Billy Kilmer of the skins who both threw more wounded ducks than anyone I can remember. But somehow they both took teams to SBs.

Accuracy= The receiver can catch it. Dak is an accurate QB by that metric.
weeden threw beautiful spirals.
 

ABQCOWBOY

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Hello Bob. Well, here's the thing, and this is really a modern NFL Football thing, more then anything else because it didn't used to be this way.

The more accurate your QB is, the less money you have to spend on WRs. Any WR in the NFL has talent but not all of them are the same. WRs who can adjust to the ball, while in flight, can catch anything and everything, can separate and run excellent routes, they cost a premium. If your QB is not accurate, then you have to pay that premium. If your QB is that guy who can drop it in a bucket from 50 yards out, you pay that guy the market but, you can afford to go lighter on WRs. You can't pay them both so you pick a course and go with it. This really isn't about Dak, per say, but it's a point that I think you have to understand in terms of accuracy in todays game.

JMO
 

doomsday9084

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The Gallup long catch was one where he caught the ball in stride and was able to maintain separation and get a lot of yards as a result. Even then, the throw was a little high. There were several throws yesterday where if the receiver caught the ball in stride, they could have got a good chunk of yards but they had to reach back for the ball and got tackled. Those lost yards are part of the issue with Dak's accuracy. Beyond that, a lot of Dak's throws are "easy" where the guy is wide open. Had there been tight coverage, it would not have been complete.

Where Dak should get more credit is the fact that most of his receivers are wide open. Basically, he regularly makes the RIGHT throw. This is probably just as valuable as outright accuracy. Throwing into triple coverage is going to get you in trouble whereas throwing to a guy who is wide open can be a slightly errant pass and still get you 8 yards. Sure, there are some examples of Dak not throwing to an open receiver but that happens with every QB. Its extremely rare for Dak to make a "why the hell did you throw it to that guy?!?!?" throw.
 

kskboys

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Hello Bob. Well, here's the thing, and this is really a modern NFL Football thing, more then anything else because it didn't used to be this way.

The more accurate your QB is, the less money you have to spend on WRs. Any WR in the NFL has talent but not all of them are the same. WRs who can adjust to the ball, while in flight, can catch anything and everything, can separate and run excellent routes, they cost a premium. If your QB is not accurate, then you have to pay that premium. If your QB is that guy who can drop it in a bucket from 50 yards out, you pay that guy the market but, you can afford to go lighter on WRs. You can't pay them both so you pick a course and go with it. This really isn't about Dak, per say, but it's a point that I think you have to understand in terms of accuracy in todays game.

JMO
I'm not going to disagree w/ you in principle, but it's really just not that simple!!!
 

gimmesix

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Here’s a simple definition of QB passing accuracy I really like: The QB’s passes are where the receiver can catch them.

I don’t know about you, but the Dak critics that continually point out that his passes don’t look pretty enough or he missed this throw or that throw are either not paying attention or will never accept Dak’s abilities. He may never be a top 5 QB in this league but if your QB helps you win, who cares? Dak will have a bad game at some point this year as he has had in the past. Happens to every QB. But he has had and will have a lot more good ones than bad IMO.

NFL history is littered with QBs who threw beautiful tight spirals in tight windows...and were perennial losers. How about the much ballyhooed (in his day) Jeff George, who had a great arm and an ego to match. He played and lost for multiple NFL teams and will fade from memory quicker than many QBs with less ability. Who could forget the canon arm of JeMarcus Russell? Or our former backup and former Browns #1 pick Brandon Weeden who Jerry said threw the prettiest pass?

What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it. Be a leader and don’t kill us with turnovers.

Remember the Bears’ Jim McMahon? He didn’t throw the prettiest ball but he will show you his super bowl ring if you point that out. And he was a great leader who just won. Or Joe Kapp of the Vikings or Billy Kilmer of the skins who both threw more wounded ducks than anyone I can remember. But somehow they both took teams to SBs.

Accuracy= The receiver can catch it. Dak is an accurate QB by that metric.

I don't understand why saying a quarterback threw a bad pass has to be equated to the quarterback played poorly or wasn't accurate. You can recognize when a pass is underthrown or thrown behind a receiver without it meaning that the quarterback sucked. In fact, objectively, it is correct to recognize a bad pass for being a bad pass. Those who want to paint bad passes as being good ones should be questioned for their ability to judge things objectively.

Sometimes quarterbacks make great throws, sometimes receivers make great catches. Sometimes the opposite happens. I can acknowledge two drops by Amari Cooper without it meaning he had a poor game just as much as I can acknowledge the same thing with Dak despite an underthrow or two.
 

Hawkeye0202

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Here’s a simple definition of QB passing accuracy I really like: The QB’s passes are where the receiver can catch them.

I don’t know about you, but the Dak critics that continually point out that his passes don’t look pretty enough or he missed this throw or that throw are either not paying attention or will never accept Dak’s abilities. He may never be a top 5 QB in this league but if your QB helps you win, who cares? Dak will have a bad game at some point this year as he has had in the past. Happens to every QB. But he has had and will have a lot more good ones than bad IMO.

NFL history is littered with QBs who threw beautiful tight spirals in tight windows...and were perennial losers. How about the much ballyhooed (in his day) Jeff George, who had a great arm and an ego to match. He played and lost for multiple NFL teams and will fade from memory quicker than many QBs with less ability. Who could forget the canon arm of JeMarcus Russell? Or our former backup and former Browns #1 pick Brandon Weeden who Jerry said threw the prettiest pass?

What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it. Be a leader and don’t kill us with turnovers.

Remember the Bears’ Jim McMahon? He didn’t throw the prettiest ball but he will show you his super bowl ring if you point that out. And he was a great leader who just won. Or Joe Kapp of the Vikings or Billy Kilmer of the skins who both threw more wounded ducks than anyone I can remember. But somehow they both took teams to SBs.

Accuracy= The receiver can catch it. Dak is an accurate QB by that metric.

Oh man.....to this day, I still have never seen a QB throw a prettier pass, BUT he was Ryan Leaf before there was Ryan Leaf. Talk about a certified jerk and A hole........trust me I was living in Atlanta during his career.
 

John813

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It takes time for a lot of QBs to get the touch down, and really get accurate on medium to deep passes.

Romo was a long time vet when he could put the ball in the exact location for Dez Bryant to make some circus catches.
I doubt he could of done it in 2007.

To me accuracy is about giving your receiver the ball in the right place and without losing momentum to make the catch.

For me, Dak is accurate enough to be successful.
 

Doomsday101

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I don't understand why saying a quarterback threw a bad pass has to be equated to the quarterback played poorly or wasn't accurate. You can recognize when a pass is underthrown or thrown behind a receiver without it meaning that the quarterback sucked. In fact, objectively, it is correct to recognize a bad pass for being a bad pass. Those who want to paint bad passes as being good ones should be questioned for their ability to judge things objectively.

Sometimes quarterbacks make great throws, sometimes receivers make great catches. Sometimes the opposite happens. I can acknowledge two drops by Amari Cooper without it meaning he had a poor game just as much as I can acknowledge the same thing with Dak despite an underthrow or two.

Very true. I don't know of any QB who throws perfect passes 100% of the time, there are ample occasions where the WR has to adjust to the ball and make the tough catch. Aikman was very accurate yet I saw Mike make some very hard catches on balls that were less than perfect.
 

big dog cowboy

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What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it.
Reminds me of the Jarwin TD yesterday. In the middle of his throw Dak adjusted and slung it downfield to a wide open Jarwin. The mechanics were awful and the pass was behind Jarwin but it got there for a TD.
 

Bobhaze

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I don't understand why saying a quarterback threw a bad pass has to be equated to the quarterback played poorly or wasn't accurate. You can recognize when a pass is underthrown or thrown behind a receiver without it meaning that the quarterback sucked. In fact, objectively, it is correct to recognize a bad pass for being a bad pass. Those who want to paint bad passes as being good ones should be questioned for their ability to judge things objectively.

Sometimes quarterbacks make great throws, sometimes receivers make great catches. Sometimes the opposite happens. I can acknowledge two drops by Amari Cooper without it meaning he had a poor game just as much as I can acknowledge the same thing with Dak despite an underthrow or two.
Ben Roethelesberger is known to be a very accurate QB and he looked terrible last night. Even great QBs have bad games. Being a top NFL QB is extremely difficult. It’s why they make the big bucks.
 

gimmesix

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Very true. I don't know of any QB who throws perfect passes 100% of the time, there are ample occasions where the WR has to adjust to the ball and make the tough catch. Aikman was very accurate yet I saw Mike make some very hard catches on balls that were less than perfect.

I think the further we get from a great player's career the more we tend to just remember the great plays. And there's really nothing wrong with that at that point. While we're in the middle of it, we tend to examine everything both good and bad.
 

TwoDeep3

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I seem to remember when I played organized football the coaches saying, "It you can touch it you can catch nit."

Not sure if that is reasonable, but they used to say it a lot. Maybe because I dropped it a lot.
 

Doomsday101

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Reminds me of the Jarwin TD yesterday. In the middle of his throw Dak adjusted and slung it downfield to a wide open Jarwin. The mechanics were awful and the pass was behind Jarwin but it got there for a TD.

According to Moore, Dak told him he lost grip on the ball, he kind of double clutched it to try to get a grip and did what he had to so that Jarwin had a chance to make a play on the ball
 

Pantone282C

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Here’s a simple definition of QB passing accuracy I really like: The QB’s passes are where the receiver can catch them.

I don’t know about you, but the Dak critics that continually point out that his passes don’t look pretty enough or he missed this throw or that throw are either not paying attention or will never accept Dak’s abilities. He may never be a top 5 QB in this league but if your QB helps you win, who cares? Dak will have a bad game at some point this year as he has had in the past. Happens to every QB. But he has had and will have a lot more good ones than bad IMO.

NFL history is littered with QBs who threw beautiful tight spirals in tight windows...and were perennial losers. How about the much ballyhooed (in his day) Jeff George, who had a great arm and an ego to match. He played and lost for multiple NFL teams and will fade from memory quicker than many QBs with less ability. Who could forget the canon arm of JeMarcus Russell? Or our former backup and former Browns #1 pick Brandon Weeden who Jerry said threw the prettiest pass?

What I care about are QBs that can throw the ball accurate enough for our receivers to catch it. I’m not that impressed with how tight the spiral is. That’s cool and all but just get it there so the receivers can catch it. Be a leader and don’t kill us with turnovers.

Remember the Bears’ Jim McMahon? He didn’t throw the prettiest ball but he will show you his super bowl ring if you point that out. And he was a great leader who just won. Or Joe Kapp of the Vikings or Billy Kilmer of the skins who both threw more wounded ducks than anyone I can remember. But somehow they both took teams to SBs.

Accuracy= The receiver can catch it. Dak is an accurate QB by that metric.
You make excellent points, sir. Salud! There is something disquieting about constant criticism without context or a balanced assessment. We will never have a perfect QB or perfect coach or perfect team. It's part of the game to see who makes the most of what they have, and that is what the Cowboys are doing this year, IMO.
Otherwise, computer analysts would publish their results, the NFL would award the SB trophy at the beginning of the season, and the players would stay at home without ever putting on their pads and helmets!
 

shabazz

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I hate to say it but a lot of Dak's critics hold him to different standards, as in perfection. Sadly, I'm not sure most realize it....

Why is it considered to be a a different standard when alot of us look at things like QBR . QBR takes into account primary and ancillary measurables to rate a QB's performance. Rayne Dakota ranked #17 last year. Whats so different about that?
 
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