The Running QB

[Diehardblues]

I think you are confusing “mobile QB” with “running QB”. Dak, for example, has never been featured as a runner in the NFL in the manner you mentioned, and while he has had some success running, lots of QBs run for about the same yardage. Same for Mahomes, and he runs less than Dak. These are guys that are mobile, and run once in awhile, but their running is not a featured part of their game or the offense they run.

This^^^

Don’t confuse “ running QB with mobile or scrambling QB”.

 

[Diehardblues]

Prescott and Watson are not running QB's. Both are good passers.

Jackson/Vick/Cunningham are/were not good passers.

To understand this, you'd have to make the distinction between running QB's and Qb's who can run. The QB running is not the problem, the QB running too much and not being a good enough passer is the problem. Quite simply, a QB who depends on running the ball himself is too one dimensional. Against good D's, those type QB's get exposed.

One of the problems is that after a QB has taken off and run a good ways, he's huffin' and puffin' a bit, and this throws off his passing for a play or two, sometimes a series.

They’re ok passers but I don’t see them as NFL proto type pocket passers . Dak maybe more so than Watson. Both are great leaders though and have talent. Just not what I’d prefer.

I’d rather have a Mahomes . I know. Not enough to go around.

But I also dispute these are the only type coming out ( someone else posted)of college as tonight we will see two of the most premiere with Burrows and Lawrence. There’s still hope for the NFL with proto type pocket passers. We don’t have to settle for these hybrid passing talents.

 

[ondaedg]

I like how Russel Wilson plays. He moves around a lot behind the line of scrimmage to extend plays but isn’t always trying to actually gain yards with his feet.

Wilson is one if the best at opportunistic runs. If it's there and it's crunch time he takes it.

 

[Doomsday101]

Thing is colleges are producing more and more athletic QB who use their ability to run as a weapon, add to that NFL seldom lets a QB sit and learn for a year or 2 as they once did, they are thrown out there quickly and rely on their own skill sets to make it in the league and NFL coaches are using these abilities.

 

[DIAF]

No.

Teams want their QB to be as dynamic as possible. That is what they are drafting.

Everyone is searching for a Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes.

I don’t like having a QB that is just a pure runner like Lamar Jackson because he is so vulnerable to injury.

Lamar Jackson is not a pure runner. He threw for 36 TDs this year.

 

[DIAF]

They’re ok passers but I don’t see them as NFL proto type pocket passers . Dak maybe more so than Watson. Both are great leaders though and have talent. Just not what I’d prefer.

I’d rather have a Mahomes . I know. Not enough to go around.

But I also dispute these are the only type coming out ( someone else posted)of college as tonight we will see two of the most premiere with Burrows and Lawrence. There’s still hope for the NFL with proto type pocket passers. We don’t have to settle for these hybrid passing talents.

You speak as if there's something WRONG with hybrid/mobile QBs...."there's still hope for the NFL...", "We don't have to settle for these hybrid passing talents..."

There's nothing wrong with mobile QBs. It's just another way to skin the cat.

 

[DFWJC]

Ideally, you find the perfect QB who is big, strong, mobile, and can throw it with the best of them

Enter...Trevor Lawrence, coming to the NFL in 2021

 

[Diehardblues]

You speak as if there's something WRONG with hybrid/mobile QBs...."there's still hope for the NFL...", "We don't have to settle for these hybrid passing talents..."

There's nothing wrong with mobile QBs. It's just another way to skin the cat.

I see mobile QB’s and these hybrid running QB’s as different breeds.

 

[Tenkamenin]

Dual-threat QBs. You need a QB who can run if needed. The days of the 6'4"+ statue pocket QB are over and that's pretty much the case with all of the QB prospects from the last 5 years. Everyone is mobile enough, maybe not to run North-South but you have to be able to scramble in the pocket

DEs and DTs today are running 4.6 and lower 40-yard dashes, so you need to be mobile to evade a sack.

The most important aspect of mobility is lateral quickness. It's not Russell Wilson's straight-line speed, but rather, he can shift laterally to evade DEs or DTs. Romo had this gift as well and could avoid an impending disaster for a big play. For instance, we saw Romo escape the grasp of JJ Watt to nail a 30+ yard TD.

Interestingly, Dak doesn't have the instincts or lateral quickness. However, Dak is very tough and has good straight-line speed when he runs.

 

[jterrell]

Since this topic first was raised until now the answer has always been very simple:
More ways to gain will always be better than less.
More ways to score better than less.

Running QBs are harder to defend and bring more to the table provided they can also execute the offense as a whole.

There are down sides however such aging and wear and tear.
A guy like Wentz is plenty mobile but his body can't handle being hit.

A stronger player however that can absorb a few hits (Ben R/Dak/McNabb/Russ) or avoid tackles (Vick/RG3 when he had two knees/Lamar) add an element simply passing alone won't offer.

A guy like Pat Mahomes adds a few runs to monster passing totals because his arm is so strong he can chase defenders 40 yards off the ball.
And his taking those free yards on the scramble opens up more passing lanes.

 

[Runwildboys]

Not true. He was a pocket passer until he couldn't help himself any more and started running more.

Must've been hearing dogs coming up behind him.

 

[Runwildboys]

Steve Young was on of my favorite players because of his running ability...always thought he was a great QB.

He was a 49er.........Nuff said.

 

[Runwildboys]

Its their number, and I'd think its an older article since it doesn't include Lamar Jackson (who was about what number 9 in rushing this year?).

You got me with that one.

Newton, Griffin, and Tim Tebow — have just started their careers, and might well win in the future.

^^^This quote tells me it's an older article.^^^

 

[Runwildboys]

Why aren't people mentioning Frank Tarkenton? He was one of the best scramblers to play. Wilson reminds me of him more than anyone else.

Fran

 

[mattjames2010]

Lamar Jackson is not a pure runner. He threw for 36 TDs this year.

He threw 36 due to teams fearing his legs. How did he play about Tennessee when they held him in check until garbage time?

This is no different than what was happening with Vick during his stretch in 2010.

 

[Kingofholland]

Lamar Jackson has ran 323 times since his first start last season. That is unreal and not sustainable in the NFL. Whether immediate or slowly, the body will break down - no one is superman. It will happen at Jackson's weight. No QB that has ran at a high rate got through it without major injuries that had them miss significant time.

Become a pocket passer or find yourself in the medical tent more often than you'd like.

Spot on, there's also 16 more games of film, defensive coaches will be studying all off-season how to stop him.

 

[Zman5]

Fran

Freakin auto spell checkers.

 

[xwalker]

Over the past year several teams---the Chiefs, Cowboys, but particularly the Texans and the Ravens---seemed to be gravitating to a new QB model, the "running QB." Especially in the case of the Texans and Ravens, the QB run was an instrumental part of the offense. Until the playoffs it looked like this was, in fact, the "new" model. In the past, a Michael Vick or Randall Cunningham always had good early success, but when crunch time came and you had to pass well from the pocket, these guys ran into trouble.

I wonder if, after today, that new model is questioned. This is the second year in a row where Jackson has not come through in a playoff game; Tannehill replacing the (more) mobile Mariota was to some degree a return to the more "normal" QB model. It could be argued that KC is less of a QB-run team than either Houston or Baltimore. Last year, Dallas was somewhat more of a QB run team.

If Watson is bounced (like I think he will be), and if the NFC really comes down to Rodgers and Garappolo as the championship QBs, virtually all of the "running QBs" will be out.

Now I understand oversimplification and, yes, there are variations across the board. Wilson, Rodgers, etc. all run from time to time. But I'm talking about the game plan of featuring the QB, especially Jackson and Watson, as runners. If Houston loses, does this cause a re-thinking and, in particular a re-thinking of Dak and how to properly use him?

Just questions. I don't have answers.

How many Super Bowl wins by "running QBs" ?

What is the definition of running QB?

Season High rushes and rush yards.
Steve Young 76, 537
Russell Wilson 118, 849 (3475 pass yards)
Lamar Jackson 176, 1206 (3127 pass yards)
Mike Vick 123, 1039
RG3 120, 815 (never played 16 games)

Russell Wilson Super Bowl season
68 rushes for 524 yards & 3357 passing yards.

Steve Young Super Bowl season
58 for 293 yards & 3969 passing yards

 

[Cowboyfanforlife]

Over the past year several teams---the Chiefs, Cowboys, but particularly the Texans and the Ravens---seemed to be gravitating to a new QB model, the "running QB." Especially in the case of the Texans and Ravens, the QB run was an instrumental part of the offense. Until the playoffs it looked like this was, in fact, the "new" model. In the past, a Michael Vick or Randall Cunningham always had good early success, but when crunch time came and you had to pass well from the pocket, these guys ran into trouble.

I wonder if, after today, that new model is questioned. This is the second year in a row where Jackson has not come through in a playoff game; Tannehill replacing the (more) mobile Mariota was to some degree a return to the more "normal" QB model. It could be argued that KC is less of a QB-run team than either Houston or Baltimore. Last year, Dallas was somewhat more of a QB run team.

If Watson is bounced (like I think he will be), and if the NFC really comes down to Rodgers and Garappolo as the championship QBs, virtually all of the "running QBs" will be out.

Now I understand oversimplification and, yes, there are variations across the board. Wilson, Rodgers, etc. all run from time to time. But I'm talking about the game plan of featuring the QB, especially Jackson and Watson, as runners. If Houston loses, does this cause a re-thinking and, in particular a re-thinking of Dak and how to properly use him?

Just questions. I don't have answers.

Oh H*** yea........running quarterbacks get tired too throughout the season........guess which two teams are dominating the most? 40whiners and titans with that good ole' fashion: play defense.....and run the football!!!!!! I saw the stat, titans have both games they won with UNDER 100 yds. passing......over 180+ yds running.........hmmmmmmmmmm still works IMO.....we got Zeke...and now just need to get alot bigger on defense....

 

[Starforever]

Why do you want to pay a passer to run when you are already paying a running back to do that?

A passer is paid for his arm, not his legs. Staubach, Bradshaw and Young were all good runners who won with their arm. Rodgers is a good runner but nobody notices that.

A QB is paid to win games by any means necessary.