10 Years of Rookie Preseason Passing Brilliance

[percyhoward]

The thread title is tongue in cheek, but I was seriously interested in what great preseason rookie passing performances portended, if anything. Some of these rookie QB played mainly against defenses made up of guys that would never play in the NFL (although their offenses at the time were often of similar make up). Others led starting offenses in preseason, and faced starting defenses. Most were probably different mixes of all of the above.

These are the best passing performances by a player in his first preseason, going back to 2006. Minimum 40 attempts and a preseason rating of 95. The QB's rating in real games (if any) is at the end.

129.6 Brett Hundley 5th GB 15 --
122.6 Brett Ratliff FA NYJ 07 --
111.2 Teddy Bridgewater 1st Min 14 87.0
110.3 Russell Wilson 3rd Sea 12 101.8
110.1 Nick Foles 3rd Phi 12 87.3
110.0 Blake Bortles 1st Jac 14 80.0
109.9 Colt Brennan 6th Was 08 --
108.3 Jay Cutler 1st Den 06 86.0
108.2 Derek Carr 2nd Oak 14 83.7
106.6 Jeff Tuel FA Buf 13 45.1
105.3 Bruce Gradkowski 6th TB 06 65.8
100.2 Matt Flynn 7th GB 08 85.7
99.9 Trent Edwards 3rd Buf 07 75.5
99.0 Jimmy Garoppolo 2nd NE 14 91.9
97.6 Zach Mettenberger 6th Ten 14 75.4
96.5 Brady Quinn 1st Cle 07 64.4
95.9 Sam Bradford 1st StL 10 81.0
95.5 Matt Leinart 1st Ari 06 70.2

First Preseason
Romo 24 of 39 250 yd 1 td 2 int 67.3
Rodgers 20 of 37 172 yd 1 td 2 int 53.0
Brees 42 of 54 481 yd 2 td 0 int 116.1
Brady 9 of 13 97 yd 1 td 0 int 116.5
Rthlsbrgr 25 of 43 347 yd 1 td 2 int 72.5

Prescott 22 of 27 338 yd 4 td 0 int 158.3

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Dak is a gamer, no doubt it looks like he can ball out at the NFL level.... but please, let's wait on the anointing oil at least until he plays Seattle Thursday before breaking out the definitive Starter or QB controversy talk. It's not like Prescott has had a near flawless training camp like the first two pre-season games have produced.

Still like him better than Wetz, Cook, Hackeberg, Brisset ect.

 

[perrykemp]

He has had a heck of a pre-season so far.

It's a long away from playing NFL regular season games where opposing teams are zero'ing in on a QB's greatest weaknesses, studying film, etc, however, I don't think there is anything more you can ask from Dak at this point.

 

[bayeslife]

Dak is a gamer, no doubt it looks like he can ball out at the NFL level.... but please, let's wait on the anointing oil at least until he plays Seattle Thursday before breaking out the definitive Starter or QB controversy talk. It's not like Prescott has had a near flawless training camp like the first two pre-season games have produced.

Still like him better than Wetz, Cook, Hackeberg, Brisset ect.

I think that's part of the excitement is that he's still very raw. Can't wait to see how progressed into next year

 

[GIFTS86]

I wonder if the eagles and rams coaches, etc. are feeling a pit in there stomach? Having some kind of doubt of what if. I know it would cross my mind.

 

[perrykemp]

I wonder if the eagles and rams coaches, etc. are feeling a pit in there stomach? Having some kind of doubt of what if. I know it would cross my mind.

I doubt it at this stage -- they scouted these players, looked at all the film that was available, and made a decision.

Just like I doubt teams spent a lot of time lamenting the fact that they didn't draft Brett Hundley last season in the 5th round who had maybe the best rookie QB pre-season ever.

If Dak is all pro in 3-4 years and their guys are struggling, then absolutely yeah sure.

 

[DFWJC]

It's all in stages and so far Dak is passing his early tests with flying colors.

He seems like he has a leprechaun on his shoulder, which beats the alternative I suppose.

On a total side note--and not deferring from Dak at all-- but In his entire career, has Romo once ever had a interception called back due to a roughing the passer penalty? Yet he gets roughed almost every week without a call.

 

[Frosty]

I wonder if the eagles and rams coaches, etc. are feeling a pit in there stomach? Having some kind of doubt of what if. I know it would cross my mind.

Don't think any NFL coach is concerned about their Rookie QB performance in preseason. It takes 2-3 yrs to develop a QB. Impressed with Dak so far, but no DC has game planned or shown any schemes to challenge QBs. It's preseason, everything is simplified but Dak is exciting to watch and has much to learn.

 

[waving monkey]

Dak is a gamer, no doubt it looks like he can ball out at the NFL level.... but please, let's wait on the anointing oil at least until he plays Seattle Thursday before breaking out the definitive Starter or QB controversy talk. It's not like Prescott has had a near flawless training camp like the first two pre-season games have produced.

Still like him better than Wetz, Cook, Hackeberg, Brisset ect.

no

 

[lostar2009]

Dak is a gamer, no doubt it looks like he can ball out at the NFL level.... but please, let's wait on the anointing oil at least until he plays Seattle Thursday before breaking out the definitive Starter or QB controversy talk. It's not like Prescott has had a near flawless training camp like the first two pre-season games have produced.

Still like him better than Wetz, Cook, Hackeberg, Brisset ect.

I don't know how much they going to play him. You would except Romo to play a half and at that point most of the starters on both teams are pulled.

 

[windjc]

I doubt it at this stage -- they scouted these players, looked at all the film that was available, and made a decision.

Just like I doubt teams spent a lot of time lamenting the fact that they didn't draft Brett Hundley last season in the 5th round who had maybe the best rookie QB pre-season ever.

If Dak is all pro in 3-4 years and their guys are struggling, then absolutely yeah sure.

What were Hudley's stats? Better than 156 PR?

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

Just like I doubt teams spent a lot of time lamenting the fact that they didn't draft Brett Hundley last season in the 5th round who had maybe the best rookie QB pre-season ever.

Hundley in four games:

45-of-65 passes for 730 yards, 7 TDs 1 INT
129.7 QB rating

Dak in two games:

22-of-27 338 Yards 6 TDs 0 INT
154.5 QB rating

 

[perrykemp]

What were Hudley's stats? Better than 156 PR?

129.6 QB rating, 7 TDs passing in the preseason last season.

I <believe>, based on Percy's stats above, it was the best pre-season going back to 2006 for a rookie QB with at least 40 attempts.

Dak, if he can keep it up, will bump Hundley out of that #1 spot.

 

[percyhoward]

In his entire career, has Romo once ever had a interception called back due to a roughing the passer penalty? Yet he gets roughed almost every week without a call.

Romo has never had an INT nullified by roughing the passer, and has only had 4 INT called back due to penalty in his career.

INT called back due to penalty (as a % of total INT)
Rodgers 12.3
Rivers 5.9
Brees 4.9
Rthlsbrgr 4.8
EManning 4.0
PManning 3.6
Romo 3.4
Brady 3.3

 

[percyhoward]

129.6 QB rating, 7 TDs passing in the preseason last season.

I <believe>, based on Percy's stats above, it was the best pre-season going back to 2006 for a rookie QB with at least 40 attempts.

Dak, if he can keep it up, will bump Hundley out of that #1 spot.

He will, for whatever that's worth. The guy who Hundley bumped out of that spot was Brett Ratliff.

 

[percyhoward]

Don't think any NFL coach is concerned about their Rookie QB performance in preseason.

Coaches are extremely interested. Unless Prescott gets any significant time in the regular season, his preseason performance will play a large part in how we approach next year's draft.

 

[rockj7]

The thread title is tongue in cheek, but I was seriously interested in what great preseason rookie passing performances portended, if anything. Some of these rookie QB played mainly against defenses made up of guys that would never play in the NFL (although their offenses at the time were often of similar make up). Others led starting offenses in preseason, and faced starting defenses. Most were probably different mixes of all of the above.

These are the best passing performances by a player in his first preseason, going back to 2006. Minimum 40 attempts and a preseason rating of 95. The QB's rating in real games (if any) is at the end.

129.6 Brett Hundley 5th GB 15 --
122.6 Brett Ratliff FA NYJ 07 --
111.2 Teddy Bridgewater 1st Min 14 87.0
110.3 Russell Wilson 3rd Sea 12 101.8
110.1 Nick Foles 3rd Phi 12 87.3
110.0 Blake Bortles 1st Jac 14 80.0
109.9 Colt Brennan 6th Was 08 --
108.3 Jay Cutler 1st Den 06 86.0
108.2 Derek Carr 2nd Oak 14 83.7
106.6 Jeff Tuel FA Buf 13 45.1
105.3 Bruce Gradkowski 6th TB 06 65.8
100.2 Matt Flynn 7th GB 08 85.7
99.9 Trent Edwards 3rd Buf 07 75.5
99.0 Jimmy Garoppolo 2nd NE 14 91.9
97.6 Zach Mettenberger 6th Ten 14 75.4
96.5 Brady Quinn 1st Cle 07 64.4
95.9 Sam Bradford 1st StL 10 81.0
95.5 Matt Leinart 1st Ari 06 70.2

First Preseason
Romo 24 of 39 250 yd 1 td 2 int 67.3
Rodgers 20 of 37 172 yd 1 td 2 int 53.0
Brees 42 of 54 481 yd 2 td 0 int 116.1
Brady 9 of 13 97 yd 1 td 0 int 116.5
Rthlsbrgr 25 of 43 347 yd 1 td 2 int 72.5

Prescott 22 of 27 338 yd 4 td 0 int 158.3

Dak was drafted to be the back up not the starter alot of these QBs on the list where drafted to lead their respective franchises we here at the Zone have decided he is the heir to the throne all kidding aside hopefully he can sit for 2 years

 

[cowboys1985]

You know Dak is doing great when the only criticism people can think of is "wait until he plays a real game or a real defense."

 

[Fletch]

It's all in stages and so far Dak is passing his early tests with flying colors.

He seems like he has a leprechaun on his shoulder, which beats the alternative I suppose.

On a total side note--and not deferring from Dak at all-- but In his entire career, has Romo once ever had a interception called back due to a roughing the passer penalty? Yet he gets roughed almost every week without a call.

When Dak takes over, so will the refs. Enjoy it while it lasts.

 

[jday]

He has had a heck of a pre-season so far.

It's a long away from playing NFL regular season games where opposing teams are zero'ing in on a QB's greatest weaknesses, studying film, etc, however, I don't think there is anything more you can ask from Dak at this point.

That really sums it up pretty well...while we try to debunk the magic trick that is happening right in front of the football watching world, he is steadily checking every box; command the huddle. Check. Remain poised in the pocket, feel the blindside pressure, while keeping eyes down field. Check. Deliver strikes with accuracy and touch; even in tight coverage. Check. Makes good decisions with the football and his feet. Check. Keeps his foot on the defenses throat every time he takes a snap. Check. People at home watching on TV already expect that when he takes a snap something good is about to happen. Check.

But, yeah, I get it. It's just preseason, but there is something very special about this kid just the same. It's a good day to be a Cowboys fan.