Evolution of the passing game

[joseephuss]

I utilized the data at http://www.pro-football-reference.com to chart the differences in QB ratings over the decades. It isn't fully complete on that site, but it lists quite a bit of statistical information from the 1960s thru the present.

1930s
40 games
220 completions
446 attempts
49.3%
3134 yards
7.0 YPA
14.2 YPC
24 TDs
5.4% TD%
38 INTs
8.5% INT%
54.90 QB rating

1940s
481 games
220 completions
7370 attempts
52.4%
55,043 yards
7.5 YPA
14.2 YPC
488 TDs
6.6% TD%
523 INTs
7.1% INT%
69.41 QB rating

1950s
2517 games
17,137 completions
34,685 attempts
49.4%
244,190 yards
7.0 YPA
14.2 YPC
1748 TDs
5.0% TD%
2351 INTs
6.8% INT%
61.15 QB rating

1960s
5827 games
46,320 completions
92,171 attempts
50.3%
650,159 yards
7.1 YPA
14.0 YPC
4684 TDs
5.1% TD%
5223 INTs
5.7% INT%
66.68 QB rating


1970s
6395 games
52,767 completions
100,939 attempts
52.3%
672,595 yards
6.7 YPA
12.7 YPC
4183 TDs
4.1% TD%
5288 INTs
5.2% INT%
65.40 QB rating

1980s
6821 games
74,136 completions
133,220 attempts
55.6%
938,470 yards
7.0 YPA
12.7 YPC
5568 TDs
4.2% TD%
5504 INTs
4.1% INT%
74.53 QB rating

1990s
6833 games
86,142 completions
150,310 attempts
57.3%
1,020,477 yards
6.8 YPA
11.8 YPC
5874 TDs
3.9% TD%
4993 INTs
3.3% INT%
77.31 QB rating

2000s
4694 games
68,288 completions
115,184 attempts
59.3%
782,354 yards
6.8 YPA
11.5 YPC
4596 TDs
4.0% TD%
3663 INTs
3.2% INT%
79.84 QB rating

 

[FuzzyLumpkins]

I utilized the data at http://www.pro-football-reference.com to chart the differences in QB ratings over the decades. It isn't fully complete on that site, but it lists quite a bit of statistical information from the 1960s thru the present.

1930s
40 games
220 completions
446 attempts
49.3%
3134 yards
7.0 YPA
14.2 YPC
24 TDs
5.4% TD%
38 INTs
8.5% INT%
54.90 QB rating

1940s
481 games
220 completions
7370 attempts
52.4%
55,043 yards
7.5 YPA
14.2 YPC
488 TDs
6.6% TD%
523 INTs
7.1% INT%
69.41 QB rating

1950s
2517 games
17,137 completions
34,685 attempts
49.4%
244,190 yards
7.0 YPA
14.2 YPC
1748 TDs
5.0% TD%
2351 INTs
6.8% INT%
61.15 QB rating

1960s
5827 games
46,320 completions
92,171 attempts
50.3%
650,159 yards
7.1 YPA
14.0 YPC
4684 TDs
5.1% TD%
5223 INTs
5.7% INT%
66.68 QB rating


1970s
6395 games
52,767 completions
100,939 attempts
52.3%
672,595 yards
6.7 YPA
12.7 YPC
4183 TDs
4.1% TD%
5288 INTs
5.2% INT%
65.40 QB rating

1980s
6821 games
74,136 completions
133,220 attempts
55.6%
938,470 yards
7.0 YPA
12.7 YPC
5568 TDs
4.2% TD%
5504 INTs
4.1% INT%
74.53 QB rating

1990s
6833 games
86,142 completions
150,310 attempts
57.3%
1,020,477 yards
6.8 YPA
11.8 YPC
5874 TDs
3.9% TD%
4993 INTs
3.3% INT%
77.31 QB rating

2000s
4694 games
68,288 completions
115,184 attempts
59.3%
782,354 yards
6.8 YPA
11.5 YPC
4596 TDs
4.0% TD%
3663 INTs
3.2% INT%
79.84 QB rating

It was in the late 70s when they gave the 5 yard cushion if im not mistaken and they really eliminated contact in the 90s. Thus the jumps in production.

 

[THUMPER]

It was in the late 70s when they gave the 5 yard cushion if im not mistaken and they really eliminated contact in the 90s. Thus the jumps in production.

5 yard cushion, no more contact by DBs, "in the grasp" rule, and lots of other things that the NFL has instituted to enhance the passing game and benefit the offense has resulted in 80s-on QBs to have much better stats and higher ratings.

BTW joseephuss, you might want to update your completions number for the 40s.

 

[ABQCOWBOY]

5 yard cushion, no more contact by DBs, "in the grasp" rule, and lots of other things that the NFL has instituted to enhance the passing game and benefit the offense has resulted in 80s-on QBs to have much better stats and higher ratings.

BTW joseephuss, you might want to update your completions number for the 40s.

The fact that the NFL allowed OLs to use there hands to block and actually extend there arms was huge in the development of the modern passing game. Without this single rule change, you don't even know who Dan Marino, Joe Montana or Payton Manning are.

 

[THUMPER]

The fact that the NFL allowed OLs to use there hands to block and actually extend there arms was huge in the development of the modern passing game. Without this single rule change, you don't even know who Dan Marino, Joe Montana or Payton Manning are.

I agree, that was huge.

 

[StanleySpadowski]

Rules changes are the major factor especially in the red zone, hence the increase in TDs, but one cannot forget the advent of the West Coast Offense. YPA has remained remarkably consistent except the spike in the 40s but YPC has dropped significantly. The shorter passes also lead to fewer INTS. All the things that make the QB rating spike upwards.

 

[lurkercowboy]

Look at int pct. A big dropoff over the years.

 

[Rack]

Rules changes are the major factor especially in the red zone, hence the increase in TDs, but one cannot forget the advent of the West Coast Offense. YPA has remained remarkably consistent except the spike in the 40s but YPC has dropped significantly. The shorter passes also lead to fewer INTS. All the things that make the QB rating spike upwards.

Exactly what I was thinking.