Blitzen
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I am of the opinion that this term was invented for marketing purposes because of the absurd variability in the definition of a “franchise QB.” Based on all the time I have watched the game, if a team wants to win in the playoffs and Super Bowl they do not need elite QB play.
They do need winning method adaptability the bulk of playoff runs. If the teams get in a shootout and must rely on their offense to outscore the opposing offense because both team’s defense are not performing well. On the flip side, the team defense may need to outperform the opposing team’s defense when both offenses are not performing well. Coaching helps some, but it’s way down the list of priorities unless it is paired with an elite QB. Elite QB play paired with a top 5 defense and elite coaching is the most repeatable playoff/SB contention methods in the history of the NFL.
If you want my definition of elite QB play, I can give you a list of thresholds for the season in question (not every season will yield elite QB play). Top 5 in passing yards, TDs thrown. TD to INT ratio of 4 or more. No more than 2 games scoring 10 points less than season average (for regular season), no more than one game like that in playoffs. In the playoffs and at least 80% of the regular season games—answering opposing scoring drives with a scoring drive within the next two drives (end of half drives with less than 45 seconds thrown out). In all games, answering opposing TD drive with a TD drive at least 50% of the time (unless leading by 24 points or more). In playoffs-never going down by more than 24 points at any point in the game (unless the offense never had a possession during that period of time).
For me, if a QB is able to make a conference championship game in the first 6 seasons with a club and my definition of elite QB play in half their seasons, then they merit a long-term deal. Also, multiple time SB winners are given some flexibility in their performance thresholds with regards to contract extensions. For your information most teams do not hold onto starting QBs for more than 9 seasons if they never actually get to a CCG. The outliers are Romo, Dak, and Stafford (with Detroit). This team has the luxury of running it back indefinitely because of the front office structure. This is not so much an indictment of Dak as it’s an indictment of Cowboys procedure. For this front office- It’s not about making it deep into the playoffs-obviously. It’s about hanging around the rim of the playoffs and maybe making it in sometimes. But Dak did sign up for this-and deserves the current playoff legacy with Jerry during his career.
They do need winning method adaptability the bulk of playoff runs. If the teams get in a shootout and must rely on their offense to outscore the opposing offense because both team’s defense are not performing well. On the flip side, the team defense may need to outperform the opposing team’s defense when both offenses are not performing well. Coaching helps some, but it’s way down the list of priorities unless it is paired with an elite QB. Elite QB play paired with a top 5 defense and elite coaching is the most repeatable playoff/SB contention methods in the history of the NFL.
If you want my definition of elite QB play, I can give you a list of thresholds for the season in question (not every season will yield elite QB play). Top 5 in passing yards, TDs thrown. TD to INT ratio of 4 or more. No more than 2 games scoring 10 points less than season average (for regular season), no more than one game like that in playoffs. In the playoffs and at least 80% of the regular season games—answering opposing scoring drives with a scoring drive within the next two drives (end of half drives with less than 45 seconds thrown out). In all games, answering opposing TD drive with a TD drive at least 50% of the time (unless leading by 24 points or more). In playoffs-never going down by more than 24 points at any point in the game (unless the offense never had a possession during that period of time).
For me, if a QB is able to make a conference championship game in the first 6 seasons with a club and my definition of elite QB play in half their seasons, then they merit a long-term deal. Also, multiple time SB winners are given some flexibility in their performance thresholds with regards to contract extensions. For your information most teams do not hold onto starting QBs for more than 9 seasons if they never actually get to a CCG. The outliers are Romo, Dak, and Stafford (with Detroit). This team has the luxury of running it back indefinitely because of the front office structure. This is not so much an indictment of Dak as it’s an indictment of Cowboys procedure. For this front office- It’s not about making it deep into the playoffs-obviously. It’s about hanging around the rim of the playoffs and maybe making it in sometimes. But Dak did sign up for this-and deserves the current playoff legacy with Jerry during his career.
