Importance of a running QB

[cowboysfan]

As evident from the RoseBowl.
Cowboy should have at least one of the backup or main QB capable of running.

 

[thssanders]

It's not the same in the nfl. Look at the most successful quarterbacks... they are usually pocket passers.

 

[cowboysfan]

In the 3rd or 4th and short situation and in 4th Quarter (just like the rose bowl scenerio), switching to a running QB could be useful.

It's not the same in the nfl. Look at the most successful quarterbacks... they are usually pocket passers.

 

[thssanders]

Yes, in those situations a running quarterback is almost impossible to stop. I would feel a lot better if I had a guy like vince young in those situations. Bledsoe scares nobody on short yardage situations.

 

[Wolverine]

As evident from the RoseBowl.
Cowboy should have at least one of the backup or main QB capable of running.

I can guarentee you one of those running QBs has not won 3 outta the last 4 Super Bowls. They are overrated.

 

[Derinyar]

Run lemmings run. There is no cliff.

 

[Sarge]

As evident from the RoseBowl.
Cowboy should have at least one of the backup or main QB capable of running.

Flavor of the week.

 

[Murph80]

I don't like much about a running QB in the NFL. Give me a passer.

 

[Clove]

give me a passer and a runner. If VY can throw like that and run, that's a dangerous combination. But if you can only run, and not very accurate or smart, then I'll take the pocket passer.

 

[Cowchips]

As evident from the RoseBowl.
Cowboy should have at least one of the backup or main QB capable of running.

Last time I looked..the leagues "running qbs" are all at home vs. getting ready for playoff games. This includes Vick, McNabb, McNair, etc. A running qb in the nfl is a recipe for disaster. McNabb and McNair became good when they were forced to stay in the pocket. Vick sucks and has yet to learn the lesson.

Unless you consider guys like Manning, Manning Jr, Brady etc all runners the argument has no merit.

 

[Eddie]

Vince is a great running QB in college ... heck, he diced up USC's LB corp. Then again, USC was starting an 18 year old freshman at MLB.

Big difference in the NFL ... where LB's are faster than CB's. Vince won't be able to out run anyone.

Let's see ... of the 12 playoff teams:

NFC:
Seatle - Hasslebeck: adequate elusiveness, but not a running QB
Chicago - Orton/Grossman: neither are running QB's, heck, neither are great passers either.
NYG - Eli: some elusiveness, not a running QB
Carolina - Delhome: good elusiveness and can scramble, but wins with his arm. Not a running QB.
Tampa Bay - Sims: slower than his dad.
Washington - Brunnell: can scramble, and hurt the Cowboys with his running. But still, NOT a running QB.

AFC:
Indy- Manning: nuff said
Denver - Plummer: the best scrambler among all, but not a running QB.
Cincy - Palmer: Troy Aikman clone.
NE - Tom Brady: statue.
Jacksonville - Gerrard: good running QB. Big and strong. Leftwich: big arm, no legs.
Pittsburgh - Rosewhatever: not a running QB.

So there you have it ... Gerrard is the ONLY running QB among that group, and he's Leftwich's backup.

The great Michael Vick couldn't save his team with his legs. It's done for. The running QB is a myth.

 

[Jimz31]

Ummm....VY is Colleges most efficient passer. He is the complete package. He is not just "another" Vick.

Besides, the poster didn't say anything other than needing a QB that CAN run.

That is the way the NFL is going...like it or not. Defenses are becoming more and more athletic and quick while o-lines are not. At this point, the athleticism is accelerating quicker on the d-line side of the ball as opposed to the o-line side.

I know alot of you don't want to believe this, but this is NOT the nfl of even 5-7 years ago.

 

[Doomsday101]

It's not the same in the nfl. Look at the most successful quarterbacks... they are usually pocket passers.

I agree this is not college football and yes most of the successful QB know how to work from a pocket. Nothing wrong with a QB who is mobile but 1st and foremost you need a QB who can deliver the ball with accuracy and on time.

 

[THUMPER]

Last time I looked..the leagues "running qbs" are all at home vs. getting ready for playoff games. This includes Vick, McNabb, McNair, etc. A running qb in the nfl is a recipe for disaster. McNabb and McNair became good when they were forced to stay in the pocket. Vick sucks and has yet to learn the lesson.

Unless you consider guys like Manning, Manning Jr, Brady etc all runners the argument has no merit.

Your comments got me to thinking about what the percentage is for how often QBs run. How often do the QBs in the playoffs run and how often do the "running" QBs take off as a percentage compared to how often they pass.

PLAYOFF QBS (sorted by QB rating):
Player ------- 2005 --- Career
P.Manning --- 7.28% --- 5.68%
C.Palmer ----- 6.68% -- 5.53%
B.Roethlisbe - 11.57% - 15.45%
M.Hasselbek - 8.02% --- 8.57%
T.Brady ----- 5.09% --- 7.47%
J.Plummer -- 10.09% -- 9.72%
B.Leftwich -- 10.26% -- 8.18%
J.Delhomme - 5.52% -- 7.05%
M.Brunell --- 9.25% -- 11.44%
C.Simms ---- 6.07% -- 6.74%
E.Manning -- 5.20% --- 4.64%

RUNNING QBS (sorted by %):
Player ------- 2005 --- Career
M.Vick ----- 26.36% --- 30.25%
D.Culpepper - 11.11% -- 17.41%
D.McNabb -- 7.04% ---- 14.10%
S.McNair --- 6.72% ---- 15.86%

As you can see, the top playoff QBs don't run much except for Big Ben. McNabb & McNair were both fighting injuries all season and didn't run as much as they normally would.

Most of the true "pocket passers" run the ball 8% of the time or less.

Of the great QBs of the past 30 years only Staubach (13.86%) and Steve Young (17.40%) could really be considered "running QBs" with a percentage higher than 13%. Joe Namath was the lowest of the guys I sampled at 1.89%. Randall Cunningham was the highest at 18.07% but that was to be expected. Tarkenton came in at 10.44% and Elway at 10.07%, both lower than I would have thought. Marino came in at an anticipated 3.60%.

The point is that very few "running" QBs are truly successful in the NFL since the 50s when the role of the QB changed. Only Staubach and Young have won SBs while most SBs were won by the typical "pocket passer" type.

None of the current "running" QBs has won a SB. Both McNabb & McNair have played in one and lost.

 

[Doomsday101]

Ummm....VY is Colleges most efficient passer. He is the complete package. He is not just "another" Vick.

Besides, the poster didn't say anything other than needing a QB that CAN run.

That is the way the NFL is going...like it or not. Defenses are becoming more and more athletic and quick while o-lines are not. At this point, the athleticism is accelerating quicker on the d-line side of the ball as opposed to the o-line side.

I know alot of you don't want to believe this, but this is NOT the nfl of even 5-7 years ago.

I'm not so sure this is how the NFL is going that way matter of fact I don't see 1 playoff team this year with a running QB, I do see the guys like Tom Brady,Manning and Palmer killing teams and it is not with their legs. I do agree that Young looks to have better passing talent than Vick and with another season at UT Young very well could become the total package.

 

[yesfan]

I agree this is not college football and yes most of the successful QB know how to work from a pocket. Nothing wrong with a QB who is mobile but 1st and foremost you need a QB who can deliver the ball with accuracy and on time.

Very good point.But with our team he can't be running for
his life.

 

[THUMPER]

I'm not so sure this is how the NFL is going that way matter of fact I don't see 1 playoff team this year with a running QB, I do see the guys like Tom Brady,Manning and Palmer killing teams and it is not with their legs. I do agree that Young looks to have better passing talent than Vick and with another season at UT Young very well could become the total package.

I agree, Young looked very good last night and is a much better passer than Vick is. I also agree that another year in college would do him a world of good but I don't see him passing up the draft this year.

 

[Doomsday101]

Very good point.But with our team he can't be running for
his life.

If your QB is constantly running for his life then you need to take care of the reason of why is he running for his life. O-Line.

 

[Doomsday101]

I agree, Young looked very good last night and is a much better passer than Vick is. I also agree that another year in college would do him a world of good but I don't see him passing up the draft this year.

I do and Young has mentioned several times that he plans on returning to Texas and I think he will hold true to his word.

 

[Jimz31]

I am not talking about "running" QB's. I am talking about the need to have a QB that can escape the pressure as opposed to having a statue.

Manning and Palmer have that escapability. We've seen it over and over with them escaping pressure. Bledsoe RARELY escapes any pressure at all.

I never have liked the "running QB's". Young is already better than Vick. Vick's problem was throwing the ball.....which is why I call him a glorified RB.

Young was 30-40 against the 2X Champs in the biggest game of his career. If Young couldn't pass, they wouldn't have given him 40 throwing plays.