NFLE Alumni and a look at some stats

[CowboyManDan]

I was looking up some NFL Europe stats for QBs to see what would deem a 'successful' season for our own Drew Henson. If anyone feels like following up on specific player stats for a season, feel free. Or correct me if I missed anything.

According to the offical NFLE site (http://www.nfleurope.com/records/passing), here are some of the records for QB stats. You'll notice that there's a few with records who never became anything in the NFL. But there are a few known names.

Highest Pass Rating, Season
Player Yr Rating
Kevin Daft, Scotland 2000 107.3
Danny Wuerffel, Rhein 2000 107.2
David Archer, Sacramento 1992 107.0

Highest Completion Percentage, Season
Player Yr Cmp %
Jake Delhomme, Frankfurt 1999 67.3 (202-136)
Phil Stambaugh, Berlin 2003 66.5 (254-169)
Reggie Slack, NY/NJ 1992 65.1 (215-140)

Most Touchdown Passes, Season
Player Yr Tds
Danny Wuerffel, Rhein 2000 25
Jonathan Quinn, Berlin 2001 24
Dave Archer, Sacramento 1992 23

Most Games, 300 or More Yards Passing, Season
Player Yr Games
Dave Archer, Sacramento 1992 6
Stan Gelbaugh, London 1991 5
Paul Justin, Frankfurt 1995 3
Kelly Holcomb, Barcelona 1996 3
Will Furrer, Amsterdam 1996 3
Jon Kitna, Barcelona 1997 3
Dameyune Craig, Scotland 1999 3


And courtesy of Rick Gosselin (http://www.***BANNED-URL***/sharedc...elin/stories/090405dnsponflranks.276dbc4.html), here's a ranking of the best NFLE Alumni.

You'll notice there's 5 QBs. And that some of them didn't didn't set records or set NFLE on fire or anything when they played in NFLE.

1. Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona

2. La'Roi Glover, DT, Dallas

3. Dante Hall, KR, Kansas City

4. Adam Vinatieri, K, New England

5. Jake Delhomme, QB, Carolina

6. David Akers, K, Philadelphia

7. Brian Waters, G, Kansas City

8. Marco Rivera, G, Dallas

9. Scott Player, P, Arizona

10. Joe Andruzzi, G, Cleveland

11. Marcus Robinson, WR, Minnesota

12. Tom Nutten, G, St. Louis

13. Donnie Spragan, LB, Miami

14. Brad Johnson, QB, Minnesota

15. Matt Lepsis, OT, Denver

16. Ben Hamilton, C, Denver

17. Dirk Johnson, P, Philadelphia

18. Barry Sims, OT, Oakland

19. Kelly Gregg, DT, Baltimore

20. Jon Kitna, QB, Cincinnati

21. Marques Douglas, DE, San Francisco

22. Bobby Hamilton, DE, Oakland

23. Keith Traylor, DT, Miami

24. Chartric Darby, DT, Seattle

25. Paul Spicer, DE, Jacksonville

26. Keith Adams, LB, Philadelphia

27. Brian Moorman, P, Buffalo

28. Steve Gleason, S, New Orleans

29. Jay Fiedler, QB, NY Jets

30. Kelly Herndon, CB, Seattle

31. Brian Finneran, WR, Atlanta

32. Brandon Noble, DT, Washington


What does it tell us? It tells me there is no sure fire way to tell what deems a 'successful' NFLE season. Rohan Davey played really well in his time there and now I think he's out of the league. While guys like Warner, Brad Johnson, and maybe Fielder didn't set the world on fire there, yet became successful NFL QBs. Delhomme even split time with Pat Barnes while he was there.

 

[Hostile]

Excellent Post. That was aces.

 

[jterrell]

The key is just playing time and experience.

 

[Qwickdraw]

Not really an elite list of names but still worthy.

I just want Henson to look good enough to be able to trade him for equal value.

 

[Ashwynn]

Yea. Experience will allow you to maximize your talents and skills, but you either can play at this level or can't. Period. Guys like Reggie Slack. I remember him. He was a decent college player and I dont think anyone thought he would be successful in the NFL. He never was.

That is more an indictment on the college game. They are playing in systems the NFL wont even ever consider using. They are not teaching the atheletes the fundamentals of the PRO game at the less levels. They are using formations you will never see in the NFL. The College gaem is played against a weaker broad base of players so a stud will stand out and dominate an entire conference or league even, where that type of production is so rarely limited by non diluted talent of the upper .1% of best players in the world at the NFL level.

Its so hit and miss on a college player. Reggie Bush will have success, Emmitt SMith success, I dunno, Ricky Watters success, maybe? But he wont be a Troy Hambrick or Tim Biakabatuku. You just never know.

NFLE is no different, a stud there can dominate and should translate to the NFL, as they do teach a more PRO game and schemes. But the talent is so diluted that you really can not get a good read on if hes a freak of nature or a man among boys in THIS league, but would become a boy amoung men in the NFL.

Scouting is not an exact science and too many variables are needed to be factored in. Heart size, Motivation, Injuries, family issues, First time with a pocket full of $100 bills, whats he spending it on, a house or strippers? Everyones different and no two pple will act the same way in the same situation. Any time you evaluate pple, your guessing and hopefully your guess can be as educated as it possibly can be, but its still a guess and subject to incoorectness to varying degrees.

 

[Lord Sun]

One of the things that stands out here is that this year's NFLE allocated players from Dallas will have a couple of people (Glover, Rivera, Davis) to help them prepare for life on the other side of the Atlantic. What becomes of them thereafter, who knows? Keith Davis was a major defensive stud in Europe, but watching him in the L, it's clear that he is still somewhat naive and unable to consistently read the offense. His experience ought to be a further caveat for hopeful fans as they watch the performance of the players allocated this year.

 

[MapleLeaf]

...ourselves here. All we can hope for is the opportunity to see Henson play football the rest will come as it comes.