PFW Blog: Pass distribution stats reveal interesting trends

[WoodysGirl]

June 29, 2008

Pass distribution stats reveal interesting trends

I have been doing a little research for a fantasy feature I am working on involving how teams divvy up their passes amongst their wide receivers, tight ends and running backs.
Now, I am only going to give you a tease of the information I gathered -- you'll have to wait for the real deal -- but there are some interesting numbers for sure.
A random sampling:

• There were a total of 10,415 completed passes in 2007 -- 5,826 went to receivers (55.9 percent), 2,495 went to running backs or fullbacks (24 percent), 2,081 went to tight ends (20 percent), and 13 went to other positions, such as quarterbacks, offensive linemen or defensive players (0.1 percent).
• The Patriots, not surprisingly, led the NFL in receptions by wideouts with 292. Their opponent in the AFC championship game, the Chargers, had the fewest with 105.
• The Lions completed only 19 passes to their tight ends, by far the fewest in the NFL, for a mere 5.2 percent of their total receptions. By contrast, 37.3 percent of the Chiefs' receptions were caught by tight ends, the highest mark in the league.
• Of the six teams that threw the highest percentage of passes to running backs and fuilbacks -- in descending order, the Raiders, Bucs, Saints, Dolphins, Eagles and 49ers -- only one, the Bucs, made the playoffs, and they were ousted in Round One by the eventual champion Giants. The Patriots and Colts, the teams that threw the least to their backs, were a combined 29-3 in the regular season.

Now, clearly, these numbers are a bit deceiving. I am not suggesting that teams that throw to their backs can't win. Nor that teams that ignore their tight ends are going to be bad; look at the Seahawks and Patriots, teams that completed about one in nine passes to their tight ends, for instance.
But it is interesting to look at the numbers, and I will present their in table form once the feature is set to go. Just wanted to give you a taste of the early action.


Posted by Eric Edholm on June 29, 2008 3:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

 

[ajk23az]

I'm glad that the Foreskins are going with the WCO now.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

I'm glad that the Foreskins are going with the WCO now.

:laugh2:

 

[Eskimo]

The Pats probably don't throw much to backs because Maroney isn't a good receiver. They are very good at finding Kevin Faulk on 3rd and short, though.

 

[Eskimo]

I actually think we need to get RBs more involved in the passing game to prevent LBs from getting deep drops and clogging our vertical passing game.

 

[dacarmelking210]

Interesting, but not that surprising.

 

[HoleInTheRoof]

Interesting, but not that surprising.

I'm don't even find that remotely interesting.

What exactly is all this number crunching going to reveal?

 

[cjwilliams]

That's most likely because they are throwing to the backs so often as check downs, meaning their WR aren't getting open. If you have an offensive game plan however that utilizes passes to the RB more effectively instead of just having a safety net than it can be quit powerful. Just look at the 00 Rams. Good WR who got open and a great RB who could catch out of the backfield.

Basically, in my mind it's not how much they threw to their RB's ... but instead, why they threw to them so much. If it's because it's Marshal Faulk then you'll prob. be ok. But if it's due to a lackluster recieving core then you could be in trouble.

 

[fortdick]

I'm glad that the Foreskins are going with the WCO now.

Very perceptive. My thoughts were the same as yours - the WCO is dead now. Only Phillie really runs it with effect. That is because they have no receivers and their QB is so wild downfield he has to throw to Westbrook.