Look forward for the next edition of The Cheesehead, The Top 50 MLB Players. I am currently working on this piece, so check in within the next week or two to see my list of the top 50 MLB players. I will also be making copies of this and distributing them to people.
Note: I still have copies of 5 Wide: The Evolution of the Quarterback, so if you would like one, contact me.
Thanks, see you soon.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Predicting the 2010 NFL Playoffs
PREDICTING THE 2010 NFL PLAYOFFSFinally, after four long months, the NFL regular season is complete and the 12 remaining teams compete in the Playoffs to determine the winner of the ultimate prize: The Vince Lombardi Trophy and a Super Bowl ring.
If you win the Super Bowl, it comes with all of the fame and glory, not to mention a fancy ring and endless satisfaction. If you fall short, then it is another long off-season before a shot at redemption.
Well, here are my picks:
WILD CARD ROUND:
Green Bay over Arizona- GB's D to much for Arizona's one-dimensional offense
Philly over Dallas-Philly's been here before. Watch them roll.
New York Jets over Cincy- The starters for New York dominated those of the Bengals on Sunday Night. This game will be close, but NYJ will pull it out.
New England over Baltimore- Though they are without Welker, the Pats are still better than the Ravens.
DIVISIONAL ROUND
Green Bay over Minnesota- In Game No.3, A-Rod pulls out a win.
New Orleans over Philly- When it comes down to it, home field is crucial for NO.
Indy over New York Jets- Plain and simple: Colts are better.
Chargers over New England- The hottest team in the NFL will roll over the depleted Pats.
CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIPS
Green Bay over New Orleans- Green Bay comes into NO with a load of momentum and out-passes New Orleans on their way to the Super Bowl.
Chargers over Indy- Chargers have everything clicking, and they are able to put Indy away late in the game, something other teams have failed to do.
SUPER BOWL!!
Chargers over Green Bay- Phillip Rivers shines under the spotlight as two young QBs battle. Green Bay just hasn't seen anything like this all year, and their momentum will wear out in Miami. San Diego 27, Green Bay 13
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Favre & Co. Singin' the Minnesota Blues
Favre & Co. Singin' the Minnesota BluesWasn't it just earlier in December that Brett Favre and the Minnesota Vikings were cruising through their schedule at 10-1? Wasn't it just earlier December that Brett Favre was coming off a career day with 392 passing yards and 36-10 over Chicago?
All of the signs were showing that Minnesota would cruise right along into the NFC Playoffs with each facet of their game running like a smooth car. Brett Favre had renewed his career and was playing with all-too-familiar boyish enthusiasm. Adrian Peterson was second in the NFC in rushing yards and rookie Percy Harvin was giving the Vikings explosive plays on offense and special teams. 6'4'' receiver Sidney Rice was having a breakout season, emerging as Favre's favorite target en route to what appeared to be a Pro Bowl year.
And then on Sunday Night Football in Arizona, everything fell apart. Favre threw two picks and Peterson was held to a mere 19 rush yards. The Cardinals outplayed Minnesota in all areas and won, 30-17.
After a home win over Cincinnati, Minnesota simply did not show up in Carolina and the season went completely south. Carolina outscored Minnesota, 20-0 in the final quarter as the Panthers defeated Minnesota, 27-7. But the blowout wasn't the biggest headline, but rather 'FAVRE AND CHILDRESS GET INTO DUST-UP'. Childress pulled Favre during the fourth quarter implosion and the veteran didn't like it. The two got into an argument on the sidelines, and the scuffle continued all week.
Against Chicago, the Vikes trailed 23-6, but Favre managed to lead his team back to a tie with a dramatic late touchdown. But after a Peterson fumble, Jay Cutler hooked up with Devin Aromashodu for a 39-yard touchdown in overtime for a Chicago win.
And don't blame this downward spiral on the series of prime-time games.
The running game has been absent in each of the losses. Brett Favre has turned the ball over and is not performing as well. The defensive unit that once was one of the best has collapsed, giving up an average of 30.7 points in those losses. The Vikings seem to not be able to play on the road. Each loss had come away from home.
That may be one of the most looming problems for Minnesota. They dominate at the MetroDome, but cannot play well away from their secure haven. Outdoors have become a problem. This will become even more of a problem in the Playoffs if Philly beats Dallas on Sunday.
Entering the Monday Night game against the Bears, Minnesota still had home-field advantage throughout the Playoffs hopes. But with the crushing loss, a Philadelphia win will knock Minnesota out of the second seed and strip them of their first-round bye, leaving them with two road games if they want to make the Super Bowl.
While Minnesota implodes in December, the remainder of the league wonders if Favre still has the magic late in the season. Can he pick up his play in January? Will Adrian Peterson get out of his funk? Can the DB's shut down opponent receivers?
The Vikings have a lot of problems to solve, and they better get started soon, because late December into January is not a good time to begin to falter.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
If I Was To Start an MLB Team Today...
If I Was To Start a Team Today...
If I was given the task of selecting twenty-five players to make up a team for an expansion franchise, the following players would make up my list. The team is composed of 11 pitchers (five starters, five relievers, and a closer) and 14 position players (two catchers, six outfielders, and six infielders).
The deciding factors for my team are: talent (of course!), criteria for each position, longevity, durablility, reliability, "clutchness", and character.
Pitchers
SP: Tim Lincecum
SP: Roy Halladay
SP: Johan Santana
SP: Johan Santana
SP: Zack Greinke
SP: Dan Haren
RP: Jeremy Affeldt
RP: Carlos Marmol
RP: Hideki Okajima
RP: Matt Guerrier
RP: Joe Nathan
CL: Jonathan Papelbon
Batters
C: Joe Mauer
C: Yadier Molina
OF: Ichiro
OF: Ryan Braun
OF: Matt Holliday
OF: Carl Crawford
OF: Justin Upton
OF: Grady Sizemore
IF: Derek Jeter
IF: Hanley Ramirez
IF: David Wright
IF: Albert Pujols
IF: Prince Fielder
IF: Chase Utley
OF: Matt Holliday
OF: Carl Crawford
OF: Justin Upton
OF: Grady Sizemore
IF: Derek Jeter
IF: Hanley Ramirez
IF: David Wright
IF: Albert Pujols
IF: Prince Fielder
IF: Chase Utley
**Remember, this is NOT a list of the best players currently in the MLB. It is made up of players that I would want if I was starting a team TODAY that would provide the franchise with many productive seasons.
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!When the snow is falling, the malls are packed, the streets are lit with bright lights, and trees fill every home, it can only mean one thing--Christmas has arrived.
This truly is the most wonderful season of all, though the snow at times may be a burden. I just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, a Happy New Year, and Happy Holidays. Have fun stuffing yourselves while off of work or school and spending time with your family.
I know that while I am off of school, I'm going to pig out and watch the college bowl season tick away. I will be with my family for a couple of days and enjoy my time with them in Madison.
Whatever you do to celebrate your Holidays, have a good time, celebrate this festive occasion, and watch some football (even if that is new to you).
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Tales From a Runner: An Early Mexican Lunch=Bad Idea
The Tales of a Runner There are the crazy, there are the insane, and then there are. . .the runners. And to take it even a step further, there are the winter runners.
"Winter runners!" You say. "What kind of government propoganda is this?"
Yes, possibly to your dismay, people do run in the winter. And not just any typical Florida winter in which it is 55 degrees outside, but in a Wisconsin winter. Yes, we have fun running in 15 degree temperatures, snow, and ice. I consider it "Cheesehead running".
Running is a lifestyle and we can't let the terrible Wisconsin weather stop you from running.
People ask me, "Are you cr
azy? You're gonna freeze!"
azy? You're gonna freeze!"It's called extra layers, a hat, gloves, and two pairs of socks (And I have to give props to my Asics that have absorbed mile after mile).
With the winds bringing a cold chill to your face and body, it's hard enough to run. Add in another pain-inflictor and the normally epic running turns from fun to not so fun.
This was the case on Tuesday afternoon, a run that I would rather forget.
At school, to celebrate la Navidad y el Nuevo Ano, the Spanish II and III classes threw a Mexican-themed fiesta in which everyone brought his or her own dish. I took full advantage of this, eating four pieces of cake, two large servings of taco salad, a taco, an enchilada, chips, and soda. To some folks, this may come as a surprise, seeing that runners are skinny therefore I am skinny, so how can I eat that much? 
It's called metabolism.
But let's not get into that science stuff.
All of that food made me not hungry for lunch, so I only consumed a Capri Sun, carrots, and part of my sandwich. I figured that because I was so full, I would remain that way for a day.
Looks like I was wrong.
Midway through final period I began to feel stomach pains and tried snacking at the last moment, but my stomach still hurt as we began our warm-up run. I did not feel good at all on that one-mile affair and was dreading the upcoming 2.5 fast tempo run.
I didn't start off all too badly, but the cramps settled in. For the last 2 miles my sides ached and, for the first time in about two years, it hurt to run. I finished at a 19:46, a respectable time taking into consideration my cramps and empty stomach.
But for future reference, eating loads of Mexican food, then not eating lunch and going for a run is a BAD IDEA.
To make matters worse, I was hit with an iceball by Frisch, who was running with me, then tackled and given a face wash.
I like to call this "When Wisconsin weather and Mexican food collide". The product is not pretty, and I recommend none of you ever try it.
...If any of you ever go on a run.
--Thank you for reading "Tales From a Runner"
Monday, December 21, 2009
5 Wide: The Evolution of the Quarterback
5 WIDE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE QUARTERBACK
Jack makes the pre-snap read. Outside ‘backers are blitzing. He signals for a hard count. Hut one. He calls for slide protection and motions for the tight end to pick up the blitz in the backfield. Hut two. Defense still hasn’t jumped. Hut three. Jack checks his first option. Covered.
One Mississippi.
Jack looks hard at the quick slant, but the MIKE drops back into coverage.
Two Mississippi.
Jack looks down the seam for option number three. Double coverage. Nobody’s open.
Three Mississippi.
Jack goes through his reads again. He looks the safety away, and then sees his first option open. Jack prepares to throw, but feels the WILL breathing down his neck at that moment. Jack tucks the ball away.
Four Mississippi. Run.
Jack steps up and runs. Get the first down. Avoid a big hit. Jack slides feet-first after a gain of eleven. First down. Play successful.
No, 80,000 people down cheer jubilantly at this occasion. No, big, sweaty men don’t help pick him off of the turf. No, there isn’t even any turf.
No, Jack isn’t an NFL quarterback. He isn’t even semi-pro or college. Not even high school.
Jack is a tall, slender, 12 year-old attending one of the many quarterback camps held for “developing” players.
There aren’t any camps held solely for middle-school lineman or backs or receivers or defensive backs or linebackers. The only position for which summer camps are held for middle schoolers learning the position is quarterback. And these camps are in-depth. We’re talking the advanced skills of the game, like reading the defense, calling audibles, going through reads, and avoiding pressure. The pros in the 40’s and 50’s didn’t even have some of these concepts down. They simply did not need them.
The game of football was completely different back in the days prior to man landing on the moon or when disco was “hip”. Championships centered on an elite power-running game with a bone-crushing defense.
But as the game has grown, and interest and participation in it have increased, as well, the role of the quarterback has changed drastically, now to the point where the quarterback is the most important player on each team.
Prior to 1980, only one person had passed for 4,000 yards (Joe Namath, 1967). Since then, it has been accomplished 73 times. There is no denying that the emphasis that has been put on the quarterback has completely changed the game.
The quarterback is the most important player on the field nowadays, in high school, college, or the pros. The offense goes as the quarterback does, and, in the case of the pros, he is the franchise player. Without a good QB, a team will struggle to have success in any level. Not only is it the most important position, but also it is the most complex. It takes a good mind to pick apart a defense. But this position was not always like it is now.
The 1950’s and Before
They say Sammy Baugh revolutionized the passing game.
True? Somewhat.
Prior to 1950, teams in the NFL passed on third down; a pass on first or second down was rare. Bruising tailbacks ran behind bruising fullbacks–who were sometimes the main rushers themselves– and met bruising linebackers. They did this without the amenities of huge, padded helmets, thick shoulders pads, and yards of tape. The shotgun hadn’t even been introduced. Receivers, then called ends, lined up next to tight ends and tackles in a three-point stance.
There were no different packages of players. Teams didn’t swap personnel groups each play to confuse the defense. They mainly used the Power T, Single Wing, Wishbone, Notre Dame Box, and Pro Set. Each of these formations revolved around the run.
If you haven’t gotten the point yet, the running game and hard-nosed defense won, and a passing game helped.
The role of the QB was simple. Get the snap and hand the ball off and, occasionally, throw to the open man. No complicated play calling or anything along those lines. Teams didn’t call 30 passing plays per game. There weren’t any of the modern-day shootouts. Nowadays, a 7-6 final score translates to “boring, no-offensive” game. Those scores were common throughout and before the 50’s.
Back to Baugh. His name stands out as the only iconic one of all quarterbacks of the pre-modern era. He was the “big-time passer” of his time, though many thought that title would go to Davey O’ Brien when he came out TCU after winning the Heisman. Baugh won two NFL titles with the Washington Redskins. He finished his career with 21,886, 187 touchdowns, and a 72.2 passer rating. He threw 203 interceptions, which are 16 more interceptions than touchdowns in sixteen NFL season. And those numbers belonged to the premier quarterback of his era. To put into perspective how much the role of the quarterback has changed, his career passing yard total is 77th on the all-time list, behind guys like Marc Bulger, Jon Kitna, Lynn Dickey, and Chris Chandler.
After Baugh’s time in the league ended, a man by the name of Jonny Unitas took grasp of the NFL with the Baltimore Colts. His triumphant overtime victory in the 1957 NFL Title Game (the “Greatest Game Ever Played”) placed him on a pedestal and secured his place in the all-time greats. He ranks 10th on the all-time passing yards list and seventh in touchdowns. Unitas made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and paved the way for star quarterbacks today.
From 1932 (the first year touchdowns were kept as a stat) to 1959, only one time did a player pass for 30 touchdowns. Before 1960, nobody had ever passed for 3,000 yards in one season.
Quarterbacks have become much more effective and important since the 50’s and before.
The 1960’s and 70’s
The Green Bay Packers were, without a doubt, the “Team of the 60’s”. And, despite possessing Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, they ran themselves to success. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s “Power Sweep” revolutionized the art of the outside run. The Power Sweep consisted of two linemen pulling to block for Paul Hornung, who would “run where they ain’t”. With the power sweep, the Packers ran their way to two Super Bowl titles in the game’s first two years and three NFL championships.
In this decade, however, quarterback numbers soared, and much of that can be attributed to Jonny Unitas and the Colts. The previously mentioned NFL Championship Game of 1957 displayed his skills and promoted coaches to instill the passing game as a valuable part of their offense.
While the powerhouses of the NFL (Green Bay, Chicago, Cleveland, and the Giants) were dominant via their rushing attack, a new league torched defenses through an aerial attack and lit up scoreboards. The AFL (founded in 1959) offered its fans what no NFL team could–a passing explosion.
As Hall of Fame wide out Lance Alworth said to Sports Illustrated, “The NFL does today what we were doing in 1962.”
And if people didn’t like the way teams went about their playing, then too bad. Teams ignored the people who said that it wasn’t real football. AFL teams introduced the spread, and no NFL team ran it until the Dallas Cowboys in 1975 with Roger Staubach in the ‘gun.
In 1961, only three teams out of 22 in pro football averaged 28 points per game. All three of which were in the AFL–the Boston Patriots, Houston Oilers, and San Diego Chargers. No longer were fans adept to watching 7-6 or 10-7 games. Once exposed to offensive struggles, they could not be turned away from them. While some teams revolved around the pass in the NFL (i.e. Philadelphia, Baltimore), all teams in the AFL did.
One of the effects of a pass-centered game was that rushing statistics were down. In every season but one that the AFL existed (10 years prior to the merger and becoming part of the NFL), the NFL’s leading rusher out-rushed the leader of the AFL.
One of the AFL’s greatest contributions to football was the birth of Joe Willie Namath. The first overall pick of the 1965 AFL Draft out of Alabama, Namath immediately became a star. The charismatic, savvy quarterback led the league in passing in just his second year. And in 1968, Namath boldly guaranteed a New York Jets upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Severe underdogs, the Jets pulled out a win and it was then and there that the quarterback was given appeal. Never before had the quarterback been cast as popular and bold with the media. Now, they are the main ones reporters talk to and about, and Joe Namath was the reason for that.
In the 70’s, teams won championships with their quarterbacks. Every Super Bowl champion–Baltimore, Dallas, Miami, Pittsburgh, and Oakland–were each led by an elite quarterback. The Raiders’ Ken Stabler is the only one of the group to not be enshrined in Canton. Each of these teams showed all of football that you couldn’t win without a good quarterback. Prior to the decade, championships were won on the ground and with a good defense. Quarterbacks needed to be solid and nothing more. The 70’s changed that greatly.
The Cowboys were the first NFL team to run the spread offense and be successful and win. With former Heisman winner Roger Staubach, coach Tom Landry implemented the spread, though different than that of today’s game. There were no five-wide sets, but they did air it out. Staubach finished fourth in the league in pass attempts and third in yards. With the new style of offense, Dallas reached the Super Bowl before falling to the Steel Curtain of the Steelers. Though the Cowboys fell short of their second Super Bowl victory of the decade (they eventually accomplished that feat), they showed the league what a pass-oriented offense could do.
Under the spread, Staubach’s role as a quarterback changed. He had to make pre-snap reads and occasionally call a play at the line of scrimmage and relay it to his team. By 1977, Dallas had the spread down pat. Staubach finished third in the league in attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards. Other teams caught on, and Buffalo and Baltimore, for example, were pass-heavy. Dallas receiver Drew Pearson led the NFL in receiving yards with 870. The Cowboys reached the Super Bowl again, this team with better luck, winning their second in franchise history.
Prior to 1978, only twice had a quarterback thrown 500 passes in a season. In ’78 and ’79, Frank Tarkenton of Minnesota and Steve DeBerg of San Francisco, respectively, attempted over that total. In fact, in 1979, an influx of five quarterbacks attempted 500 passes. QB’s were being relied on more than ever before and coaches trusted them enough to allow more than thirty passes a game regularly.
Included in this group was San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts. Fouts was the leader of “Air Coryell”, the nickname given to the team’s passing assault, named after coach Don Coryell. The beginning of the 80’s was marked by the Chargers’ aerial attacks, which was the pro equivalent of BYU’s attack, which took the spread to a whole new level.
The 1980’s and 1990’s
The decade of the 80’s changed the role of the quarterback more than any other. From Air Coryell to Marino to Montana to Elway’s comebacks, the events of the decade put a new meaning to the quarterback. Nearly every team relied just as much, if not more, on the passing game as the rushing attack.
Air Coryell was coach Don Coryell’s adaptation of the West Coast offense. He used this offense with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chargers. In it, receivers and tight ends received their routes by a special code system that consisted of three digit numbers. This type of communication was one of the first methods that required little memorization and in which a quarterback could yell out a formation and numbers at the line of scrimmage. It allowed the quarterback to easily call hot routes at the line, a new skill at the time.
In 1980, Fouts led the NFL attempts, completions, yards, and was second in touchdowns. He was second in the AFC in passer rating. His 589 pass attempts were the most ever in a single season at the time. Each year from 1979-’81, Fouts broke the previous record for passing yards in a single season and, in the latter two of those seasons, breaking his previous record. In 1982, the right-handed thrower from Oregon was on pace to throw for 5,125 yards, which would have broken the previous record for the fourth consecutive season if not for a 57-day strike. If he had stayed on his pace, Fouts would still hold the single-season record for passing yards.
San Diego threw nearly every down. They put up numbers that topple the top passing teams of today’s game. They proved that the NFL was no longer a run-first league. A dominant aerial attack could beat any team. For instance, in three games against the Super Bowl-champion Oakland Raiders, Fouts threw for 1,068 yards, an average of 356 per game. He also threw for six touchdowns in those three games.
The quarterback was the star of each team. The names of the quarterbacks were ones that every average fan could name. Those people could not name the running backs on some or most teams. Teams became synonymous with their quarterbacks, which was new. If your quarterback didn’t have success, than the team wouldn’t either.
In 1984, someone else finally overtook Fouts as the leading passer in the NFL. A second-year quarterback by the name of Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. out-passed Fouts going 362-564, 5,084, and 48 touchdowns. He led the league in each of those categories. His 1984 season is considered one, if not the best, of all time. Marino’s passing yards are the most of all-time and his touchdowns are third. His Dolphins reached the Super Bowl but fell short against the San Francisco 49ers, which had their own legendary quarterback in Joe Montana.
Montana was another quarterback who experienced success under the West Coast offense. He was a star among the many bright young quarterbacks in the NFL. Montana is placed into the all-time greatest quarterback conversation because of his unparalleled four Super Bowl championships. His coach, the legendary late Bill Walsh, ran his own system that brought the 49ers all of those championships in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Unlike Air Coryell, the 49ers were not completely reliant on the pass, but, with a quarterback like Montana, they did what any reasonable team would do, which is beat opponents through the air. The most famous plays of the 49er’s dynasty were via the pass, ones such as “The Catch” and Montana’s late drive to beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, not big runs. In a close game, the quarterback who gave his team the best chances of winning was Joe Montana. He accumulated three Super Bowl MVP trophies.
Though he never once led the league in passing yards, his accuracy, flair for the dramatic, and Super Bowl rings have placed Joe Montana on a pedestal as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.
Denver’s John Elway was another quarterback with a flair for the dramatic. Before his 1997 clutch, game-sealing touchdown drive to beat the Packers in the Super Bowl, he had a game-winning touchdown drive to beat the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship game.
Down 20-13, Elway led his Broncos all the way down the field for a game-tying touchdown with little time left. In overtime, he drove Denver down to the Cleveland 16 yard line and Rich Karlis nailed a 33-yard field goal to send the Broncos into the Super Bowl.
Elway and Montana continuously excelled in the clutch, driving their teams down the field to set up game tying or winning scores. This is just one large aspect that set them apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in the history of the game. Quarterbacks became field generals, commanding the offense, calling plays, and becoming the leader of the team.
The 1990’s and 2000’s
What the quarterback has become today was set in these two decades. Everything that had occurred in the evolution led up to what became of the quarterback near the turn of the century. Quarterbacks all around the league began putting up astronomical numbers. It became that mere 3,000 passing yard seasons would not help win a championship.
The number of Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks has increased exponentially throughout the years. Among players that retired prior to or around 1960, only 9 QB’s had been enshrined in Canton, and two of those nine played a combined 13 seasons, a number that would not give any player the lift he needed to became a Hall of Famer nowadays. In that time period, 20 backs were selected for the legendary honor. None of those quarterbacks ever passed for over 3,000 yards and Baugh and Bobby Layne were the only ones to ever throw 25 touchdowns in a season. Among the average fan, names like Paddy Driscoll, Bob Waterfield, Jimmy Conzelman, and Ace Parker would not be recognized.
Among active quarterbacks today, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are sure-fire Hall of Fame picks. Kurt Warner seems to have a good chance at being selected, and Donovan McNabb will be in that category, too, if he continues to put up his current numbers and possibly win a Super Bowl (He has made five NFC title games).
Along with all of the elite veterans, there is a large group of potent young stars in the league with Hall of Fame chances. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger accumulated for three of the five Super Bowls won prior to Super Bowl XLIV. Aaron Rodgers, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, and Jay Cutler have all shown what it takes to win games. Each of them has surpassed 4,000 yards in a season and Romo is the eldest among them at 29. Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matt Cassell, Matt Schaub, and Matt Stafford are all on the rise to the top of the game.
The top quarterbacks of the last 20 to 25 years have been much more advanced in their style, and this relates to their stats. Good stats and success equals elite status, and more quarterbacks have reached this status in that time period than ever before.
But quarterbacks’ stats don’t just go up through osmosis. There has to a reason behind this. And there is a reason—or more than one. The spread offense gives QB’s the opportunity to pass the ball in any situation. The college game has become even more quarterback-based. Through the first 51 years of the Heisman, 13 quarterbacks won the award. Since then, 14 have taken home the stiff-arming statue, which may be better fitted in a throwing motion. Teams substitute different packages and switch formations every play, including the shotgun, single back, pistol, I-form, and the Wildcat.
They are trained at an early age—some even before junior high—to develop the skills it takes to succeed at any level. The game is more advanced for a group of 13 year-olds than it was for the pros back in the 20’s and 30’s. Defenses have become more complex and the pass rush has become more intense.
Ever since the career-ending hit Lawrence Taylor placed on Joe Theisman, teams have placed an emphasis on a sturdy left tackle to prevent the “blind side” for right-handers and vice-versa for lefties. The quarterback has to pick up any blitzers and relay that to the line or backs, or he may become the next Theisman, and not in a good way.
Quarterbacks are the center of attention for the media, though on some teams, loudmouth receivers share that role. Their every move is scrutinized. When Brett Favre went through his entire retirement saga, every sports channel was fixated on his decision. No other player at another position would receive that kind of attention.
When it comes down to it, the final product of the evolution of the quarterback is today’s prototypical QB. In each season since 1990, at least one person has attempted over 500 passes, completed at least 310 of them, and thrown at least 25 touchdowns. In that time period, in every season except for one there has been a 4,000-yard passer. These numbers further exemplify the emphasis that has been put on the quarterback.
The quarterback has become, without a doubt, the most important member of each team, and he determines his team’s success. People like Sammy Baugh, Jonny Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana all revolutionized what it takes to be a quarterback in the top league in the NFL. Playing quarterback in the NFL is one of the toughest tasks to do in all of sports, and that is why so much rides on the QB’s shoulders.
And it all comes down to the basics. Not once has the clock in the quarterback’s head been mentioned. Because, as Jack and his fellow campers learned, you cannot take a sack. After a short break, Jack is back in the ‘gun with five wide. The ball is snapped. The imaginary clock begins.
One Mississippi.
One Mississippi.
Jack looks hard at the quick slant, but the MIKE drops back into coverage.
Two Mississippi.
Jack looks down the seam for option number three. Double coverage. Nobody’s open.
Three Mississippi.
Jack goes through his reads again. He looks the safety away, and then sees his first option open. Jack prepares to throw, but feels the WILL breathing down his neck at that moment. Jack tucks the ball away.
Four Mississippi. Run.
Jack steps up and runs. Get the first down. Avoid a big hit. Jack slides feet-first after a gain of eleven. First down. Play successful.
No, 80,000 people down cheer jubilantly at this occasion. No, big, sweaty men don’t help pick him off of the turf. No, there isn’t even any turf.
No, Jack isn’t an NFL quarterback. He isn’t even semi-pro or college. Not even high school.
Jack is a tall, slender, 12 year-old attending one of the many quarterback camps held for “developing” players.
There aren’t any camps held solely for middle-school lineman or backs or receivers or defensive backs or linebackers. The only position for which summer camps are held for middle schoolers learning the position is quarterback. And these camps are in-depth. We’re talking the advanced skills of the game, like reading the defense, calling audibles, going through reads, and avoiding pressure. The pros in the 40’s and 50’s didn’t even have some of these concepts down. They simply did not need them.
The game of football was completely different back in the days prior to man landing on the moon or when disco was “hip”. Championships centered on an elite power-running game with a bone-crushing defense.
But as the game has grown, and interest and participation in it have increased, as well, the role of the quarterback has changed drastically, now to the point where the quarterback is the most important player on each team.
Prior to 1980, only one person had passed for 4,000 yards (Joe Namath, 1967). Since then, it has been accomplished 73 times. There is no denying that the emphasis that has been put on the quarterback has completely changed the game.
The quarterback is the most important player on the field nowadays, in high school, college, or the pros. The offense goes as the quarterback does, and, in the case of the pros, he is the franchise player. Without a good QB, a team will struggle to have success in any level. Not only is it the most important position, but also it is the most complex. It takes a good mind to pick apart a defense. But this position was not always like it is now.
The 1950’s and Before
They say Sammy Baugh revolutionized the passing game.
True? Somewhat.
Prior to 1950, teams in the NFL passed on third down; a pass on first or second down was rare. Bruising tailbacks ran behind bruising fullbacks–who were sometimes the main rushers themselves– and met bruising linebackers. They did this without the amenities of huge, padded helmets, thick shoulders pads, and yards of tape. The shotgun hadn’t even been introduced. Receivers, then called ends, lined up next to tight ends and tackles in a three-point stance.
There were no different packages of players. Teams didn’t swap personnel groups each play to confuse the defense. They mainly used the Power T, Single Wing, Wishbone, Notre Dame Box, and Pro Set. Each of these formations revolved around the run.
If you haven’t gotten the point yet, the running game and hard-nosed defense won, and a passing game helped.
The role of the QB was simple. Get the snap and hand the ball off and, occasionally, throw to the open man. No complicated play calling or anything along those lines. Teams didn’t call 30 passing plays per game. There weren’t any of the modern-day shootouts. Nowadays, a 7-6 final score translates to “boring, no-offensive” game. Those scores were common throughout and before the 50’s.
Back to Baugh. His name stands out as the only iconic one of all quarterbacks of the pre-modern era. He was the “big-time passer” of his time, though many thought that title would go to Davey O’ Brien when he came out TCU after winning the Heisman. Baugh won two NFL titles with the Washington Redskins. He finished his career with 21,886, 187 touchdowns, and a 72.2 passer rating. He threw 203 interceptions, which are 16 more interceptions than touchdowns in sixteen NFL season. And those numbers belonged to the premier quarterback of his era. To put into perspective how much the role of the quarterback has changed, his career passing yard total is 77th on the all-time list, behind guys like Marc Bulger, Jon Kitna, Lynn Dickey, and Chris Chandler.
After Baugh’s time in the league ended, a man by the name of Jonny Unitas took grasp of the NFL with the Baltimore Colts. His triumphant overtime victory in the 1957 NFL Title Game (the “Greatest Game Ever Played”) placed him on a pedestal and secured his place in the all-time greats. He ranks 10th on the all-time passing yards list and seventh in touchdowns. Unitas made eight consecutive Pro Bowls and paved the way for star quarterbacks today.
From 1932 (the first year touchdowns were kept as a stat) to 1959, only one time did a player pass for 30 touchdowns. Before 1960, nobody had ever passed for 3,000 yards in one season.
Quarterbacks have become much more effective and important since the 50’s and before.
The 1960’s and 70’s
The Green Bay Packers were, without a doubt, the “Team of the 60’s”. And, despite possessing Hall of Fame quarterback Bart Starr, they ran themselves to success. Legendary coach Vince Lombardi’s “Power Sweep” revolutionized the art of the outside run. The Power Sweep consisted of two linemen pulling to block for Paul Hornung, who would “run where they ain’t”. With the power sweep, the Packers ran their way to two Super Bowl titles in the game’s first two years and three NFL championships.
In this decade, however, quarterback numbers soared, and much of that can be attributed to Jonny Unitas and the Colts. The previously mentioned NFL Championship Game of 1957 displayed his skills and promoted coaches to instill the passing game as a valuable part of their offense.
While the powerhouses of the NFL (Green Bay, Chicago, Cleveland, and the Giants) were dominant via their rushing attack, a new league torched defenses through an aerial attack and lit up scoreboards. The AFL (founded in 1959) offered its fans what no NFL team could–a passing explosion.
As Hall of Fame wide out Lance Alworth said to Sports Illustrated, “The NFL does today what we were doing in 1962.”
And if people didn’t like the way teams went about their playing, then too bad. Teams ignored the people who said that it wasn’t real football. AFL teams introduced the spread, and no NFL team ran it until the Dallas Cowboys in 1975 with Roger Staubach in the ‘gun.
In 1961, only three teams out of 22 in pro football averaged 28 points per game. All three of which were in the AFL–the Boston Patriots, Houston Oilers, and San Diego Chargers. No longer were fans adept to watching 7-6 or 10-7 games. Once exposed to offensive struggles, they could not be turned away from them. While some teams revolved around the pass in the NFL (i.e. Philadelphia, Baltimore), all teams in the AFL did.
One of the effects of a pass-centered game was that rushing statistics were down. In every season but one that the AFL existed (10 years prior to the merger and becoming part of the NFL), the NFL’s leading rusher out-rushed the leader of the AFL.
One of the AFL’s greatest contributions to football was the birth of Joe Willie Namath. The first overall pick of the 1965 AFL Draft out of Alabama, Namath immediately became a star. The charismatic, savvy quarterback led the league in passing in just his second year. And in 1968, Namath boldly guaranteed a New York Jets upset of the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III. Severe underdogs, the Jets pulled out a win and it was then and there that the quarterback was given appeal. Never before had the quarterback been cast as popular and bold with the media. Now, they are the main ones reporters talk to and about, and Joe Namath was the reason for that.
In the 70’s, teams won championships with their quarterbacks. Every Super Bowl champion–Baltimore, Dallas, Miami, Pittsburgh, and Oakland–were each led by an elite quarterback. The Raiders’ Ken Stabler is the only one of the group to not be enshrined in Canton. Each of these teams showed all of football that you couldn’t win without a good quarterback. Prior to the decade, championships were won on the ground and with a good defense. Quarterbacks needed to be solid and nothing more. The 70’s changed that greatly.
The Cowboys were the first NFL team to run the spread offense and be successful and win. With former Heisman winner Roger Staubach, coach Tom Landry implemented the spread, though different than that of today’s game. There were no five-wide sets, but they did air it out. Staubach finished fourth in the league in pass attempts and third in yards. With the new style of offense, Dallas reached the Super Bowl before falling to the Steel Curtain of the Steelers. Though the Cowboys fell short of their second Super Bowl victory of the decade (they eventually accomplished that feat), they showed the league what a pass-oriented offense could do.
Under the spread, Staubach’s role as a quarterback changed. He had to make pre-snap reads and occasionally call a play at the line of scrimmage and relay it to his team. By 1977, Dallas had the spread down pat. Staubach finished third in the league in attempts, completions, touchdowns, and yards. Other teams caught on, and Buffalo and Baltimore, for example, were pass-heavy. Dallas receiver Drew Pearson led the NFL in receiving yards with 870. The Cowboys reached the Super Bowl again, this team with better luck, winning their second in franchise history.
Prior to 1978, only twice had a quarterback thrown 500 passes in a season. In ’78 and ’79, Frank Tarkenton of Minnesota and Steve DeBerg of San Francisco, respectively, attempted over that total. In fact, in 1979, an influx of five quarterbacks attempted 500 passes. QB’s were being relied on more than ever before and coaches trusted them enough to allow more than thirty passes a game regularly.
Included in this group was San Diego quarterback Dan Fouts. Fouts was the leader of “Air Coryell”, the nickname given to the team’s passing assault, named after coach Don Coryell. The beginning of the 80’s was marked by the Chargers’ aerial attacks, which was the pro equivalent of BYU’s attack, which took the spread to a whole new level.
The 1980’s and 1990’s
The decade of the 80’s changed the role of the quarterback more than any other. From Air Coryell to Marino to Montana to Elway’s comebacks, the events of the decade put a new meaning to the quarterback. Nearly every team relied just as much, if not more, on the passing game as the rushing attack.
Air Coryell was coach Don Coryell’s adaptation of the West Coast offense. He used this offense with the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chargers. In it, receivers and tight ends received their routes by a special code system that consisted of three digit numbers. This type of communication was one of the first methods that required little memorization and in which a quarterback could yell out a formation and numbers at the line of scrimmage. It allowed the quarterback to easily call hot routes at the line, a new skill at the time.
In 1980, Fouts led the NFL attempts, completions, yards, and was second in touchdowns. He was second in the AFC in passer rating. His 589 pass attempts were the most ever in a single season at the time. Each year from 1979-’81, Fouts broke the previous record for passing yards in a single season and, in the latter two of those seasons, breaking his previous record. In 1982, the right-handed thrower from Oregon was on pace to throw for 5,125 yards, which would have broken the previous record for the fourth consecutive season if not for a 57-day strike. If he had stayed on his pace, Fouts would still hold the single-season record for passing yards.
San Diego threw nearly every down. They put up numbers that topple the top passing teams of today’s game. They proved that the NFL was no longer a run-first league. A dominant aerial attack could beat any team. For instance, in three games against the Super Bowl-champion Oakland Raiders, Fouts threw for 1,068 yards, an average of 356 per game. He also threw for six touchdowns in those three games.
The quarterback was the star of each team. The names of the quarterbacks were ones that every average fan could name. Those people could not name the running backs on some or most teams. Teams became synonymous with their quarterbacks, which was new. If your quarterback didn’t have success, than the team wouldn’t either.
In 1984, someone else finally overtook Fouts as the leading passer in the NFL. A second-year quarterback by the name of Daniel Constantine Marino Jr. out-passed Fouts going 362-564, 5,084, and 48 touchdowns. He led the league in each of those categories. His 1984 season is considered one, if not the best, of all time. Marino’s passing yards are the most of all-time and his touchdowns are third. His Dolphins reached the Super Bowl but fell short against the San Francisco 49ers, which had their own legendary quarterback in Joe Montana.
Montana was another quarterback who experienced success under the West Coast offense. He was a star among the many bright young quarterbacks in the NFL. Montana is placed into the all-time greatest quarterback conversation because of his unparalleled four Super Bowl championships. His coach, the legendary late Bill Walsh, ran his own system that brought the 49ers all of those championships in the ‘80s and ‘90s.
Unlike Air Coryell, the 49ers were not completely reliant on the pass, but, with a quarterback like Montana, they did what any reasonable team would do, which is beat opponents through the air. The most famous plays of the 49er’s dynasty were via the pass, ones such as “The Catch” and Montana’s late drive to beat the Bengals in Super Bowl XXIII, not big runs. In a close game, the quarterback who gave his team the best chances of winning was Joe Montana. He accumulated three Super Bowl MVP trophies.
Though he never once led the league in passing yards, his accuracy, flair for the dramatic, and Super Bowl rings have placed Joe Montana on a pedestal as one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time.
Denver’s John Elway was another quarterback with a flair for the dramatic. Before his 1997 clutch, game-sealing touchdown drive to beat the Packers in the Super Bowl, he had a game-winning touchdown drive to beat the Cleveland Browns in the 1986 AFC Championship game.
Down 20-13, Elway led his Broncos all the way down the field for a game-tying touchdown with little time left. In overtime, he drove Denver down to the Cleveland 16 yard line and Rich Karlis nailed a 33-yard field goal to send the Broncos into the Super Bowl.
Elway and Montana continuously excelled in the clutch, driving their teams down the field to set up game tying or winning scores. This is just one large aspect that set them apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in the history of the game. Quarterbacks became field generals, commanding the offense, calling plays, and becoming the leader of the team.
The 1990’s and 2000’s
What the quarterback has become today was set in these two decades. Everything that had occurred in the evolution led up to what became of the quarterback near the turn of the century. Quarterbacks all around the league began putting up astronomical numbers. It became that mere 3,000 passing yard seasons would not help win a championship.
The number of Hall of Fame caliber quarterbacks has increased exponentially throughout the years. Among players that retired prior to or around 1960, only 9 QB’s had been enshrined in Canton, and two of those nine played a combined 13 seasons, a number that would not give any player the lift he needed to became a Hall of Famer nowadays. In that time period, 20 backs were selected for the legendary honor. None of those quarterbacks ever passed for over 3,000 yards and Baugh and Bobby Layne were the only ones to ever throw 25 touchdowns in a season. Among the average fan, names like Paddy Driscoll, Bob Waterfield, Jimmy Conzelman, and Ace Parker would not be recognized.
Among active quarterbacks today, Brett Favre, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees are sure-fire Hall of Fame picks. Kurt Warner seems to have a good chance at being selected, and Donovan McNabb will be in that category, too, if he continues to put up his current numbers and possibly win a Super Bowl (He has made five NFC title games).
Along with all of the elite veterans, there is a large group of potent young stars in the league with Hall of Fame chances. Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger accumulated for three of the five Super Bowls won prior to Super Bowl XLIV. Aaron Rodgers, Phillip Rivers, Tony Romo, and Jay Cutler have all shown what it takes to win games. Each of them has surpassed 4,000 yards in a season and Romo is the eldest among them at 29. Matt Ryan, Joe Flacco, Matt Cassell, Matt Schaub, and Matt Stafford are all on the rise to the top of the game.
The top quarterbacks of the last 20 to 25 years have been much more advanced in their style, and this relates to their stats. Good stats and success equals elite status, and more quarterbacks have reached this status in that time period than ever before.
But quarterbacks’ stats don’t just go up through osmosis. There has to a reason behind this. And there is a reason—or more than one. The spread offense gives QB’s the opportunity to pass the ball in any situation. The college game has become even more quarterback-based. Through the first 51 years of the Heisman, 13 quarterbacks won the award. Since then, 14 have taken home the stiff-arming statue, which may be better fitted in a throwing motion. Teams substitute different packages and switch formations every play, including the shotgun, single back, pistol, I-form, and the Wildcat.
They are trained at an early age—some even before junior high—to develop the skills it takes to succeed at any level. The game is more advanced for a group of 13 year-olds than it was for the pros back in the 20’s and 30’s. Defenses have become more complex and the pass rush has become more intense.
Ever since the career-ending hit Lawrence Taylor placed on Joe Theisman, teams have placed an emphasis on a sturdy left tackle to prevent the “blind side” for right-handers and vice-versa for lefties. The quarterback has to pick up any blitzers and relay that to the line or backs, or he may become the next Theisman, and not in a good way.
Quarterbacks are the center of attention for the media, though on some teams, loudmouth receivers share that role. Their every move is scrutinized. When Brett Favre went through his entire retirement saga, every sports channel was fixated on his decision. No other player at another position would receive that kind of attention.
When it comes down to it, the final product of the evolution of the quarterback is today’s prototypical QB. In each season since 1990, at least one person has attempted over 500 passes, completed at least 310 of them, and thrown at least 25 touchdowns. In that time period, in every season except for one there has been a 4,000-yard passer. These numbers further exemplify the emphasis that has been put on the quarterback.
The quarterback has become, without a doubt, the most important member of each team, and he determines his team’s success. People like Sammy Baugh, Jonny Unitas, Sonny Jurgensen, Joe Namath, Terry Bradshaw, Dan Fouts, Dan Marino, and Joe Montana all revolutionized what it takes to be a quarterback in the top league in the NFL. Playing quarterback in the NFL is one of the toughest tasks to do in all of sports, and that is why so much rides on the QB’s shoulders.
And it all comes down to the basics. Not once has the clock in the quarterback’s head been mentioned. Because, as Jack and his fellow campers learned, you cannot take a sack. After a short break, Jack is back in the ‘gun with five wide. The ball is snapped. The imaginary clock begins.
One Mississippi.
--Thank you for reading 5 Wide: The evolution of the Quarterback.
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