[Bette]

Johnny Unitas was the MVP of the NFL in 1967 when he led the Baltimore Colts to an 11-1-2 record. He completed only 58.5 percent of his passes and threw almost as many interceptions (16) as touchdowns (20) for a passer efficiency rating of 83.6. This week, there are 17 NFL quarterbacks with passer efficiency ratings better than Unitas in his MVP season. His best passer efficiency rating was 97.4 in 1965. There are six quarterbacks this week with efficiency ratings better than that. Johnny U never completed more than the 58 percent of his passes in a season. Twenty-three quarterbacks are completing better than 60 percent of their passes this season and three are in the 70s.. Are we to assume that there are several quarterbacks in today's NFL better than Unitas? Understand that these quarterbacks played two different games. You can't compare them with the same measuring stick. Back in the 1950s and '60s when Unitas was king of kings, the NFL employed downfield passing attacks. He had two wide receivers who went against a defense's two best cornerbacks in man coverage. There were no offensive or defensive "packages." So Unitas would force passes. All quarterbacks of his era did. If you wanted to complete passes, you had to throw the ball down the field. That's why they threw more interceptions than today's quarterbacks. When Bill Walsh implemented the West Coast offense in the 1980s, he gave quarterbacks more receivers, thus more options. There are four elements that determine passing efficiency, and completion percentage and interceptions account for half of the equation. Greater passer efficiency is the nature of the game, not the nature of the quarterback. The quarterbacks in today's game may have better systems, but that doesn't make them better quarterbacks than in the Unitas era.




Dallas Morning News | News for Dallas, Texas | SportsDay: Columnist Rick Gosselin

[legend]

Would anyone in their right mind prefer to have a guy like Jay Cutler on their team over a Sonny Jergunson? or a Derek Anderson over a John Brodie? Danny White would be coveted today I dare say.

[Tom33]

Wow I don't believe you referenced Danny White. I had totally forgot about him.

[Lefty Noob]

What it gets down to here are two things
1. The rules now favor offensive players, particularly receivers, far more than in the old days.
2. The quality of defensive back is far lower now than it used to be.

Outside of Brady, Manning and Favre in his prime, I don't see any quarterbacks playing today that would've found much success in the 70s.

[legend]

Could you imagine telling a Roger Staubach or Fran Tarkenton that they could throw the ball away once they got outside the "tackle box"? Guys like Ken Anderson abd Brian Sipe today would carve up defenses. Football has been ruined for me by all the rule changes and coaches having to be in total control of every aspect, especially play calling.

[bears9]

The Quarterbacks are goods of the game today, and half every rule to protect. This doesn't shock.

[cwstech]

In my opinion, based on my limited knowledge of some of the legendary qb's, qb's today (with a few exceptions) are not the leaders that the legendary qb's were. They don't take command of their teams. That to me makes a good qb become great.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by cwstech

In my opinion, based on my limited knowledge of some of the legendary qb's, qb's today (with a few exceptions) are not the leaders that the legendary qb's were. They don't take command of their teams. That to me makes a good qb become great.

Not to mention that a lot of those old guys called their own plays.

How many guys in the league today do you think could handle that? Just Manning, IMO.

[cwstech]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Not to mention that a lot of those old guys called their own plays.

How many guys in the league today do you think could handle that? Just Manning, IMO.

Manning would be the only one that I could think of.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Not to mention that a lot of those old guys called their own plays.

How many guys in the league today do you think could handle that? Just Manning, IMO.

Manning is the only one allowed to. If he had been always doing it, why not Favre, or McNabb? These guys are smart, wily quarterbacks. Actually I am having a hard time trying to think of more of today's who are smart enough or experienced enough.

I found this article interesting because we are always looking for the best of all time. You cant compare them because the system is entirely different today.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bette

Manning is the only one allowed to. If he had been always doing it, why not Favre, or McNabb? These guys are smart, wily quarterbacks. Actually I am having a hard time trying to think of more of today's who are smart enough or experienced enough.

Holy cow, Bette, no way would I want a gunslinger like Favre calling plays. Every play would be a deep out!

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Holy cow, Bette, no way would I want a gunslinger like Favre calling plays. Every play would be a deep out!

I agree the gunslinger mentality could be a problem. But he has the smarts if he chooses to use them.
So if we eliminate Favre, and Brady, because though he is a real cool character in the pocket, I still dont think he would be quite the success he is without Belicheck, that leaves us just Manning?????

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bette

I agree the gunslinger mentality could be a problem. But he has the smarts if he chooses to use them.
So if we eliminate Favre, and Brady, because though he is a real cool character in the pocket, I still dont think he would be quite the success he is without Belicheck, that leaves us just Manning?????

As far as I'm concerned, yes. It's hard to make a convincing case for anyone else. Brady's good, but he seems a bit flaky mentally.

[Bette]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

As far as I'm concerned, yes. It's hard to make a convincing case for anyone else. Brady's good, but he seems a bit flaky mentally.

O boy, wait until simon and lsc see that.

[Lefty Noob]

Originally Posted by Bette

O boy, wait until simon and lsc see that.

Eh, they have to know it's true. One glimpse at his personal life would tell you that.