Philip Rivers tops my analysis of NFL QBs' first seven seasons

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 30, 2011 9:49 PM EDT

Hello fellow Wolfpackers. I just completed this post at SBN's Steelers blog, Behind the Steel Curtain. In it, I wrote up an analysis comparing NFL quarterbacks' performances through the first seven years of their careers. The purpose was to see how Ben Roethlisberger stacked up against all other quarterbacks in NFL history who passed for 16000 or more yards in their first 7 years. However, I thought Backing the Pack readers may also be interested in it, since Philip Rivers topped the list in my analysis. I knew that he was performing pretty well for the Chargers since taking over for Drew Brees in 2006, but frankly, I was surprised at how high he ranked in so many passing categories.

Rivers ranked first in 3 of the 8 categories that I included in my analysis. He was top 5 in 6 of the categories and ranked no lower than 8th in any of the categories. Every other player in the analysis ranked outside of the top 10 in at least one category. I recently saw a link to this article wondering if Rivers is on his way to the Hall of Fame (in fact, the link may have been here on BTP), and this rate, I think he's well on his way. He certainly would be helped by a Super Bowl ring, but I'm afraid that is unlikely with Norv Turner as his Head Coach. However, he certainly has the numbers to be a Hall of Famer, particularly if he continues this level of play, or even close to it, for another 7-10 years.

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Appreciate the mention here

Outside of Raleigh and San Diego, PR seems to be the most under-appreciated, misunderstood, and inappropriately vilified player in the NFL. Given that he’s as good a human being as you’re going to run across… as good a teammate as you’re going going to run across… and as good a quarterback as you’re going to run across, I simply cannot fathom how things have evolved the way they have for him. It’s not his fault that the defender who picked Brady off in the playoffs wasn’t smart enough to take a knee and end the game… if he’d done it, I believe PR gets a ring that year & all of this is an afterthought. So I simply put zero weight on “winning a ring” when it comes to rating QB’s. Eli has one. ’Nuff said.

by wolfonthehill on Aug 30, 2011 11:21 PM EDT reply actions

Agreed

Apparently he likes to jaw on the field some, and he really got beat up in the media for a couple of incidents a few years ago (taunting Cutler from the sidelines, yelling at opposing fans). But, that seems minor to me, and he’s always been nothing but cordial in any interviews that I’ve seen.

I do put stock in SB wins though, especially multiple wins.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 31, 2011 9:25 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

unfortunately,

winning a Super Bowl ring means a lot, and, i agree that some San Diego players have played like idiots in the instances were San Diego had a real chance of going to the Super Bowl.

by sbas2 on Aug 31, 2011 7:21 AM EDT reply actions

thanks for sharing

Didn’t realize Philip ranked so high in so many areas.

Backing The Pack

by Akula Wolf on Aug 31, 2011 12:06 PM EDT reply actions

Glad to

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 31, 2011 2:40 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

good to have you back

I love the Steelers.

by tannofsteel84 on Sep 1, 2011 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

Thanks!

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Sep 2, 2011 9:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

Teams win super bowls

I know a qb has more influence on a team than any other position in any sport, but winning a sb takes a whole team. I don’t see how its relevant to a qb vs qb comparison. There’s a lot of crappy qbs with sb rings.

by PackMentality on Aug 31, 2011 12:33 PM EDT via mobile reply actions

Super Bowls

I don’t know that I’d say there are many bad qbs on SB winners. But, I also didn’t include rings as part of my analysis.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Aug 31, 2011 2:43 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions

SB winning QB's

Jim Plunkett
Jeff Hostetler
Mark Rypien
Trent Dilfer
Brad Johnson
Elisha Manning

6 of 28 SB-winning QB’s are truly ordinary and forgettable… and then there’s Marino on the other end. I don’t think anyone will make the argument that any of the guys above has any bragging rights over Dan Marino… nor do Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Doug Williams, or Joe Theismann (I’m seeing a trend – that’s three Redskins QB’s).

Bottom line – great QB’s normally win Super Bowls. But winning one makes a QB no greater. It’s a common result of greatness, but not a cause of it. Arguing otherwise is wholly illogical.

by wolfonthehill on Aug 31, 2011 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

I pretty much agree with you

I would put the following caveats though: I don’t see any of those six QBs as crappy. They are all journeyman QBs who were decent, not great. Crappy would be Rex Grossman, Jeff George, etc. Second, winning SBs does not make a QB great, but there are those few who shine under the spotlight when others wither. The Montanas, Bradshaws are more defined by their excellence in SBs than their career stats.

by WolfpackSteelersFan on Sep 2, 2011 9:20 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions

I think champtionships have absolutely nothing to do with how good a single player is.

Just because Phillip Rivers doesn’t have any rings doesn’t mean he’s not the best QB in the NFL. Most years its been a case of his supporting cast being a bit too weak to make it all the way.

R.I.P. Scott Kazmir 2005-2008

by raysfan81 on Aug 31, 2011 10:55 PM EDT reply actions