Scarcely half (35) of the 67 first-round QBs drafted since 1980 who have been pros long enough to do so, have played five or more seasons with the team that initially drafted them. Only six of those 35 – Jim Kelly, Dan Marino, Troy Aikman, Steve McNair, Peyton Manning and Donovan Nabb – lasted 10 or more seasons with their respective squads.
Of the overall 78, only 28 (or 36 percent) own career winning records as starters. Of the 41 QBs picked in the top 10 since 1980, only 15 have career starting marks above .500.
Among the 72 first-round QBs drafted from '80 through 2009, only 27 have posted more than 25 career wins with five (Kelly, Marino, Aikman, Peyton Manning and McNabb) accumulating more than 100.
Twenty-four (or a full third) of the 72 first-round QBs drafted from 1980 through 2009 have nine or fewer career wins with their teams. Included in that forgettable group are no fewer than 12 top-10 picks, a list that includes Rich Campbell (a 1982 sixth-overall selection by the Packers), Andre Ware (1990 No. 7 overall, Lions), Heath Shuler (1994 No. 3 overall, Redskins), Ryan Leaf (1998 No. 2 overall, Chargers) and Akili Smith (1999 No. 3 overall, Bengals).
That’s one club Colts and Skins fans hope their new Sunday idols, Andrew Luck and RGIII, can do without.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Ultimate prizes
Conference crowns
Only 13 of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round sonce 1980 have gone on to guide their respective drafting teams to a conference title/Super Bowl berth. Two (Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger) managed to do it their second seasons.
Of the 41 top-10 drafted QBs in that span, only six have reached the Super Bowl with their original squads. That list begins with Jim McMahon, a 1982 draftee who was at the helm for the 1985 world-champion Bears, and continues through Eli Manning, who has guided the Giants to a pair of NFC titles and subsequent Super Bowl wins in the past five seasons. The others are the Cowboys’ Troy Aikman, the Patriots’ Drew Bledsoe, the Oilers’/Titans’ Steve McNair and the Eagles’ Donovan McNabb.
Super Bowl titles
Joining McMahon and Manning as first-round drafted QBs in the past 32 years who wound up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with their original teams are Roethlisberger (twice), Aikman (three) the Colts’ Peyton Manning and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (one ring apiece).
That, football fans, leaves a full 92 percent of the first-round drafted quarterbacks from the past 32 years who have fallen short of the NFL’s ultimate prize.
Only 13 of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round sonce 1980 have gone on to guide their respective drafting teams to a conference title/Super Bowl berth. Two (Dan Marino and Ben Roethlisberger) managed to do it their second seasons.
Of the 41 top-10 drafted QBs in that span, only six have reached the Super Bowl with their original squads. That list begins with Jim McMahon, a 1982 draftee who was at the helm for the 1985 world-champion Bears, and continues through Eli Manning, who has guided the Giants to a pair of NFC titles and subsequent Super Bowl wins in the past five seasons. The others are the Cowboys’ Troy Aikman, the Patriots’ Drew Bledsoe, the Oilers’/Titans’ Steve McNair and the Eagles’ Donovan McNabb.
Super Bowl titles
Joining McMahon and Manning as first-round drafted QBs in the past 32 years who wound up hoisting the Lombardi Trophy with their original teams are Roethlisberger (twice), Aikman (three) the Colts’ Peyton Manning and the Packers’ Aaron Rodgers (one ring apiece).
That, football fans, leaves a full 92 percent of the first-round drafted quarterbacks from the past 32 years who have fallen short of the NFL’s ultimate prize.
Saturday, July 21, 2012
Money time
Playoff berths
Six first-round rookie signal-callers – Dan Marino, Bernie Kosar (’85 Browns), Ben , Ryan, Flacco and Mark Sanchez – paid immediate dividends, guiding their teams into the playoffs in their inaugural seasons while starting at least half of their squad’s games.
Nine other quarterbacks reached the playoffs in their second seasons as majority starters, and 18 others followed in either their third or fourth seasons.
Five more took five seasons or longer to gain the postseason, but a full 40 never did or never have (including 21 of the 41 top-10 selections from 1980 through 2011), meaning a slight majority never did – or have yet to – guide their teams past the final game of the regular season.
Postseason wins
Winnowing things down even further, only 25 (or slightly less than a third) of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round since 1980 have led their original teams to a playoff victory. Twelve of those 25 were top-10 draft picks, meaning a full 29 top-10 resumes don’t include a postseason win.
Roethlisberger, Flacco and Sanchez are the only three of the 25 to quarterback their teams to playoff wins in their rookie seasons, surprisingly leaving Sanchez as the lone top-10 drafted QB to accomplish the rookie-year feat since 1980.
Six first-round rookie signal-callers – Dan Marino, Bernie Kosar (’85 Browns), Ben , Ryan, Flacco and Mark Sanchez – paid immediate dividends, guiding their teams into the playoffs in their inaugural seasons while starting at least half of their squad’s games.
Nine other quarterbacks reached the playoffs in their second seasons as majority starters, and 18 others followed in either their third or fourth seasons.
Five more took five seasons or longer to gain the postseason, but a full 40 never did or never have (including 21 of the 41 top-10 selections from 1980 through 2011), meaning a slight majority never did – or have yet to – guide their teams past the final game of the regular season.
Postseason wins
Winnowing things down even further, only 25 (or slightly less than a third) of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round since 1980 have led their original teams to a playoff victory. Twelve of those 25 were top-10 draft picks, meaning a full 29 top-10 resumes don’t include a postseason win.
Roethlisberger, Flacco and Sanchez are the only three of the 25 to quarterback their teams to playoff wins in their rookie seasons, surprisingly leaving Sanchez as the lone top-10 drafted QB to accomplish the rookie-year feat since 1980.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Immediate impact?
Rookie campaigns
Of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round from 1980 through 2011, 19 never saw action in their rookie seasons for their respective teams. Twenty-two started five games or fewer in their inaugural seasons, while another 22 logged as many as 10 starts.
Seven of the latter 22 started all 16 games for their teams. That list begins with Rick Mirer with the 1993 Seahawks and also includes Peyton Manning (’98 Colts), David Carr (’02 expansion Texans), Matt Ryan (’08 Falcons), Joe Flacco (’08 Ravens), Sam Bradford (’10 Rams) and Cam Newton (’11 Panthers). All aside from Mirer were first-overall selections.
Winning seasons
The list of first-round quarterbacks who guided their clubs to winning seasons while starting half or more of their respective team’s games during their rookie seasons is comprised of a select five: Marino (’83 Dolphins), Ben Roethlisberger (’04 Steelers), Ryan, Flacco and Mark Sanchez of the ’09 Jets.
Thirteen others accomplished the feat in their second seasons, 10 more followed suit in their third campaigns and 12 more took four or more seasons to quarterback their clubs above .500.
That, however, leaves 38 – or nearly half of the 78 QBs – who never have managed to produce even one winning campaign for the teams that drafted them. Moreover, 16 of those 38 were top-10 selections in drafts held prior to 2010 – a ignominious group that includes the likes of Art Schlicter (’82 Colts), David Klingler (’92 Bengals) and JaMarcus Russell (’07 Raiders).
Of the 78 QBs drafted in the first round from 1980 through 2011, 19 never saw action in their rookie seasons for their respective teams. Twenty-two started five games or fewer in their inaugural seasons, while another 22 logged as many as 10 starts.
Seven of the latter 22 started all 16 games for their teams. That list begins with Rick Mirer with the 1993 Seahawks and also includes Peyton Manning (’98 Colts), David Carr (’02 expansion Texans), Matt Ryan (’08 Falcons), Joe Flacco (’08 Ravens), Sam Bradford (’10 Rams) and Cam Newton (’11 Panthers). All aside from Mirer were first-overall selections.
Winning seasons
The list of first-round quarterbacks who guided their clubs to winning seasons while starting half or more of their respective team’s games during their rookie seasons is comprised of a select five: Marino (’83 Dolphins), Ben Roethlisberger (’04 Steelers), Ryan, Flacco and Mark Sanchez of the ’09 Jets.
Thirteen others accomplished the feat in their second seasons, 10 more followed suit in their third campaigns and 12 more took four or more seasons to quarterback their clubs above .500.
That, however, leaves 38 – or nearly half of the 78 QBs – who never have managed to produce even one winning campaign for the teams that drafted them. Moreover, 16 of those 38 were top-10 selections in drafts held prior to 2010 – a ignominious group that includes the likes of Art Schlicter (’82 Colts), David Klingler (’92 Bengals) and JaMarcus Russell (’07 Raiders).
Monday, July 9, 2012
Drafting QBs in first round a crapshoot
Possibly the only thing generating more buzz than Andrew Luck’s rookie-season prospects with the Colts is Robert Griffin III’s first-year outlook with the Redskins.
Months before either QB takes a snap that counts, visions of playoff wins and confetti-littered celebrations are dancing in fans’ heads in Indy and D.C.
And then there’s the general giddiness in Miami and Cleveland. To be clear, there are no Luck- or RGIII-like expectations surrounding the first-round selections of Ryan Tannehill and Brandon Weeden, but there’s a definite spring in the steps of Browns and Dolphins fans this summer as training camp nears.
Still, slicing through the hype, hullabaloo and hoopla, there is real cause for concern. When it comes to first-round rookie quarterbacks, there are equal parts miss and hit, as much flop as fame and as many busts as blue-chippers.
And cutting even deeper into the chase of the NFL’s holy grails – playoff wins and Lombardi Trophies – QBs who deliver for the franchises that invested first-round picks in them truly are rare commodities.
In other words, Luck could very easily be the Colts’ next Jeff George instead of Peyton Manning. And try as they might, Skins backers won’t easily escape the nearly two decade-old specter of Heath Shuler lurking in RGIII’s shadow.
Separating the QB gold from the iron pyrite in the first round is tricky business, even for the 49ers who only 15 seasons ago were pinning their post-Joe Montana and Steve Young hopes on Jim Drukenmiller.
For those still shoulder-pad deep in the rookie hype, bear with us as we crunch the numbers compiled by QBs from the past 32 years of drafts – regular and supplemental – and judge for yourself whether the first round produces more Dan Marinos or Dan McGwires.
In all, 78 quarterbacks were selected in the first-round of the regular and supplemental drafts ranging from 1980 to 2011. For the purposes of this analysis, we measured the productiveness of QBs with the franchises that initially drafted them. So while John Elway went on to Hall of Fame greatness, it never really paid dividends for the Colts, who selected the Stanford stud with the first overall pick in 1983. The same applies to QBs such as Jim Everett and Kelly Stouffer who never took snaps with the teams (the Oilers and Cardinals, respectively) who originally drafted them.
To differentiate, Eli Manning is treated as a true Giant and Philip Rivers as a career Charger since those teams agreed to select the QBs with a draft-day swap in the works.
Breakdowns to follow in upcoming posts ...
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
NFL quarterbacks, tight ends had nothing on kickers (III)
Not to be outdone by their place-kicking counterparts, the NFL’s punters also got into the record-shattering act in 2011. As a whole, the league’s average per punt soared to new heights this past season, topping out at an even 45 yards per boot.
Amazingly, that average was nearly a full yard better than the standard of 44.1 established two years earlier in 2009. Those two marks are the only single-season averages to eclipse 44 yards in 72 years of tracking NFL punting stats.
Of the top-18 individual single-season gross punting averages compiled in NFL history, nearly half (five) of them occurred in 2011.
49ers All-Pro Andy Lee led the way with his 50.9-yard average – which goes down as the third-best all-time seasonal mark – and he was followed closely by the Raiders’ Shane Lechler (fourth all-time at 50.8), the Miami Dolphins’ Brandon Fields (tied for 10th at 48.8), the New Orleans Saints’ Thomas Morstead (14th at 48.3) and the Buffalo Bills’ Brian Moorman (15th at 48.2).
Interestingly, Hall-of-Famer Sammy Baugh’s all-time single-season standard of 51.4, established way back in 1940, somehow withstood the onslaught.
Any way you configure the numbers, NFL place-kickers and punters are succeeding at their quirky crafts like never before, and these pronounced statistical trends show no sign of abating.
The bell curves are most definitely trending upward, but all the while, though, the reasons behind this boom aren’t entirely apparent. Do the modern-day kickers and punters possess superior strength and conditioning? Are they receiving better coaching? Or is it just a natural evolution of the pro game?
While pondering these questions, why not just applaud the special-teams show – even if it continues to play out in the shadows.
Amazingly, that average was nearly a full yard better than the standard of 44.1 established two years earlier in 2009. Those two marks are the only single-season averages to eclipse 44 yards in 72 years of tracking NFL punting stats.
Of the top-18 individual single-season gross punting averages compiled in NFL history, nearly half (five) of them occurred in 2011.
49ers All-Pro Andy Lee led the way with his 50.9-yard average – which goes down as the third-best all-time seasonal mark – and he was followed closely by the Raiders’ Shane Lechler (fourth all-time at 50.8), the Miami Dolphins’ Brandon Fields (tied for 10th at 48.8), the New Orleans Saints’ Thomas Morstead (14th at 48.3) and the Buffalo Bills’ Brian Moorman (15th at 48.2).
Interestingly, Hall-of-Famer Sammy Baugh’s all-time single-season standard of 51.4, established way back in 1940, somehow withstood the onslaught.
Any way you configure the numbers, NFL place-kickers and punters are succeeding at their quirky crafts like never before, and these pronounced statistical trends show no sign of abating.
The bell curves are most definitely trending upward, but all the while, though, the reasons behind this boom aren’t entirely apparent. Do the modern-day kickers and punters possess superior strength and conditioning? Are they receiving better coaching? Or is it just a natural evolution of the pro game?
While pondering these questions, why not just applaud the special-teams show – even if it continues to play out in the shadows.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
NFL quarterbacks, tight ends had nothing on kickers (II)
The 2011 season obliterated records for 50-yard field goals attempted (140) and made (90).
Entering the season, the standard for 50-yard attempts in a season was 120, set in 1993. Meanwhile, the record for 50-yarders made stood at 66, established in 2008.
The ’11 totals were a full 16.7 percent (attempts) and 36.4 percent (makes) higher, respectively.
In fact, the 90 successful 50-yarders were more than all but 12 seasons of total 50-yard field goal attempts in league history.
By comparison, only a decade ago, the 2001 NFL campaign featured 38 successful 50-yard field goals in 73 attempts. Those totals had dipped from the 1991 totals of 42 and 93, respectively, but they easily topped the numbers from 1981 (20-of-51), 1971 (12-of-51) and 1961 (an NFL-AFL-combined 5-of-19).
Entering the season, the standard for 50-yard attempts in a season was 120, set in 1993. Meanwhile, the record for 50-yarders made stood at 66, established in 2008.
The ’11 totals were a full 16.7 percent (attempts) and 36.4 percent (makes) higher, respectively.
In fact, the 90 successful 50-yarders were more than all but 12 seasons of total 50-yard field goal attempts in league history.
By comparison, only a decade ago, the 2001 NFL campaign featured 38 successful 50-yard field goals in 73 attempts. Those totals had dipped from the 1991 totals of 42 and 93, respectively, but they easily topped the numbers from 1981 (20-of-51), 1971 (12-of-51) and 1961 (an NFL-AFL-combined 5-of-19).
This 50-yard field-goal frenzy wasn’t just about quantity, however. In terms of historical accuracy, 2011 was tops as well, with 64.3 percent of all 50-yard attempts netting success.
The only other season since 1960 that featured a better-than-60-percent conversion rate from 50-or-more yards came in 2008, when kickers connected on 66-of-104 tries for a success rate of 63.5 percent.
Overall, the league’s field-goal conversion rate was 82.9 percent – second only to 2008’s 84.5 success rate in the 74 years the stat has been tracked.
Overall, the league’s field-goal conversion rate was 82.9 percent – second only to 2008’s 84.5 success rate in the 74 years the stat has been tracked.
This number is even more impressive considering an all-time high for attempts (1,011) was established this past fall, and a markedly higher percentage of these kicks, as aforementioned, are coming from greater distances.
Friday, June 8, 2012
NFL quarterbacks, tight ends had nothing on kickers (I)
In the 2011 NFL season, we saw laser-armed quarterbacks tossing aside records and NBA-sized tight ends towering over their predecessors like never before.
But Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham had nothing on a small and quirky contingent of specialists who didn’t even need their hands to do their best work. Twitter-worthy or not, the league’s outcasts and misfits – the kickers and punters – have risen. And in 2011, they had a leg up on virtually every other position when it came to history-making seasons.
While the matinee-idol QBs and towering tight ends were grabbing MVP votes and dominating late-night highlight shows, these lightly-padded 180-pounders were kicking butt and winning games.
In short, the ’11 season truly was a kick (and a booming punt).
Here’s the ample evidence:
But Drew Brees, Aaron Rodgers, Rob Gronkowski and Jimmy Graham had nothing on a small and quirky contingent of specialists who didn’t even need their hands to do their best work. Twitter-worthy or not, the league’s outcasts and misfits – the kickers and punters – have risen. And in 2011, they had a leg up on virtually every other position when it came to history-making seasons.
While the matinee-idol QBs and towering tight ends were grabbing MVP votes and dominating late-night highlight shows, these lightly-padded 180-pounders were kicking butt and winning games.
In short, the ’11 season truly was a kick (and a booming punt).
Here’s the ample evidence:
You had a kicker, the San Francisco 49ers’ David Akers, who set the league’s single-season record for field goals in a season at 44.
That was four more than the previous standard of 40 set by the Arizona Cardinals’ Neil Rackers in 2005.
Aside from Akers, eight other kickers wound up with 29 or more field goals, led by the Cincinnati Bengals’ Mike Nugent (33), Dallas Cowboys rookie Dan Bailey (32) and Rackers (32), now with the Houston Texans.
You also had another kicker, the Oakland Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski, match the longest successful field goal in NFL history at 63 yards.
Janikowski accomplished the feat of foot in the Raiders’ season opener in Denver to join Jason Elam and Tom Dempsey in the record book.
Elam also boomed his 63-yarder in the Mile High City while playing for the Denver Broncos in 1998, 28 years after Dempsey established the memorable standard with the New Orleans Saints in 1970.
Aside from Akers, eight other kickers wound up with 29 or more field goals, led by the Cincinnati Bengals’ Mike Nugent (33), Dallas Cowboys rookie Dan Bailey (32) and Rackers (32), now with the Houston Texans.
You also had another kicker, the Oakland Raiders’ Sebastian Janikowski, match the longest successful field goal in NFL history at 63 yards.
Janikowski accomplished the feat of foot in the Raiders’ season opener in Denver to join Jason Elam and Tom Dempsey in the record book.
Elam also boomed his 63-yarder in the Mile High City while playing for the Denver Broncos in 1998, 28 years after Dempsey established the memorable standard with the New Orleans Saints in 1970.
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Simply overdue
Like a horse-racing Triple Crown winner or that BluRay rom-com that you and your sweetie picked up from the Red Box down at the gas station last month, there are more than a few NFL franchises that can be classified as overdue.
In most cases, make that way past due for some success, so here’s hoping your favorite squad doesn’t appear on too many of the following it’s-been-too-damn-long-without-some-honor rolls. That established, here are the NFL teams entering 2012 which have gone the longest without a …
In most cases, make that way past due for some success, so here’s hoping your favorite squad doesn’t appear on too many of the following it’s-been-too-damn-long-without-some-honor rolls. That established, here are the NFL teams entering 2012 which have gone the longest without a …
Winning season: Raiders (10 years), Rams (9), Bills (8), Redskins (7), Broncos (6), Browns, Jaguars and Seahawks (5)
Playoff appearance: Bills (13 years), Browns & Raiders (10), Rams (8), Jags, Redskins & Buccaneers (5), Dolphins, Titans & Panthers (4)
Division title: Browns (23 years), Lions (19), Bills (17), Jags & Redskins (13), Jets & Raiders (10), Rams (9)
Playoff win: Bengals (22 years), Lions (21), Bills & Chiefs (19), Browns (18), Dolphins (12), Raiders & Bucs (10)
Championship appearance (Super Bowl or, prior to 1966, NFL or AFL title game): Lions (55 years!), Browns (47), Jets (44), Chiefs (43), Vikings (36), Dolphins (28), Bengals (24), Redskins (21)
Championship (again a Super Bowl win or, prior to 1966, an NFL or AFL title): Cardinals (65 years!), Lions (55), Eagles (52), Titans & Vikings (51)*, Chargers (49), Browns (48), Bills (47), Falcons (46)*, Jets (44), Bengals* & Chiefs (43)
(* no, these franchises haven’t won a title, so the tally dates back to their expansion seasons)
As for those of you in Cleveland – where the tears may have short-circuited your keyboard at some point above – your beloved Browns are the only franchise which managed to make each of the 6 lists.
Not good.
And hey, by the way, if you’re a fan of the Giants, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, Colts, Cowboys, Saints, Packers, Bears, 49ers or the semi-fledgling Texans (who are just now marking a decade in the league) you’re no doubt feeling a little left out with your teams appearing nowhere in this compendium.
Just be happy – very happy.
You could be a Browns backer.
(* no, these franchises haven’t won a title, so the tally dates back to their expansion seasons)
As for those of you in Cleveland – where the tears may have short-circuited your keyboard at some point above – your beloved Browns are the only franchise which managed to make each of the 6 lists.
Not good.
And hey, by the way, if you’re a fan of the Giants, Patriots, Steelers, Ravens, Colts, Cowboys, Saints, Packers, Bears, 49ers or the semi-fledgling Texans (who are just now marking a decade in the league) you’re no doubt feeling a little left out with your teams appearing nowhere in this compendium.
Just be happy – very happy.
You could be a Browns backer.
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Super-sized motivation
This rounds out the examination of the new breed of Super Bowl champs.
The R-E-S-P-E-C-T card has seemingly been played by every Super Bowl winner of late. Each of the past seven champs seemingly has carried extra motivation – Super-sized shoulder-pad chips if you will.
Of the seven, four – the ’05 and ’08 Steelers, the ’06 Colts and the 2010 Pack – carried the 12-month sting of suffering a playoff ouster as a higher seed or favored team the prior season.
Meanwhile, the other three – the ’09 Saints and both Giants squads – kicked off their Super Bowls as underdogs after overcoming similar odds throughout the playoffs as well.
That extra motivation seemingly has served to provide that added incentive– that needed push – to get these teams over the top.
Hey, whatever works.
The R-E-S-P-E-C-T card has seemingly been played by every Super Bowl winner of late. Each of the past seven champs seemingly has carried extra motivation – Super-sized shoulder-pad chips if you will.
Of the seven, four – the ’05 and ’08 Steelers, the ’06 Colts and the 2010 Pack – carried the 12-month sting of suffering a playoff ouster as a higher seed or favored team the prior season.
Meanwhile, the other three – the ’09 Saints and both Giants squads – kicked off their Super Bowls as underdogs after overcoming similar odds throughout the playoffs as well.
That extra motivation seemingly has served to provide that added incentive– that needed push – to get these teams over the top.
Hey, whatever works.
Friday, April 27, 2012
What weaknesses?
Continuing an examination of the new breed of Super Bowl champs ...
The 2006 Colts finished the regular season with the league’s lowest-ranked rush defense with a whopping 173 ground yards allowed per game. They also entered the playoffs with seemingly little shot at a ring.
But bolstered by the timely return of Pro Bowl strong safety Bob Sanders, the Colts limited their four postseason foes to 82.8 rushing yards per game – less than half their regular-season average – en route to the postgame podium in Miami.
A year later, the wild-card Giants entered the playoffs with a minus-9 turnover ratio, thanks to 34 giveaways. However, in four postseason games, the Giants flipped the script, turning the ball over only two times and finishing a plus-5.
In 2009, the Saints penned a similar reversal-of-fortune story. New Orleans finished the regular season with the NFC top seed but also with the league’s 26th-ranked pass defense.
In the playoffs, however, all Sean Payton’s crew did was outduel a trio of Hall of Fame-worthy QBs in Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning to win Super Bowl XLIV.
Turnaround tales such as these used to be rare, but they now seem to be happening with surreal regularity.
The 2006 Colts finished the regular season with the league’s lowest-ranked rush defense with a whopping 173 ground yards allowed per game. They also entered the playoffs with seemingly little shot at a ring.
But bolstered by the timely return of Pro Bowl strong safety Bob Sanders, the Colts limited their four postseason foes to 82.8 rushing yards per game – less than half their regular-season average – en route to the postgame podium in Miami.
A year later, the wild-card Giants entered the playoffs with a minus-9 turnover ratio, thanks to 34 giveaways. However, in four postseason games, the Giants flipped the script, turning the ball over only two times and finishing a plus-5.
In 2009, the Saints penned a similar reversal-of-fortune story. New Orleans finished the regular season with the NFC top seed but also with the league’s 26th-ranked pass defense.
In the playoffs, however, all Sean Payton’s crew did was outduel a trio of Hall of Fame-worthy QBs in Kurt Warner, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning to win Super Bowl XLIV.
Turnaround tales such as these used to be rare, but they now seem to be happening with surreal regularity.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Road warriors
Continuing an examination of the new breed of Super Bowl champs ...
Much like a clock-eating running game, owning home field advantage used to be a prerequisite for a Super Bowl champion.
Times have most definitely changed.
Three of the past seven champs – the ’05 Steelers, ’07 Giants and ’10 Packers – reached the Super Bowl itself without the benefit of a single playoff home game, all going 3-0 on the road. Almost as impressive, this past season’s Giants posted two of their three playoff wins outside of New Jersey.
In all, the past seven Super squads have posted 12 postseason wins on enemy turf – a figure matching the total of the previous 24 Big Game winners combined.
That’s putting in some real road work.
Much like a clock-eating running game, owning home field advantage used to be a prerequisite for a Super Bowl champion.
Times have most definitely changed.
Three of the past seven champs – the ’05 Steelers, ’07 Giants and ’10 Packers – reached the Super Bowl itself without the benefit of a single playoff home game, all going 3-0 on the road. Almost as impressive, this past season’s Giants posted two of their three playoff wins outside of New Jersey.
In all, the past seven Super squads have posted 12 postseason wins on enemy turf – a figure matching the total of the previous 24 Big Game winners combined.
That’s putting in some real road work.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Not in a rush
The 2011 and ’07 Giants, the 2010 Packers, the ’05 and ’08 Steelers, the ’09 Saints and the ’06 Colts . . . these aren’t your father’s Super Bowl champions.
These aren’t even the Super Bowl champs of your slightly-older uncle Bobby – you know, that uncle no one much talks about at the family reunions, the one who dances around on the weekends down at the intersection, holding that sign for the house-painting company.
Anyway, these most recent Lombardi Trophy hoisters are different from the champs of seasons gone by. Let us examine the ways . . .
They’re not grounded
These aren’t even the Super Bowl champs of your slightly-older uncle Bobby – you know, that uncle no one much talks about at the family reunions, the one who dances around on the weekends down at the intersection, holding that sign for the house-painting company.
Anyway, these most recent Lombardi Trophy hoisters are different from the champs of seasons gone by. Let us examine the ways . . .
They’re not grounded
Remember the legs of Larry Csonka, Franco Harris, Marcus Allen and John Riggins serving as the foundations of the Super squads of yesteryear?
Yesteryear is the key word here; it's simply not how the Roman Numeral Games are won anymore.
The last running back to rush off with Super Bowl MVP honors – the Broncos’ Terrell Davis in ’98 – has been retired for a decade now. Reaching the top via a punishing ground game disappeared from NFL game plans not long after.
Here’s a stat for you: Half of the past six Super Bowl champs – the ’11 Giants, the ’10 Packers and the ’06 Colts – actually were outrushed during the regular season. That’s as many times as it occurred among the first 40 Super winners.
This past season’s champion Giants drove that point home, finishing dead-last in the league during the regular season with an average of 89.2 rushing yards per game.
Yesteryear is the key word here; it's simply not how the Roman Numeral Games are won anymore.
The last running back to rush off with Super Bowl MVP honors – the Broncos’ Terrell Davis in ’98 – has been retired for a decade now. Reaching the top via a punishing ground game disappeared from NFL game plans not long after.
Here’s a stat for you: Half of the past six Super Bowl champs – the ’11 Giants, the ’10 Packers and the ’06 Colts – actually were outrushed during the regular season. That’s as many times as it occurred among the first 40 Super winners.
This past season’s champion Giants drove that point home, finishing dead-last in the league during the regular season with an average of 89.2 rushing yards per game.
Friday, April 20, 2012
New breed of champs
The 2011 and ’07 Giants, the 2010 Packers, the ’05 and ’08 Steelers, the ’09 Saints and the ’06 Colts . . . these aren’t your father’s Super Bowl champions.
These aren’t even the Super Bowl champs of your slightly-older uncle Bobby – you know, that uncle no one much talks about at the family reunions, the one who dances around on the weekends down at the intersection, holding that sign for the house-painting company.
Anyway, these most recent Lombardi Trophy hoisters are different from the champs of seasons gone by. Let us examine the ways . . .
They come out of nowhere
None of the past seven Super Bowl winners owned the best record in their respective seasons. Some, such as the 9-7 Giants of this past season or the 10-6 Packers of the previous year weren’t even close, barely squeezing into the playoffs.
In fact, only two of the past 15 Super Bowl champs have carried the league’s top won-loss percentage into the postseason. Contrast this with the 13 previous seasons, in which the team with the best regular-season mark went on to dance beneath the confetti eight times.
Also consider that four of the past seven NFL champs – the ’05 Steelers, the ’06 Colts, the ’10 Packers and the ’11 Giants – actually posted better records the previous season, causing more than a few to overlook these eventual ring bearers.
These aren’t even the Super Bowl champs of your slightly-older uncle Bobby – you know, that uncle no one much talks about at the family reunions, the one who dances around on the weekends down at the intersection, holding that sign for the house-painting company.
Anyway, these most recent Lombardi Trophy hoisters are different from the champs of seasons gone by. Let us examine the ways . . .
They come out of nowhere
None of the past seven Super Bowl winners owned the best record in their respective seasons. Some, such as the 9-7 Giants of this past season or the 10-6 Packers of the previous year weren’t even close, barely squeezing into the playoffs.
In fact, only two of the past 15 Super Bowl champs have carried the league’s top won-loss percentage into the postseason. Contrast this with the 13 previous seasons, in which the team with the best regular-season mark went on to dance beneath the confetti eight times.
Also consider that four of the past seven NFL champs – the ’05 Steelers, the ’06 Colts, the ’10 Packers and the ’11 Giants – actually posted better records the previous season, causing more than a few to overlook these eventual ring bearers.
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