2012 NFL Draft: Cleveland Browns, Colt McCoy vs. Notable QB's in First 16 Starts

"...Now wait a minute! Okay, this guy is a real zero. That's true. Think back to when you were freshmen. Boon, you had a face like a pepperoni pizza, right? And Stork here. Everybody thought that Stork was brain damaged. I myself was so obnoxious the seniors beat me up once a week. So this guy is a total loser? Let me tell you the story of another loser..."-Eric "Otter" Stratton, Animal House (1978)

Part II in a 5-Part Series

We might as well name this slideshow: Legendary NFL QB's Whom Browns Fans Would Shriek to Replace After 16 Starts.

In the first segment of this series, I explored the psychological foundation of Browns fans' myopia. The last time the Cleveland Browns contended for the- say it with me now- contended for the Super Bowl, Bernie Kosar played quarterback, and Bill Belichick was the head coach. In a classic chicken-or-the-egg situation, the Browns have found tragically little success at either position in the wake of their 1999 reincarnation.

This segment will examine the performances of several notable NFL veterans in their first starts at quarterback. It should be noted that only Steve Young's 1985 Tampa Bay Buccaneers featured an offensive skill position group comparable to the anemic 2011 Browns.

Some interesting trends:

-Note the direct relationship between quality running games and winning records.
-Teams without a 1,000-yd rusher rarely won more than 5 games.
-Roethlisberger and Flacco each enjoyed the support of top-5 defenses and rushing attacks in their first-16 starts.

Also to be noted:
-Players often started their first 16 games over the course of two seasons. 
-The "Modern Passing Pace," as my good friend Nate Hoover coins it, has lead to an increase in attempts across the league. When Aikman, Young and Elway were in their heyday, 550-600 attempts would normally top the league. In 2011, 8 QB's threw over 550 attempts. 

You can follow Brian on Twitter @StepanekButton

Colt McCoy and the Bernie Kosar Complex">Part I: Colt McCoy and the Bernie Kosar Complex
Part III: Missing Pieces and the Robert Griffin III Saga
Part IV: The AFC North and the Case for RG III
Part V: The Cleveland Browns' Recipe for AFC North Success

Statistics are compiled from http://www.pro-football-reference.com/

John Elway, 1983 Denver Broncos

John Elway, 1983 Denver Broncos (2nd, AFC West)

*Elway's first 10 starts were in 1983, the last 6 came in 1984.

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
DEN	1983	9-7	2,282	10	51.5	19	0.45	13	10

Notable Help:
Sammy Windner (RB) 1,153 rush yds, 288 rec yds, 6 TDs, Pro Bowl (1984)

Bernie Kosar, 1985 Cleveland Browns

Bernie Kosar, 1985 Cleveland Browns (AFC Central Division Champions)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
CLE	1985	8-8	2,479	10	55%	8	1.25	7	8

Notable Help:

Kevin Mack (FB) 1,104 rush yds, 297 rec yds, 10 TD, Pro Bowl
Ozzie Newsome (TE) 711 rec yds, 62 catches, 5 TD, Pro Bowl, Hall of Fame
Earnest Byner (HB) 1,002 rush yds, 460 rec yds, 10 TD

Steve Young, 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Steve Young, 1986 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5th, NFC Central)

Team	Season	W/L	YDS	TDS	Comp %	INTS	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
TB	1986	3-13	2,722	9	58	16	0.55	27	21

Notable Help:

Poor Steve got McCoyed here. He seemed just fine after he went to...yes, a team that would have competed for a Super Bowl without him.

*Young started 5 games in 1985, and 11 in 1986

Troy Aikman, 1989 Dallas Cowboys

Troy Aikman, 1989 Dallas Cowboys (5th, NFC East)
*Aikman started his first 11 games in 1989, his last 5 in 1990.

Team	Season	W/L	YDS	TDS	Comp %	INTS	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
DAL	1989	2-14	2,664	12	60%	25	0.45	15	23

Notable Help:
Emmitt Smith, Deion Sanders and Michael Irvin on the way. If the Browns added three future Hall of Fame playmakers, would we still need to trade away our future for RGIII?

Brett Favre, 1992 Green Bay Packers

Brett Favre, 1992 Green Bay Packers (2nd, NFC Central)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
GB	1992	9-7	3,227	18	64	13	1.38	28	27

Notable Help:
Sterling Sharpe (TE) 108 catches, 1,461 rec yds, 13 TDs, Pro Bowl

Peyton Manning, 1998 Indianapolis Colts

Peyton Manning, 1998 Indianapolis Colts (5th, AFC East)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
IND	1998	3-13	3,739	26	56	28	0.9	29	26

Notable Help:
Marshall Faulk (RB) 1,319 rush yds, 908 rec yds, 10 TDs, Pro Bowl
Marvin Harrison (WR) 59 catches, 776 rec yds, 7 TDs

Tom Brady, 2001 New England Patriots

Tom Brady, 2001 NE Patriots (Super Bowl Champions)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
NE	2001	12-4	2,843	18	64	13	1.38	6	13

Notable Help:
Bill Belichick (Not a player, but who's going to say this guy didn't help?)
Antowain Smith (RB) 1,157 rush yds, 192 rec yds, 13 TDs
Troy Brown (WR) 1,199 rec yds, 5 TDs, Pro Bowl

Drew Brees, 2002 San Diego Chargers

Drew Brees, 2002 San Diego Chargers (3rd, AFC West)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
SD	2002	8-8	3,284	17	60	16	1.06	22	8

Notable Help:
LaDainian Tomlinson (HB) 1,683 rush yds, 489 rec yds, 15 TDs, Pro Bowl
 

Ben Roethlisberger, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers

Ben Roethlisberger, 2004 Pittsburgh Steelers (1st, AFC North)

*Roethlisberger's first 13 starts came in 2004, the last 3 began the 2005 Super Bowl Season 

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
PIT	2004	14-2	3,090	21	66	11	1.9	1	2

Notable Help:
Jerome Bettis (RB) 941 rush yds, 13 TDs, Pro Bowl
Hines Ward (TE) 84 catches, 1,004 yds, 5 TDs, Pro Bowl
Duce Staley (RB) 830 rush yds, 1 TD
Plaxico Burress (WR) 35 catches, 698 yds, 5 TDs

Joe Flacco, 2008 Baltimore Ravens

Joe Flacco, 2008 Baltimore Ravens (2nd, AFC North)

Team	Season	W/L	YDS	TDS	Comp %	INTS	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
BAL	2008	11-5	2,971	14	60	12	1.167	3	4

Notable Help:
Le'Ron McClain (FB) 902 rush yds, 11 TDs, Pro Bowl
Willis McGahee (HB) 671 rush yds, 7 TDs
Ray Rice (HB) 454 rush yds, 0 TDs
Derrick Mason (WR) 80 catches, 1037 rec yds, 5 TDs
 

Andy Dalton, 2011 Cincinnati Bengals

Andy Dalton, 2011 Cincinnati Bengals (3rd, AFC North)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
CIN	2011	9-7	3,398	20	58%	13	1.538	8	19

Notable Help:
Cedric Benson 1,067 rush yds, 6 TDs
AJ Green (WR) 1,057 rec yds, 7 TDs, Pro Bowl

Colt McCoy, 2010-2011 Cleveland Browns

Colt McCoy, 2010-2011 Cleveland Browns (4th, AFC North)

Team	Season	W/L	YDs	TDs	Comp %	INTs	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank
CLE	2010-11	5-11	3,341	16	60%	15	1.067	14	29

Notable Help:
Peyton Hillis (RB) Contribution debatable, given 2011 saga.
Brad Maynard (P) Always won the field position battle. 

 

In Summary

For easy reference:

Whether it's Tim Couch, David Carr or Joey Harrington, talent won't make up for leading the league in stats like "hurries," "knockdowns," or "sacks."

Player, Team	YR	W/L	YDS	TDS	INTS	TD/INT	Def. Rank	Rush Rank	Comp %
Colt McCoy, CLE	2010-11	5_11	3,341	16	15	1.067	14	29	60%
Bernie Kosar, CLE	1985-86	8_8	2,358	10	8	1.25	7	8	55%
Drew Brees, SD	2002	8_8	3,284	17	16	1.06	22	8	60
Tom Brady, NE	2001	12_4	2,843	18	13	1.38	6	13	64
Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	2004	14_2	3,090	21	11	1.9	1	2	66
Brett Favre, GB	1992	6_10	3,227	18	13	1.38	28	27	64
Peyton Manning, IND	1998	3_13	3,739	26	28	0.9	29	26	56
Steve Young, TB	1985	3_13	2,722	9	16	0.55	27	21	58
Troy Aikman, DAL	1990	2_14	2,664	12	25	0.45	15	23	60%
John Elway, DEN	1984	8_8	2,282	10	19	0.45	13	10	51.5
Peyton Manning, IND	1998	3_13	3,739	26	28	0.9	29	26	56
Andy Dalton, CIN	2011	9_7	3,398	20	13	1.538	8	19	58%
Joe Flacco, BAL	2008	11_5	2,971	14	12	1.167	3	4	60

Stay tuned for Part III: Holes the Browns would leave open by trading up for Robert Griffin III.