Overrated: Quaterbacks, Top Tens, and 40 Times

(Photo by Jim Prisching/Getty Images)

Who is better, Brady or Manning? It doesn’t matter.

Which teams have a top-ten defense? You're kidding I hope.

Does he run a 4.3 or a 4.6? The difference is negligible.

Quarterbacks

The quarterback is only one man. Only 9.1 percent of the offense.

And yet, the blocking by the offensive line, the route running by the receivers, getting off a clean snap, calling the play, analyzing any weaknesses in a defense, and all the other aspects of a successful play are credited to one man: The quarterback.

It’s just lazy to say the quarterback should get more credit than the offensive line. They block on every play, but the quarterback only throws about half the time. Blocking schemes can be ridiculously complicated, and the scheme needs to be executed perfectly, or it results in a busted play.

It’s just lazy to say the receivers don’t do as much as the quarterback. Even when he throws the ball, he’s only half of the equation, and some teams run more than they throw. But even when he does throw, the receiver needs to make a catch, or it’s worthless. Sure, the quarterback reads the defense, but the receivers need to run routes into open spots.

It’s just lazy to say the Quarterback can throw all day without a productive running back. The run sets up the pass, not vice versa. If the defense wasn’t afraid of getting carved up by a running back, there would be no pass. If safeties stay home for fear of the run, you can forget about half of your deep threats.

All this laziness has caused everyone to take the most important position, the quarterback, and make it the end-all of the game. Yes, I said the quarterback is the most important position; that is clear. But his contribution should not be overstated.

Put in a Quarterback who is half the ideal passer and your offense can still operate at nearly 95 percent.

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