Cryptozoology: The Dual Threat Quarterback

Will a dual threat QB ever emerge in the NFL?  Randall Cunningham had a few great years, but his sitting on top of the QB rushing mountain is more to longevity than his running ability. 

Donovan McNabb looks the part of a dual threat QB, but he rarely runs forward.  He’s a true passer, who happens to be able to run.  And what of Michael Vick? 

The poster child for the term “dual threat QB” is one of the most dangerous players in the NFL with his legs.  Too bad he can’t throw.  He’s Ladainian Tomlinson playing the QB position.

The search for the most elusive football position may be coming to an end soon.  Pat White (this year) and Tim Tebow (next year) are set to take their shot at the as yet unfound position, if a team will let them.

So can the two current dual threats be successful at the next level?  I say give them a chance and here’s why:  The following is a list of collegiate statistics for two current NFL dual threat QBs vs. the top two dual threat QBs in college:

Mike Vick

Career passing: 202-360, 3504 yards, 22 TDs, 12 INTs

Career rushing: 262 Att, 1318 yards, 18 TDs

Vince Young

Career passing: 444-718, 6040 yards, 44 TDs, 28 INTs

Career rushing: 457 Att, 3127 yards, 37 TDs

Pat White

Career passing: 507-783, 6049 yards, 56 TDs, 23 INTs

Career rushing: 684 Att, 4480 yards, 47 TDs

Tim Tebow

Career passing: 448-681, 6390 yards, 67 TDs, 11 INTs

Career rushing: 475 Att, 2037 yards, 43 TDs

As you can see, both White and Tebow have proven themselves to be better passers than Young and Vick.  White’s a better runner than all of them, too. 

Let’s see how Tebow and White compare to the top college QB, Heisman winner Sam Bradford:

Career passing: 565-824, 7841 yards, 86 TDs, 16 INTS

Bradford’s numbers are expectedly larger (he doesn’t have to run), although they are similar. Both Tebow and White have high completion rates like a real QB.  Tebow has a 65.8 career completion percentage, White’s a 64.8 percentage, and Bradford’s a 68.6 percentage (in case you’re wondering, Young is a 61 percent passer and Vick was only 56 percent).

Now for turnovers; thus far the bane of the dual threat QB:

Vick

Att/INT– 30, TD/INT– 1.83

Young

Att/INT– 25.64, TD/INT– 1.57

White

Att/INT– 34.04, TD/INT– 2.43

Tebow

Att/INT– 61.91, TD/INT– 6.09

Bradford

Att/INT– 51.5, TD/INT– 5.38

Wow, Tebow separates himself here.  He’s really, really stingy.  Looking back, Vick and Young were very bad at not giving the ball away.  White is slightly better than Vick/Young, but he’s not someone you would consider as a top tier passer. 

Then again, maybe he's right there with them.  Lets look at his competition for this year. 

His TD/INT ratio is about the same as Chase Daniel’s (2.46) and Mark Sanchez (2.56), better than Matt Stafford (1.55), the top QB of this year’s draft class, and worse than Graham Harrell (3.94). 

So why aren’t White and Tebow, statistically the top two dual threat QBs of all-time, being given a chance?