AFC News & Notes
Many factors play a role in an NFL quarterback earning elite status. One of the most important qualities is accuracy.
“I think accuracy is the single most important trait to the success of a quarterback,” says former Dallas Cowboys vice president of player personnel (1960-1989) and NFL.com senior analyst GIL BRANDT. “That’s the first thing that is looked at when you are evaluating a quarterback.”
The ability for a passer to hit receivers in stride while in the pocket or deliver a pass on target while scrambling are attributes that are needed to excel at the quarterback position.
“You only get so many throws in this league,” says former Denver Broncos quarterback (1983-1991) and Houston Texans head coach GARY KUBIAK. “The more of them that go in your hand, obviously the more successful you are going to be. The windows in this league are so small compared to college. If you are not accurate you are going to miss a lot of plays.”
Kubiak, former Baltimore Ravens head coach (1999-2007) and NFL Network analyst BRIAN BILLICK and former head coach of the San Francisco 49ers (1997-2002) and Detroit Lions (2003-05) and NFL Network analyst STEVE MARIUCCI discuss the key requirements for a quarterback to be an accurate passer:
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FUNDAMENTALS |
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Brian Billick |
“Fundamentals of your delivery and fundamentals of your feet are mandatory in being an accurate passer. You have to be very, very consistent. Your feet and follow through have to be very solid, so you can be an accurate passer in the pocket and on the run.” |
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TOUGHNESS |
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Brian Billick |
“Toughness is required. You are going to take some hits when the defense is trying to pressure you with a rush. If you are bothered by defenders coming at you, then you are not going to be accurate because that’s the world you live in.” |
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DECISION MAKING |
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Steve Mariucci |
“Quarterbacks have to make a lot of decisions. They have to make decisions at the line of scrimmage. They have to make decisions as to when do I throw the ball or when do I work through my progressions. They have to make decisions on when do I stay in the pocket or when do I escape from the pocket. All of this affects accuracy.” |
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TIMING |
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Steve Mariucci |
“Another part of the equation is your receivers running the routes to the depth they are supposed to be running, so the quarterback has a sense of timing. The receivers have to be in sync with that quarterback. That’s where practice time, and weeks and months and years of experience add up to a higher completion percentage.” |
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PROTECTION |
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Gary Kubiak |
“Good quarterbacks usually have a heck of an offensive line. It’s not just the quarterback throwing the ball accurately. It also has a lot to do with your protectors. I don’t care how good you are because you are not going to be able to do it yourself.” |
Following are the quarterbacks with the highest career completion percentage in NFL history (min. 1,500 attempts):
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PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
COMPLETION PCT |
CAREER RECORD |
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Jets, Dolphins |
66.06 |
43-37 (.538) |
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Rams, Giants, Cardinals |
65.50 |
67-49 (.578) |
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Chargers, Saints |
64.94 |
70-53 (.569) |
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Colts |
64.89 |
132-62 (.680) |
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Steve Young* |
Buccaneers, 49ers |
64.28 |
94-49 (.657) |
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*Super Bowl MVP’s
Following are the active quarterbacks with the highest completion percentage since 2000 (min. 1,500 attempts):
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PLAYER |
TEAM(S) |
COMPLETION PCT. |
CAREER RECORD |
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Jets, Dolphins |
66.06 |
43-37 (.537) |
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Colts |
66.02 |
132-62 (.680) |
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Chargers, Saints |
64.94 |
70-53 (.569) |
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Cowboys |
63.58 |
38-19 (.667) |
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Patriots |
63.35 |
98-31 (.760) |
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*Super Bowl MVP’s
