Best downfield passers in the league (game, interceptions, Bears, teams)

[Ghengis]

Who are they? How important is this phase of the game? Where are the mad bombers of yesterday?

Some surprises based on stats thru week 7 (for throws over 20 yards)

pctg - QB - team - comp/att -- splits (21-30 yds -- 31-40 yds -- >40yds)

-1) .556 Freeman - TB --------- 10/18 -- (6/12 -- 2/3 -- 2/3)
-2) .533 Smith - SF -------------- 8/15 -- (5/8 -- 2/5 -- 1/2)
-3) .478 Manning, P - DNV ---- 11/23 -- (7/14 -- 4/9 -- n/a)
-4) .471 Newton - CAR ---------- 8/17 -- (6/13 -- 1/3 -- 1/1)
-5) .440 Brees - NO ------------ 11/25 -- (8/18 -- 2/6 -- 1/1)
-6) .423 Manning, E - NYG ---- 11/26 -- (7/16 -- 4/10 -- n/a)
-7) .421 Rodgers - GB ---------- 8/19 -- (6/14 -- 2/3 -- 0/2)
-8) .409 Wilson - SEA ----------- 9/22 -- (4/10 -- 3/7 -- 2/5)
-9) .393 Luck - IND ------------ 11/28 -- (9/19 -- 2/4 -- 0/5)
10) .375 Sanchez - NYJ --------- 9/24 -- (6/16 -- 3/4 -- 0/4)
11) .364 Bradford - StL --------- 8/22 -- (3/12 -- 4/7 -- 1/3)
11) .364 Brady - NE ------------- 8/22 -- (5/14 -- 3/5 -- 0/3)
13) .353 Tannehill - MIA -------- 6/17 -- (3/11 -- 3/6 -- n/a)
14) .346 Cutler - CHI ------------ 9/26 -- (6/18 -- 2/6 -- 1/2)
15) .333 Kolb - AZ --------------- 4/12 -- (3/9 -- 1/2 -- 0/1)
16) .320 Vick - PHL -------------- 8/25 -- (5/12 -- 1/4 -- 2/9)
16) .320 Rivers - SD ------------- 8/25 -- (6/13 -- 2/9 -- 0/3)
16) .320 Cassel - KC ------------ 8/25 -- (8/18 -- 0/6 -- 0/1)
19) .314 Flaco - BLT ----------- 11/35 -- (7/19 -- 3/12 -- 1/4)
20) .308 Gabbert - JAX --------- 4/13 -- (3/8 -- 1/5 -- n/a)
21) .286 Dalton - CIN ----------- 6/21 -- (4/13 -- 1/4 -- 1/4)
22) .273 Hasselbeck - TN ------- 3/11 -- (3/9 -- 0/2 -- n/a)
22) .273 Griffin - WSH ---------- 3/11 -- (2/4 -- 0/2 -- 1/5)
24) .267 Schaub - HS ------------ 4/15 -- (1/9 -- 1/4 -- 2/2)
24) .267 Ryan - ATL ------------- 4/15 -- (2/7 -- 0/3 -- 2/5)
26) .250 Stafford - DET --------- 4/16 -- (2/10 -- 0/2 -- 2/4)
26) .250 Roethlisberger - PTS -- 4/16 -- (2/9 -- 0/4 -- 2/3)
28) .235 Fitzpatrick - BUF ------- 4/17 -- (3/8 -- 1/8 -- 0/1)
29) .200 Weeden - CLV --------- 5/25 -- (2/16 -- 2/6 -- 1/3)
29) .200 Romo - DLS ------------ 4/20 -- (2/13 -- 1/4 -- 1/3)
31) .188 Palmer - OAK ---------- 3/16 -- (2/8 -- 1/8 -- n/a)
32) .100 Ponder - MIN ---------- 1/10 -- (1/9 -- 0/1 -- n/a)

[Mathguy]

How does this compare to past years?

I know the Bears defense has been a lot more oriented towards giving up yards but not big plays and if other teams have gone this route then there should be fewer long passes.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by Mathguy

How does this compare to past years?

I know the Bears defense has been a lot more oriented towards giving up yards but not big plays and if other teams have gone this route then there should be fewer long passes.

I had to look at each individual's splits to come up with that list, but did glance at 2009...

.507 Peyton Manning (36/71)
.440 Drew Brees (11/25)
.404 Brett Favre (21/52)

My perception is that there seems to be less downfield attempts than past years and yet the yards thrown and yds/attempt seem to be always trending up. I went back and looked at what Daryl Lamonica had back in the laste 60's/early 70's and he barely pushed into the 3,000s and never had a yds/att over 8, yet was always among the league passing leaders. For cripes sake, he was the Mad Bomber!

Last year, Rodgers averaged 9.25/attempt and I had to go back to 2002 to find when the league leader that was less than 8 yds/att.

[Oildog]

So thats why Ponder doesnt have many interceptions...he doesnt throw down field.

[susancruzs]

I don't get overly excited about the endless supply of stats available these days (probably due to Fantasy Football) but when Smith is right at the top, something is wrong with the picture. He rarely throws long balls, a very conservative QB.

[Ghengis]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

I don't get overly excited about the endless supply of stats available these days (probably due to Fantasy Football) but when Smith is right at the top, something is wrong with the picture. He rarely throws long balls, a very conservative QB.

LOL, Smith has attempted and completed more throws over 30 yards than that tired-armed QB in Green Bay.

[susancruzs]

The tired-armed guy is just getting started, let's have this discussion, hmmm lets see, how about December 3rd???

[manderly6]

I would like to see how many pass interference penalties are happening on long throws. That would be interesting.

[susancruzs]

Jordy Nelson gets called for penalties, more than he did at first. The KC game last year comes to mind, they must have alerted the refs because he got called 3 times in one game. He is an aggressive receiver. Good old Kansas farm boy isn't going to let anyone shove him around so he does it first!

[manderly6]

Originally Posted by susancruzs

Jordy Nelson gets called for penalties, more than he did at first. The KC game last year comes to mind, they must have alerted the refs because he got called 3 times in one game. He is an aggressive receiver. Good old Kansas farm boy isn't going to let anyone shove him around so he does it first!

I was thinking more on the defense. I long throw that results in a defensive pass interference is just as good as a completion.