I really respect that there is really nothing new NFL-wise to talk about right now and this particular subject is actually a unique way to kill some time but this ranking is for me the equivalent of Dads arguing over which war had the most interesting history and historical significance and as a Seahawks fan, I feel like I'd be trying to defend Clinton's intervention in Serbia vs old-school franchise fans who can tout any other prior war. Strong History Channel energy when you get into the weeds of this one.
At the risk of being a bit pedantic...aggregate statistics don't hold much significance for me. Total passing yards is a good example. From a statistical standpoint, the issue is whether the underlying conditions have changed.
The "ad absurdum" example would be the inclusion of any years before 1906, when the forward pass became legal. Other breakpoints would be (IIRC) in the early 1930's and early 1950's, when rule changes came along. There were other changes later on to favor protection of the QB (as "somebody" likes to keep pointing out...that's the way the NFL likes it...).
Also, from '06 through about 1970, there were repeated changes to the ball that made it easier to throw a spiral which (according to a branch of aerodynamics call "Exterior Ballistics") travels both further and more accurately.
And then there is the little issue of season length, which has to include that strike-shortened season in the late '80's. Can we really compare Sammy Baugh's 21,000-ish yards to Fran Tarkenton's 47,000-ish? Sure, one has a bigger number...but is it really size alone that matters?
Reading that again, it doesn't look right, but I'm going to let it go for now.
It seems to me that a fair comparison could only be made by breaking history into "eras", then comparing per-game statistics within era, only. Oddly enough after all that, I'm still going with Wilson as the best we've ever had.
Of course, that's just one idiot's view from the "beacher" seats.
This Grayson McCall thing is amazingly awesome! Someone NO ONE ELSE is talking about, and who is currently ranked #22 by NFL Draft Buzz -- right behind #21 Sam Huard who is the Huskies BACK-UP QB (they have Penix at #3).
Then I checked to see when was the last time 22 QB’s were drafted, and the answer is since 2000 (the last 23 drafts) the max was 17, in 2004.
So he should easily still be on the board in Rd 6 or even 7, unless his senior year is extraordinary and he gets invited to the Senior Bowl and is extraordinary.
Wouldn’t that be wild if Schneider takes him in the 6th, bc Seaside Joe made the call.
You do realize he reads you. What other explanation could there be for Devon Witherspoon at #5???
I’d forgotten Wallace! He was a good teammate. I guessed John Friesz, who (after I checked) didn’t quite crack 3000, but who was a shade over Trent Dilfer. Thank God we aren’t going to the bottom of the list, from Stan Gelbaugh to Dan McGuire to Charlie Whitehurst, but even they had a moment or two.
I read somewhere that after 80 years or so the culture of an era starts being an antiquarian interest, as those who lived through it are no longer around. So the Sammy Baughs, Sid Luckmans, and Bobby Laynes are just names. If the theory holds in about ten years Otto Graham, and then Johnny Unitas, will be next.
Rec'ed for the last sentence! I haven't hoped something would happen in sports this much in a long time. I realize there's roughly a 1 in 32 chance, but I'll feel sick seeing Grayson in any other uniform.
Also, if you had asked me who had more yards and TDs between Mirer and Kitna, there's no way I would have guessed that correctly. I know neither were around long, but Kitna's time here seemed better. Of course, that's memory for ya. Crazy to me that Geno is already in the top 8 with just one season too.
The nice thing is that the odds of McCall should be even higher since he's not likely to be going anywhere near the first round. So the Seahawks are not going to draft Caleb Williams barring a disaster, but they should get plenty of opportunities for McCall.
Dan Mcguire?
Good guess!
Fun article, which makes me feel better about our QB history. Our TE history though...yeesh.
I guessed Kitna or Wallace but the former apparently wasn't here as a starter as long as I remembered...
Speaking of Seneca, here’s a little gem that can be related to the success of this Substack:
“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity”.
Seaside Joe is very lucky, and we Seasiders are the beneficiaries of that.
(Ok. So it’s not from that Seneca, it’s from the ancient Roman one).
hahaha
I really respect that there is really nothing new NFL-wise to talk about right now and this particular subject is actually a unique way to kill some time but this ranking is for me the equivalent of Dads arguing over which war had the most interesting history and historical significance and as a Seahawks fan, I feel like I'd be trying to defend Clinton's intervention in Serbia vs old-school franchise fans who can tout any other prior war. Strong History Channel energy when you get into the weeds of this one.
At the risk of being a bit pedantic...aggregate statistics don't hold much significance for me. Total passing yards is a good example. From a statistical standpoint, the issue is whether the underlying conditions have changed.
The "ad absurdum" example would be the inclusion of any years before 1906, when the forward pass became legal. Other breakpoints would be (IIRC) in the early 1930's and early 1950's, when rule changes came along. There were other changes later on to favor protection of the QB (as "somebody" likes to keep pointing out...that's the way the NFL likes it...).
Also, from '06 through about 1970, there were repeated changes to the ball that made it easier to throw a spiral which (according to a branch of aerodynamics call "Exterior Ballistics") travels both further and more accurately.
And then there is the little issue of season length, which has to include that strike-shortened season in the late '80's. Can we really compare Sammy Baugh's 21,000-ish yards to Fran Tarkenton's 47,000-ish? Sure, one has a bigger number...but is it really size alone that matters?
Reading that again, it doesn't look right, but I'm going to let it go for now.
It seems to me that a fair comparison could only be made by breaking history into "eras", then comparing per-game statistics within era, only. Oddly enough after all that, I'm still going with Wilson as the best we've ever had.
Of course, that's just one idiot's view from the "beacher" seats.
Yeah, it's just a thing I referenced, nothing more.
This Grayson McCall thing is amazingly awesome! Someone NO ONE ELSE is talking about, and who is currently ranked #22 by NFL Draft Buzz -- right behind #21 Sam Huard who is the Huskies BACK-UP QB (they have Penix at #3).
Then I checked to see when was the last time 22 QB’s were drafted, and the answer is since 2000 (the last 23 drafts) the max was 17, in 2004.
So he should easily still be on the board in Rd 6 or even 7, unless his senior year is extraordinary and he gets invited to the Senior Bowl and is extraordinary.
Wouldn’t that be wild if Schneider takes him in the 6th, bc Seaside Joe made the call.
You do realize he reads you. What other explanation could there be for Devon Witherspoon at #5???
Hahaha. My proudest accomplishment of this newsletter is building a mini-Grayson fanbase in Seattle. At worst, it makes us unique!
I’d forgotten Wallace! He was a good teammate. I guessed John Friesz, who (after I checked) didn’t quite crack 3000, but who was a shade over Trent Dilfer. Thank God we aren’t going to the bottom of the list, from Stan Gelbaugh to Dan McGuire to Charlie Whitehurst, but even they had a moment or two.
I read somewhere that after 80 years or so the culture of an era starts being an antiquarian interest, as those who lived through it are no longer around. So the Sammy Baughs, Sid Luckmans, and Bobby Laynes are just names. If the theory holds in about ten years Otto Graham, and then Johnny Unitas, will be next.
I have no way to prove this, but I correctly guessed Seneca.
I wonder where the Hawks would rank in QB history within the past 20 years. I bet it would be at least top half of the league.
Better, for sure.
Rec'ed for the last sentence! I haven't hoped something would happen in sports this much in a long time. I realize there's roughly a 1 in 32 chance, but I'll feel sick seeing Grayson in any other uniform.
Also, if you had asked me who had more yards and TDs between Mirer and Kitna, there's no way I would have guessed that correctly. I know neither were around long, but Kitna's time here seemed better. Of course, that's memory for ya. Crazy to me that Geno is already in the top 8 with just one season too.
The nice thing is that the odds of McCall should be even higher since he's not likely to be going anywhere near the first round. So the Seahawks are not going to draft Caleb Williams barring a disaster, but they should get plenty of opportunities for McCall.
... just, don't wait too long, Hawks.
Stealth Mode, Stealth Mode, ... a very small ripple in the Force.
"Nothing to see here ...This isn't the quarterback you are looking for."
"This isn't the quarterback we are looking for. Move along."