Where QBs rank against stacked fronts

December, 2, 2010
12/02/10
12:19
PM ET
By Mike Sando | ESPN.com
Following up an earlier item, I've put together charts showing where NFL quarterbacks rate when throwing against eight-man boxes and loaded boxes (those where potential rushers outnumber blockers).

The first chart ranks the 12 quarterbacks with at least 20 attempts throwing against eight-man boxes. Most of these quarterbacks play for teams with top running backs.

Thanks to Allison Loucks of ESPN Stats & Information for providing the numbers.

2010 Quarterbacks vs. Eight-man Boxes (min. 20 attempts)

Twelve NFL quarterbacks have at least 20 pass attempts against eight-man boxes. The St. Louis Rams' Sam Bradford ranks 11th among them in passer rating.

Rank QB Comp. Att. Pct. Yards YPA TD INT Rating
1 Matt Cassel, KC 22 35 62.9 232 6.6 4 0 120.2
2 Eli Manning, NYG 21 26 80.8 180 6.9 5 1 119.1
3 Tony Romo, DAL 16 22 72.7 132 6.0 2 0 118.0
4 Philip Rivers, SD 14 22 63.6 214 9.7 4 1 116.3
5 Matt Ryan, ATL 12 22 54.5 138 6.3 3 0 113.3
6 Donovan McNabb, WAS 21 31 67.7 340 11.0 2 1 112.3
7 Matt Schaub 21 35 60.0 230 6.6 4 2 93.8
8 Mark Sanchez 11 29 37.9 109 3.8 4 0 88.9
9 Joe Flacco, BAL 13 24 54.2 252 10.5 1 1 87.5
10 Brett Favre, MIN 17 27 63.0 203 7.5 0 0 85.9
11 Sam Bradford, STL 12 25 48.0 115 4.6 1 0 74.6
12 Jon Kitna, DAL 12 22 54.5 115 5.2 0 0 69.3

The second chart shows where quarterbacks rate against loaded boxes (more potential rushers than blockers).

I expanded this chart to include quarterbacks with at least 15 attempts. This allowed the Arizona Cardinals' Derek Anderson and Max Hall to qualify for inclusion.

2010 Quarterbacks vs. Loaded Boxes: Weeks 1-12 (min. 15 attempts)

Rank QB Comp. Att. Pct. Yards YPA TD INT Rating
1 Jon Kitna, DAL 26 42 61.9 297 7.1 6 0 122.7
2 Aaron Rodgers, GB 54 76 71.1 638 8.4 6 1 117.1
3 Ben Roethlisberger, PIT 17 33 51.5 254 7.7 4 0 116.7
4 Matt Ryan, ATL 62 89 69.7 564 6.3 8 0 116.5
5 Peyton Manning, IND 28 42 66.7 292 7.0 5 2 106.3
6 Jay Cutler, CHI 31 49 63.3 393 8.0 5 2 105.2
7 Michael Vick, PHI 30 48 62.5 423 8.8 2 0 104.8
8 Eli Manning, NYG 50 74 67.6 578 7.8 8 4 104.4
9 Carson Palmer, CIN 28 44 63.6 395 9.0 4 2 103.9
10 Kerry Collins, TEN 13 21 61.9 88 4.2 2 0 102.9
11 Matthew Stafford 9 16 56.3 51 3.2 2 0 101.8
12 Matt Cassel, KC 38 63 60.3 499 7.9 4 1 99.9
13 Tom Brady, NE 46 68 67.6 438 6.4 5 2 97.5
14 Alex Smith, SF 22 34 64.7 249 7.3 2 1 93.9
15 Ryan Fitzpatrick, BUF 32 55 58.2 388 7.1 6 3 93.6
16 Mark Sanchez, NYJ 37 78 47.4 588 7.5 6 1 93.3
17 David Garrard, JAC 41 61 67.2 489 8.0 4 3 92.9
18 Colt McCoy, CLE 21 33 63.6 211 6.4 1 0 91.9
19 Matt Hasselbeck, SEA 30 55 54.5 333 6.1 3 0 90.9
20 Vince Young, TEN 15 25 60.0 193 7.7 3 2 90.5
21 Kyle Orton, DEN 34 60 56.7 425 7.1 2 0 89.9
22 Matt Schaub, HOU 36 55 65.6 436 7.9 1 1 88.1
23 Josh Freeman, TB 51 88 58.0 485 5.5 6 2 86.6
24 Sam Bradford, STL 51 78 65.4 510 6.5 3 2 86.0
25 Troy Smith, SF 8 18 44.4 122 6.8 1 0 85.9
26 Jason Campbell, OAK 17 32 53.1 138 4.3 2 0 85.2
27 Joe Flacco, BAL 31 51 60.8 434 8.5 3 3 83.3
28 Seneca Wallace, CLE 15 20 75.0 188 9.4 0 1 82.9
29 Shaun Hill, DET 16 32 50.0 219 6.8 1 0 82.7
30 Philip Rivers, SD 25 47 53.2 302 6.4 2 1 78.5
31 Chad Henne, MIA 31 49 63.3 339 6.9 1 2 73.4
32 Bruce Gradkowski, OAK 14 30 46.7 173 5.8 2 1 73.3
33 Max Hall, ARI 15 19 78.9 123 6.5 0 1 71.7
34 Drew Brees, NO 37 66 56.1 363 5.5 2 2 69.2
35 Derek Anderson, ARI 36 78 46.2 409 5.2 2 3 54.9
36 Brett Favre, MIN 35 65 53.8 371 5.7 1 4 50.2
37 Matt Moore, CAR 20 41 48.8 203 5.0 2 3 49.1
38 Jimmy Clausen, CAR 16 41 39.0 143 3.5 0 0 49.1
39 Donovan McNabb, WAS 32 64 50.0 383 6.0 1 5 41.3

Mike Sando | email

NFL
  • NFC West Blogger
  • Joined ESPN in 2007
  • Lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons
Tags:

San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Jon Kitna, Tom Brady, Derek Anderson, Sam Bradford, Eli Manning, Matt Cassel, Philip Rivers, Matt Hasselbeck, Michael Vick, Shaun HIll, Joe Flacco, Ben Roethlisberger, Matt Schaub, Colt McCoy, Bruce Gradkowski, Brett Favre, Chad Henne, David Garrard, Seneca Wallace, Kyle Orton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Vince Young, Mark Sanchez, Peyton Manning, Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell, Carson Palmer, Aaron Rodgers, Matt Ryan, Josh Freeman, Kerry Collins, Drew Brees, Alex Smith, Jimmy Clausen, Matt Moore

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Sando joined ESPN.com in 2007 after nine seasons covering the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma (Wash.) News Tribune. He lives in the Seattle-Tacoma area with his wife and two sons.

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