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*Passing Through the Second Decade - 3lewsers - 10-19-2020
Passing Through the Years (Seasons 11-20)
In the last article, we dug deep into the quarterback position for seasons 1 to 10. Now, let us focus our attention on seasons 11 through 20. We will see more league expansion as well as a new 13-game schedule as we progress through the years. We will compare this next decade alone, as well as in comparison to the first 10. This article hopes to provide further unique and interesting insight into where we are now as a league at the quarterback. So sit back, grab some popcorn, and hopefully enjoy some light reading.
As we begin looking at Season 11, there are still 8 teams in the league operating on a 14-game schedule.
SEASON 11
In season 11, six quarterbacks finished with over 300 completions. In Season 1, there were 5 that only reached the 200 mark. Arizona Outlaws QB Fitzpatrick was the best player at his position, throwing 30 TDs and only 9 interceptions. His 92.9 quarterback rating was a full 10 points higher than the league average of 82.1. All of the starters had pretty solid seasons except for the two rookies (Philadelphia Liberty’s Falconi & San Jose Sabercats’ Christ), but that is expected for new QBs in the league as they adjust to the demands playing in a competitive, professional league. League completions were the 3rd highest in league history, while interceptions were the worst the league had seen since Season 5.
Season 11 Passing Totals
2,663 Completions (6 QBs with over 300)
4,518 Attempts (3 QBs with over 600)
58.9% Completion Percentage
30,346 yards passing (3 QBs with over 4,000)
193 Passing TDs (3 QBs with 30 or more)
123 Interceptions (6 QBs with 15 or more)
82.1 Quarterback Rating
Season 11 Per Game Averages Per Team
23.8 Completions
40.3 Attempts
270.9 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
1.1 Interceptions
SEASON 12
Season 12 was only the 2nd time in the previous 9 seasons that the league passed for under 30,000 yards. However, QBR was the best it had been since S8. No one single player dominated the position, but the play at quarterback overall was very solid in Season 12. The lowest QBR was 79.4, which was very impressive as every other season had players with QBRs in the 60s and many occasions even in the 50s. No player eclipsed the 30 TD mark, but 7 of the 8 starters threw more than 20. Only Wraiths QB Applehort threw less than 10 interceptions, while 4 players (Maximus, Showbiz, Gambino, and Applehort) had a 2:1 or better touchdown to interception ratio. S12’s 83.8 QBR and 195 Passing TDs were the 4th highest since the league’s inception.
Season 12 Passing Totals
2,524 Completions (1 QB with over 400)
4,332 Attempts (2 QBs with over 600)
58.3% Completion Percentage
29,773 yards passing (4 QBs with over 4,000)
195 Passing TDs (7 QBs with 20 or more)
109 Interceptions (3 QBs with 15 or more)
83.8 Quarterback Rating
Season 12 Per Game Averages Per Team
22.5 Completions
38.7 Attempts
265.8 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
1.0 Interceptions
SEASON 13
In Season 13, every Quarterback threw 20 or more touchdowns for the first time in league history. San Jose’s Christ had the highest QBR (93.4) since NOLA QB Maximus’ 98.3 in Season 10. Passing yards, attempts, and TDs reached their highest points since S8. While no one really rose above the rest overall in S13, this was the second season in a row that saw very good play across the board at the position. It was also the first time since S10 that 2 QBs had a quarterback rating over 90 (Philly’s Falconi & SJSs Christ), two players that were mere rookies just two seasons prior.
Season 13 Passing Totals
2,599 Completions (5 QBs with 300 or more)
4,524 Attempts (3 QBs with 600 or more)
57.4% Completion Percentage
32,122 yards passing (3 QBs with over 4,000)
196 Passing TDs (8 QBs with 20 or more)
120 Interceptions (4 QBs with 15 or more)
83.0 Quarterback Rating
Season 13 Per Game Averages Per Team
23.2 Completions
40.4 Attempts
286.8 yards passing
1.8 Passing TDs
1.1 Interceptions
SEASON 14
In Season 14, we see the league completion percentage drop for the 4th straight season to the lowest it had been since S7. Colorado’s McCormick becomes the first QB since NOLA’s Maximus in Season 10 to eclipse the 5,000 passing yard mark in a single season. Interceptions were way down, as only 86 were thrown the entire season, the lowest number since the inaugural campaign of S1. Season 14 also marked the first time since S5 that 2 or more pass TDs were thrown per game per team. The 220 total thrown was the 2nd highest in history, 2nd only to the 254 thrown in Season 5. The best player was Baltimore’s Gambino, who threw 36 TDs and only 8 INTs, finishing with a QBR of 104.1, the highest in league history.
Season 14 Passing Totals
2,474 Completions (4 QBs with 300 or more)
4,373 Attempts (2 QBs with 600 or more)
56.6% Completion Percentage
30,889 yards passing (4 QBs with over 4,000)
220 Passing TDs (3 QBs with 30 or more)
86 Interceptions (1 QB with 15 or more)
87.2 Quarterback Rating
Season 14 Per Game Averages Per Team
22.1 Completions
39.0 Attempts
275.8 yards passing
2.0 Passing TDs
0.8 Interceptions
SEASON 15
Season 15 was a very down year for the quarterback position. Completions, Attempts, and Yards were at the lowest levels since S3. Gambino improved on the greatest single season in league history (his S14) by besting that in S15. He finished with 45 TDs and 9 INTs, and with a QBR of over 100 for the 2nd time in a row (105.7). His back-to-back amazing seasons yielded a combined 81 passing TDs and only 17 INTs. His QBR of 105.7 was 23.4 points higher than the next QB in S15 (SJSs Christ at 82.3). The league had not seen dominance at this level from the QB since Boss’ prime.
Season 15 Passing Totals
2,399 Completions (4 QB with 300 or more)
4,241 Attempts (6 QBs with 500 or more)
56.6% Completion Percentage
28,663 yards passing (2 QBs with over 4,000)
194 Passing TDs (1 QB with 40 or more)
105 Interceptions (3 QBs with 15 or more)
82.3 Quarterback Rating
Season 15 Per Game Averages Per Team
21.4 Completions
37.9 Attempts
255.9 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
0.9 Interceptions
SEASON 16
In Season 16, there was another expansion as two new teams joined the league: the Austin Copperheads and the Chicago Butchers. Additionally, the league converted to a 13-game season. With 10 teams, there were now 130 games being played in a season, compared to the 112 we had been accustomed to for the previous 15 seasons. Despite that increase, there was not one statistical category to rank #1 all-time. Yards per game were the lowest since S3, and surprisingly passing TDs were 3rd all-time despite there being an extra 18 games played. Orange County’s Showbiz put together the best season of his career to date, finishing with a 100.7 QBR, the only QB to eclipse 100 this season.
Season 16 Passing Totals
2,683 Completions (2 QBs with over 300)
4,717 Attempts (2 QBs with over 500)
56.9% Completion Percentage
33,126 yards passing (2 QBs over 4,000)
216 Passing TDs (3 QBs with 30 or more)
125 Interceptions (3 QBs with 15 or more)
83.0 Quarterback Rating
Season 16 Per Game Averages Per Team
20.6 Completions
36.3 Attempts
254.8 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
1.0 Interceptions
SEASON 17
Season 17 saw QBs completing only 21.7 passes per game, while almost reaching 5,000 attempts on the season. Both the attempts and completions were at all-time highs while the completion percentage was the 7th worst in history. While there was some decent play at QB, there were no major standouts during the regular season. However, the Otters’ Franklin Armstrong had a solid rookie campaign during Weeks 1 to 13, throwing 23 TDs and 13 INTs. Despite a low completion percentage of 53.5%, he was able to lead Orange County to a winning record and a spot in the playoffs. His playoff performance was nothing short of masterful as he led his team to the Ultimus, winning the MVP and cementing his place in league history in just his first season.
Season 17 Passing Totals
2,817 Completions (3 QBs with 300 or more)
4,935 Attempts (2 QBs with 600 or more)
57.1% Completion Percentage
33,386 yards passing (1 QB with over 4,000)
209 Passing TDs (2 QBs with 30 or more)
108 Interceptions (2 QBs with 15 or more)
82.8 Quarterback Rating
Season 17 Per Game Averages Per Team
21.7 Completions
38.0 Attempts
256.8 yards passing
1.6 Passing TDs
0.8 Interceptions
SEASON 18
In Season 18, the 34,361 passing yards were the 2nd highest in league history but the league continued to suffer with a mediocre completion percentage (56.8%). Considering the talent at the position, a consistent 65% completion percentage should not be out of the realm of possibility, but the league has stagnated in that department since its creation. In S18, four QBs (Bigsby, Havran, Reese, and Cole) had QBRs over 90 and accounted for over half (54.3%) of the leagues TD passes. Only Reese was able to complete more than 60% of his passes on the season, as he continued to show himself to be a solid and consistent signal caller.
Season 18 Passing Totals
2,767 Completions (4 QBs with over 300)
4,870 Attempts (4 QBs with over 500)
56.8% Completion Percentage
34,361 yards passing (2 QBs over 4,000)
221 Passing TDs (3 QBs with 30 or more)
125 Interceptions (3 QBs with 15 or more)
83.3 Quarterback Rating
Season 18 Per Game Averages Per Team
21.3 Completions
37.5 Attempts
264.3 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
1.0 Interceptions
SEASON 19
In Season 19, the QB played much less of a role as both completions and attempts decreased for the 3rd straight season. TDs were at their lowest since S15, while yards were the worst they had been since S14. No QB threw over 30 touchdowns, the first time that had happened since Season 12. This was another year of solid play across the board at QB, but no one stood head and shoulders above the rest. Despite Baltimore’s Corvo Havran finishing with a quarterback rating of 97.5 (highest on the season), the Baltimore Hawks lost in the 2nd round of the playoffs.
Season 19 Passing Totals
2,718 Completions (3 QBs with 300 or more)
4,733 Attempts (3 QBs with 500 or more)
57.4% Completion Percentage
33,088 yards passing (1 QB with over 4,000)
202 Passing TDs (5 QBs with 20 or more)
119 Interceptions (3 QBs with 15 or more)
82.8 Quarterback Rating
Season 19 Per Game Averages Per Team
20.9 Completions
36.4 Attempts
254.5 yards passing
1.6 Passing TDs
0.9 Interceptions
SEASON 20
In Season 20, the completion percentage was the 3rd worst in league history, while INTs were the 4th lowest since the league’s inception. For the 2nd season in a row, not a single QB threw over 30 TDs, as the league high was 28 by Chicago’s Jenkins. Despite the abysmal completion percentage, S20 had the 5th highest QBR of all-time. Only rookie Jay Cue finished with a QBR over 90 (91.5), and it was the first season since S15 that no QB threw more INTs than TDs, a stat that had become all too familiar and disappointing through the years.
Season 20 Passing Totals
2,614 Completions (1 QB with 300 or more)
4,639 Attempts (1 QB with 600 or more)
56.3% Completion Percentage
33,276 yards passing (1 QB with over 4,000)
207 Passing TDs (5 QBs with 20 or more)
102 Interceptions (1 QB with 15 or more)
84.6 Quarterback Rating
Season 20 Per Game Averages Per Team
20.1 Completions
35.7 Attempts
256.0 yards passing
1.6 Passing TDs
0.8 Interceptions
10-YEAR TOTALS (S11 through S20)
26,258 Completions
45,882 Attempts
57.2% Completion Percentage
319,030 Yards Passing
2,053 Passing TDs
1,122 Interceptions
10-YEAR PER GAME AVERAGES PER TEAM (S11 through S20)
21.4 Completions
37.4 Attempts
259.8 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
0.9 Interceptions
10-YEAR TOTALS (S1 through S10)
24,597 Completions
42,509 Attempts
57.9% Completion Percentage
294,102 Yards Passing
1,773 Passing TDs
1,170 Interceptions
10-YEAR PER GAME AVERAGES PER TEAM (S1 through S10)
22.5 Completions
38.9 Attempts
269.3 yards passing
1.6 Passing TDs
1.1 Interceptions
20-YEAR TOTALS (S1 through S20)
50,855 Completions
88,391 Attempts
57.5% Completion Percentage
613,132 Yards Passing
3,826 Passing TDs
2,292 Interceptions
20-YEAR PER GAME AVERAGES PER TEAM (S1 through S20)
22.1 Completions
38.4 Attempts
266.3 yards passing
1.7 Passing TDs
1.0 Interceptions
SUMMARY
Of the 20 total quarterbacks that played at least 13 total games in the seasons 11 through 20 of the league, there were only 3 of them that ended the decade with statistics better than the S11-S20 10-year league average in every major statistical quarterback category. They were:
J. Cue (13 games played)
C. Gambino
C. Havran
Of those 3, Gambino was the most consistent player at the position. In his 56 games, he recorded a 59.6% completion percentage, 17,644 yards, 130 TDs, and only 44 INTs. His excellent performance yielded a 94.0 career QBR. However, with all those stats, there is no denying that that the player of the decade was Franklin Armstrong. Three straight Ultimus wins and three Ultimus MVPs settles any debate otherwise.
As you can see, the growth of the league has led to increased productivity from the position, while at the same time bringing to the light the lack of completion efficiency. In a league with so many talented quarterbacks, it is hard to believe that a 60% completion percentage is considered elite when looking at the numbers and averages. As we move on to the most recently completed seasons (S21 to S24) in my next article, we will see the 16-game season, and we will touch on the next two expansion that will take place. First will be the introduction of the Sarasota Sailfish and the Honolulu Hahalua, follwed by the next roundof growth as the league goes both big city (New York Silverbacks) and International (Berlin Fire Salamanders) as they expand to 14 teams.
However, the main thing we will do is will look at seasons 21 through 24, and it should be a fun ride. This has been an interesting endeavor that I plan to continue beyond just the quarterbacks. Every position deserves to see where they stand in the historical perspective of the league. Football is not just won or lost at the QB position. It takes everyone doing their part, like as if some synchronized dance. The QB may lead but the forgotten are sometimes the belle of the ball. Let’s thank the hard workers on every team for their tireless sacrifice and dedication to the game that they love. Football is not for the weak, and many rise up to the challenge and play above their ceiling. The low draft picks that outperform the first rounders sometimes turn a bottom dweller into a contender. So remember, the stats do not always tell the tale, but they help put everything into perspective. Thanks for reading and stay tuned as we conclude this first series. Thank you, and stay safe!