[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

The local area Boston sports radio were discussing this topic yesterday. I assume it was initiated by this article. They were contending that there are even "questions about Andrew Luck". I'm not sure what it means to have "questions", but for the sake of the topic, I assume they mean it's questionable whether he's a valid NFL QB. I know he's had a rough start to the year, but do commentators nationally really doubt that?

Also, I don't have access to wsj.com, so I didn't read the article, but interested in what kind of data it presents to support itself. Is the % of NFL starting QBs who are <5 years out from school now different from what it was 10, 20, 30 years ago?

Using data from wikipedia on who's starting and when drafted, it appears that 16 of the 32 starting QBs in the league were drafted in 2011 or more recent. If the college QBs of today are unprepared, why are they getting the starts over veterans? I'm sure health and athleticism matter, but I wonder if the data supports this article.

If the argument is that the older QBs (Manning, Brady, Brees, etc) are better rated than the young guys, then I would says that's partly because of survivor bias. You don't get to be a 10+ year veteran without being really good. It was true of Elway, Montana and Marino.

Does the article compare data across periods?

Bizarre, I don't have a WSJ account and I had unfettered access to the article yesterday but now it's behind a paywall for me too.  Huh.

Anyway, it doesn't use data.  It relies on (attributed) quotes and anecdotes by NFL coaches and personnel execs expressing how new quarterbacks are entering the league much less prepared than quarterbacks of the past.

As for the 16 starting quarterbacks who have entered the league since 2011, I count nine from spread/option schemes and seven from pro schemes.  The two aren't cut and dry, especially these days.  There is a lot of gray area.  But I did my best:

Spread/Option
Cam Newton
Tyrod Taylor
Andy Dalton
Colin Kaepernick
Brandon Weeden
Ryan Tannehill
Nick Foles
Derek Carr
Marcus Mariota

Pro
Ryan Mallett
Andrew Luck
Kirk Cousins
Russell Wilson
Blake Bortles
Teddy Bridgewater
Jameis Winston

A fairly unimpressive collection of QBs on the whole, but the Pro group gets the decided edge.

[ThePassionOfTheChryst]

The local area Boston sports radio were discussing this topic yesterday. I assume it was initiated by this article. They were contending that there are even "questions about Andrew Luck". I'm not sure what it means to have "questions", but for the sake of the topic, I assume they mean it's questionable whether he's a valid NFL QB. I know he's had a rough start to the year, but do commentators nationally really doubt that?

Also, I don't have access to wsj.com, so I didn't read the article, but interested in what kind of data it presents to support itself. Is the % of NFL starting QBs who are <5 years out from school now different from what it was 10, 20, 30 years ago?

Using data from wikipedia on who's starting and when drafted, it appears that 16 of the 32 starting QBs in the league were drafted in 2011 or more recent. If the college QBs of today are unprepared, why are they getting the starts over veterans? I'm sure health and athleticism matter, but I wonder if the data supports this article.

If the argument is that the older QBs (Manning, Brady, Brees, etc) are better rated than the young guys, then I would says that's partly because of survivor bias. You don't get to be a 10+ year veteran without being really good. It was true of Elway, Montana and Marino.

Does the article compare data across periods?

Bizarre, I don't have a WSJ account and I had unfettered access to the article yesterday but now it's behind a paywall for me too.  Huh.

Anyway, it doesn't use data.  It relies on (attributed) quotes and anecdotes by NFL coaches and personnel execs expressing how new quarterbacks are entering the league much less prepared than quarterbacks of the past.

As for the 16 starting quarterbacks who have entered the league since 2011, I count nine from spread/option schemes and seven from pro schemes.  The two aren't cut and dry, especially these days.  There is a lot of gray area.  But I did my best:

Spread/Option
Cam Newton
Tyrod Taylor
Andy Dalton
Colin Kaepernick
Brandon Weeden
Ryan Tannehill
Nick Foles
Derek Carr
Marcus Mariota

Pro
Ryan Mallett
Andrew Luck
Kirk Cousins
Russell Wilson
Blake Bortles
Teddy Bridgewater
Jameis Winston

A fairly unimpressive collection of QBs on the whole, but the Pro group gets the decided edge.