[Goose]

 I don’t think you can compare QB stats from the 80’s to today.  Different game. QBs didn’t make half their throws within about 5 yards from LOS.  

Also, don’t care how great QB is.  Supporting cast matters.  Elway’s junior year he didn’t have the receivers he did in other years.  (He also had a bad ankle much of the year)

Passing game has become increasingly horizontal.  60% was a good percentage in 80.  Not today, with so many long handoffs……

Totally agree. The rule changes have a brobdingnagian impact on today's passing game. The short horizontal patterns were impossible to run when the DBs could bump the receivers off their routes when you ran them. Just getting off the LOS was a bit of a struggle. The OL had to pass protect longer because the patterns were longer. Often they couldn't and then the QB had to scramble or get hit real good. Even as mobile as he was Elway didn't see many of his completions or interceptions because he was on the ground when the ball was caught.

[Goose]

 I don’t think you can compare QB stats from the 80’s to today.  Different game. QBs didn’t make half their throws within about 5 yards from LOS.  

Also, don’t care how great QB is.  Supporting cast matters.  Elway’s junior year he didn’t have the receivers he did in other years.  (He also had a bad ankle much of the year)

Passing game has become increasingly horizontal.  60% was a good percentage in 80.  Not today, with so many long handoffs……

Totally agree. The rule changes have a brobdingnagian impact on today's passing game. The short horizontal patterns were impossible to run when the DBs could bump the receivers off their routes when you ran them. Just getting off the LOS was a bit of a struggle. The OL had to pass protect longer because the patterns were longer. Often they couldn't and then the QB had to scramble or get hit real good. Even as mobile as he was Elway didn't see many of his completions or interceptions because he was on the ground when the ball was caught.