How Three Quarterbacks Fared in Week 1
Often times the numbers do the talking, however at times a deeper look is needed to understand how a quarterback in the NFL performed in a given week.
After the Week 1 of the NFL, this is true, with some numbers not telling the whole story, while with others they tell it all.
The following is a look at three quarterbacks.
Jay Cutler
Cutler’s Chicago Bears lost on Sunday to the Buffalo Bills. Cutler was 34 for 49 for 349 yards with 2 TDs and 2 picks.
A big change to start the season for Cutler is that all but one pass Cutler threw was within the pocket, which is far different for the past when he has been successful throwing on the run.
Last season his quarterback ranking was second in the NFL outside the pocket.
It was also ironic that the only pass he threw outside the pocket resulted in an interception that was huge in their loss to the Bills.
Alshon Jeffery had an injured hamstring and could only be on the field for 36 plays for Chicago and the loss of his deep threat hurt the Bears immensely.
Cutler did not look like the Cutler of the past, but rather a quarterback in a West Coast offense. Let’s see if that changes in Week 2.Tom Brady
The New England Patriots lost 33-20 to the Miami Dolphins in Week 1. Brady completed 29 of his 56 passes for just 249 yards with 1 TD and 0 interceptions.
Brady struggled mightily in the second half being sacked four times and fumbling twice.
Overall, the New England QB was pressured on 16 drop backs, which is the second most in the past 8 seasons. When pressured in the second half, Brady’s six passes fell incomplete and he suffered 4 sacks.
Brady had little time to set up and make an accurate throw deep down field.
Brady was 2 for 16 on passes of more than 15 yards. His third down performance was just 3 for 11 and 0 for 4 in passes on third down to Rob Gronkowski his tight end.
Great quarterbacks excel regardless of a defensive pass rush, but Brady’s offensive line did him no favors.
Robert Griffin III
The Redskins lost to the Houston Texans on opening day and RGIII completed 29 of his 37 passes for 267 yards, with no touchdowns or interceptions.
This was a very conservative game for Griffin III, likely his most conservative.
His average pass was just less than 6 yards per attempt. Of 37 passes, 25 were for 5 yards or less. Close to 60% of his passing yards or 160, came after the catch.
DeSean Jackson his new top receiver had 62 yards receiving with 43 coming after he caught the ball.
The way Griffin III played on Sunday in the pocket makes one yearn for the scrambling running quarterback of two seasons ago.
