JimmyDimes wrote:Wyo2dal wrote:McPeachy wrote:22 QB Sacks after 5 games (only 2 teams worse in FBS football) and 39 TFL.
Looking at that - it is quiet amazing we are 3 & 2 TBH. Add in the 9 TO's, and look again. 3 & 2. Wow.
Can't just blame that on the OL, The OL is better than we realize. Receivers are failing at getting separation and we already know the QB issue no reason to beat a dead horse.
Sacks will keep piling up until any resemblance of a passing game comes to fruition.
Or when Colby learns to get rid of the ball when he feels the pressure.
This is really his biggest issue. The lack of pocket presence has led to quite a few unnecessary negative plays (sacks and fumbles).
It's interesting, because if you look at Colby's passing statistics only, they aren't bad really.
Just for the heck of it (bye weeks suck), I went back and looked at our QB production over the last 11 years (why 11? because that's how far back the ESPN.com stats go and I am too lazy to look any further) and here are the relevant stats for the top QB each year:
2014: Kirkegaard (through 4 games): QB Rating = 126.1, TD/INT ratio = 5/4, YPA = 7.3, -113 yds rushing
2013: Smith: QB rating = 139.2, TD/INT ratio = 29/11, YPA = 7.23, 573 yds rushing
2012: Smith: QB rating = 157.6, TD/INT ratio = 27/6, YPA = 8.58, 248 yds rushing
2011: Smith: QB rating = 124.6, TD/INT ratio = 20/11, YPA = 6.32, 710 yds rushing
2010: ACS: QB rating = 123.3, TD/INT ratio = 9/8, YPA = 6.75, 392 yds rushing
2009: ACS: QB rating = 116, TD/INT ratio = 10/5, YPA = 6, 366 yds rushing
2008: Committee (Sween/Crum/Stutzriem): QB rating = 91.7, TD/INT ratio = 8/17, YPA = 5.1, 57 yds rushing
2007: Sween: QB rating = 108.9, TD/INT ratio = 12/17, YPA = 5.65, -121 yds rushing
2006: Sween: QB rating = 118.5, TD/INT ratio = 9/8, YPA = 6.15, -88 yds rushing
2005: Bramlet: QB rating = 125.4, TD/INT ratio = 16/18, YPA = 7.27, 109 yds rushing
2004: Bramlet: QB rating = 123, TD/INT ratio = 12/13, YPA = 7.21, 209 yds rushing
Takeaways:
1. Brett Smith was awesome
2. DC knew a thing or two about QBs (unfortuantley he knew nothing about game management or defense)
3. The 2008 QB play got Joe Glenn fired
4. Kirkegaard's stats are remarkably similar to the 2004-2006 statistics put together by Bramlet and Sween. The primary difference is that Kirkegaard take more sacks (has far more negative rushing yardage). If he could improve his pocket presence and reduce sacks and forced fumbles by turning those plays into incomplete passes, he would be on the same level as the QB play in those years.
Now, I realize that comparing a QB to Corey Bramlet and Karsten Sween is not exactly the highest of praise, but I would argue that 2004 and 2006 were the two best teams we have had over the last 15 years and they got it done with decent defense (especially in 2006) and a balanced offense. This is what Bohl is trying to get from this team. Personally, I don't think our defense is anywhere as good as those teams (especially 2006), but the MWC is a much weaker league than it was in those days.
Obviously Colby has had his struggles, but I think we are judging him somewhat harshly since our most recent frame of reference was Brett Smith. From a broader perspective, Colby's play has been closer to average/mediocre rather than subpar.