Stability at QB: The Key to Success
The NFL is an injury-riddled league and the QB position is no stranger to bumps and bruises. This year has been no exception, with more than half of the league starting at least 2 QBs this year. In fact, four teams have started THREE QBs this season:
| Team | QB1 | QB2 | QB3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Matt Leinart | Kurt Warner | Tim Rattay |
| Carolina | Jake Delhomme | David Carr | Vinny Testaverde |
| Miami | Trent Green | Cleo Lemon | John Beck |
| Minnesota | Tarvaris Jackson | Brooks Bollinger | Kelly Holcomb |
It’s no surprise that none of these teams have a winning record. A few other points to consider:
- 53 QBs have started at least one game this year
- 17 teams have used at least 2 starters
- After this weekend (Donovan McNabb = Doubtful), 18 teams (56% of the NFL) will have started 2+ QBs
So is there any truth to the adage “if you have two QBs you have none?”
Let’s look at the team winning percentages broken down by the # of starting QBs:
| # of Starting QBs | Wins | Losses | Win% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1Starter | 98 | 56 | 63.6% |
| 2Starters | 52 | 80 | 39.4% |
| 3Starters | 13 | 27 | 32.5% |
I would’ve expected this data to show that teams with one, healthy and productive QB would have the better winning percentage. But I was stunned to see the differential. The 15 teams that have used just one starter have a combined 63.6% winning percentage. The rest of the league (17 teams) have a combined 65-107 record having won just 37.8% of their games.
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[…] Two weeks ago we discussed the necessity of QB stability for NFL success. At the time, there were 4 teams (Arizona, Carolina, Miami and Minnesota) who started THREE QBs this season. Here is a refresher: […]
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