1st Year Stats of Wentz Vs. Other QBs
I hear analytics guys on the radio saying how much Carson Wentz is regressing. I read tweets that make it sound like Carson Wentz is playing like Tim Couch. I don’t know. I see a quarterback in Wentz that makes good throws and bad throws. He usually maintains his composure. His happy feet don’t show up all too often.
Is the sky falling on Carson Wentz’s future or is he just where he should be considering that he’s less than a year removed from North Dakota State, behind a makeshift offensive line, and throwing to a crop of receivers that could be among the all-decade worse for the NFC.
The question I wanted to ask is: HOW DOES WENTZ COMPARE TO OTHER QB’S IN THEIR FIRST YEARS?
Let’s compare Wentz with first year stats of Big Ben, Russell Wilson, Tom Brady, Aaron Rogers, Matt Ryan, Peyton Manning, Andrew Luck, Joe Flacco, and Drew Brees. For purposes of this article let’s compare Completion %, TD %, Interception %, Passing Yards/Game, and Passer Rating.
I also think, for comparison purposes and the big picture, we should look at the supporting cast of each quarterback. Here are the four players with the most receptions for their respective teams for each quarterback.
Ben Roethlisberger/Steelers
Hines Ward
Antwaan Randle El
Plaxico Burress
Verron Hayes
Peyton Manning
Marshall Faulk
Marvin Harrison
Jerome Panthon
Torrance Small
Tom Brady/Patriots
Troy Brown
David Patton
Kevin Faulk
Marc Edwards
Aaron Rogers/Packers
Greg Jennings
Donald Driver
Donald Lee
Jordy Nelson
Drew Brees/Chargers
LaDanian Tomlinson
Curtis Conway
Tim Dwight
Stephan Alexander
Andrew Luck/Colts
Reggie Wayne
Donnie Avery
TY Hilton
Dwayne Allen
Russell Wilson/Seahawks
Sidney Rice
Golden Tate
Zach Miller
Dough Baldwin
Matt Ryan/Falcons
Roddy White
Michael Jenkins
Jerious Norwood
Harry Douglas
Joe Flacco/Ravens
Derrick Mason
Mark Clayton
Todd Heap
Ray Rice
Carson Wentz
Jordan Matthews
Zach Ertz
Darren Sproles
Dorial Green-Beckham
Completion %:
| GS | Cmp% | TD% | Int% | Y/G | Rate | |
| Ben | 13 | 66.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 187.2 | 98.1 |
| Wilson | 16 | 64.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 194.9 | 100 |
| Brady | 14 | 63.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 189.5 | 86.5 |
| Rogers | 16 | 63.6 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 252.4 | 93.8 |
| Wentz | 12 | 63.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 241.8 | 80.1 |
| Ryan | 16 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 215 | 87.7 |
| Brees | 16 | 60.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 205.3 | 76.9 |
| Flacco | 16 | 60 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 185.7 | 80.3 |
| Peyton | 16 | 56.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 233.7 | 71.2 |
| Luck | 16 | 54.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 273.4 | 76.5 |
TD %:
| GS | Cmp% | TD% | Int% | Y/G | Rate | |
| Wilson | 16 | 64.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 194.9 | 100 |
| Ben | 13 | 66.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 187.2 | 98.1 |
| Rogers | 16 | 63.6 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 252.4 | 93.8 |
| Peyton | 16 | 56.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 233.7 | 71.2 |
| Brady | 14 | 63.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 189.5 | 86.5 |
| Ryan | 16 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 215 | 87.7 |
| Luck | 16 | 54.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 273.4 | 76.5 |
| Flacco | 16 | 60 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 185.7 | 80.3 |
| Brees | 16 | 60.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 205.3 | 76.9 |
| Wentz | 12 | 63.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 241.8 | 80.1 |
Interception %:
| GS | Cmp% | TD% | Int% | Y/G | Rate | |
| Peyton | 16 | 56.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 233.7 | 71.2 |
| Ben | 13 | 66.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 187.2 | 98.1 |
| Brees | 16 | 60.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 205.3 | 76.9 |
| Brady | 14 | 63.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 189.5 | 86.5 |
| Luck | 16 | 54.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 273.4 | 76.5 |
| Flacco | 16 | 60 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 185.7 | 80.3 |
| Wilson | 16 | 64.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 194.9 | 100 |
| Ryan | 16 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 215 | 87.7 |
| Rogers | 16 | 63.6 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 252.4 | 93.8 |
| Wentz | 12 | 63.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 241.8 | 80.1 |
Yards/Game:
| GS | Cmp% | TD% | Int% | Y/G | Rate | |
| Luck | 16 | 54.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 273.4 | 76.5 |
| Rogers | 16 | 63.6 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 252.4 | 93.8 |
| Wentz | 12 | 63.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 241.8 | 80.1 |
| Peyton | 16 | 56.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 233.7 | 71.2 |
| Ryan | 16 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 215 | 87.7 |
| Brees | 16 | 60.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 205.3 | 76.9 |
| Wilson | 16 | 64.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 194.9 | 100 |
| Brady | 14 | 63.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 189.5 | 86.5 |
| Ben | 13 | 66.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 187.2 | 98.1 |
| Flacco | 16 | 60 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 185.7 | 80.3 |
Rating:
| GS | Cmp% | TD% | Int% | Y/G | Rate | |
| Wilson | 16 | 64.1 | 6.6 | 2.5 | 194.9 | 100 |
| Ben | 13 | 66.4 | 5.8 | 3.7 | 187.2 | 98.1 |
| Rogers | 16 | 63.6 | 5.2 | 2.4 | 252.4 | 93.8 |
| Ryan | 16 | 61.1 | 3.7 | 2.5 | 215 | 87.7 |
| Brady | 14 | 63.9 | 4.4 | 2.9 | 189.5 | 86.5 |
| Flacco | 16 | 60 | 3.3 | 2.8 | 185.7 | 80.3 |
| Wentz | 12 | 63.1 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 241.8 | 80.1 |
| Brees | 16 | 60.8 | 3.2 | 3 | 205.3 | 76.9 |
| Luck | 16 | 54.1 | 3.7 | 2.9 | 273.4 | 76.5 |
| Peyton | 16 | 56.7 | 4.5 | 4.9 | 233.7 | 71.2 |
Two things stand out. Last in touchdown percentage and last in interception percentage. Last in touchdown percentage may have something to do with Wentz playing under a head coach from a system where they basically went an entire NFL season without throwing a touchdown to a wide receiver (Chiefs). The system and talent has to shoulder some of the blame. When you look at the receivers of each team above are any worse than the Eagles?
Last in interception percentage jumps off the page as a positive. Wentz doesn’t get flustered and make bad throws as often as some of the current best had in their first year behind center in the NFL.
Other than those two stats, Wentz is right in the middle of the pack. He’s just where he should be, probably slightly ahead of schedule when considering he was at North Dakota State 10 months ago.
People rushing to make a judgement on Wentz need to meditate or find some medical marijuana and just chill. He’s gonna be fine. The Eagles have plenty of issues, but Wentz isn’t one of them. Just look how some of the best QBs have performed in their first year if you need reassurance.