I think the ability to put up elite stats speaks to a quarterback's ability to say "get on my back, we're doing this." Which is a phrase I should have put in my original post. The ability to put a team on his back and go win, both in any game, and any season, though not specifically every game and every season.
Remember in the 80's the top QB's' were Montana, Marino, Kelly, Moon and Young. Even Fouts and Cunningham put up huge numbers.
In the 90's, you add in Favre, Aikman and Warner who all put up pretty good stats.
I'm not dissing on Elway - just stating my point that stats aren't the primary qualifier. He was incredibly consistent and a winner.
Well, once again, we get down to the "why's." Time and again, Elway had to bail the team out
with a come-from-behind win in the fourth quarter. Looking back, as I watched the game
(often in frustration, wondering whether we were going to see a complete game from the
team), Elway was forced to play within Dan Reeves' offense: run, run, pass, punt. Then, when
it came desperation time in the waning minutes, Elway was turned loose, and he proceeded to
make defenses look silly.
If one would look at Elway's career stats, they went up significantly beginning in 1993. If he
had Shanahan as a HC all his career, his stats would have been far more sparkling, IMO. But
even at that, keep in mind that stats weren't near back then what they are today. For instance,
it's commonplace that the top QBs today will register passer ratings in the 90s and 100s. Back
then, a Unitas or Marino might register one year or so in the 90s, but most of the time in the
70s and 80s. But then, the league started to limit what defenses can do, so now Elway's stats
don't look as good as they likely did back then. (I didn't pay too much attention to such stats
back then, and I don't think anybody did, at least as much.)
Though He slay me, I will trust in Him . . . (Job 13:15)
Someone who can carry the load with a flawed team. Someone who is productive more than most, and isn't reliant upon great players around them to do well. Someone who can carry a team. Someone who can mask the deficiencies of others. Can you do more with less? Can you make others overachieve?
Someone who clearly passes the eye test. Someone who you know that because you have them, you always have a shot.
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