Comparing the NFLs best 'running' QBs

[Caliskinsfan]

I agree it's just my point is when teams are having their defensive meetings when it comes to Luck I doubt they putting a spy on him and telling the guys "Look we have to make sure Luck doesn't kill us with his legs and we all have to be alert when he does run."

Compared to the other 3 where it's going to be a point of emphasis to keep an eye where they are at, make sure you don't give them room to take off, take good angles, and be ready for the scramble.

So it's just harder for those 3 to be more effective runners because they face defenses that prepare for it.

Good points

Why you hatin' on Luck? Haters gonna hate I guess.

 

[gohusk]

Why you hatin' on Luck? Haters gonna hate I guess.

I'm not hating on him. The guy said he was at fault for zero sacks. He was sacked 32 times last year. That's ridiculous. Like I said, he's a good, solid QB. He's had some great moments and some moments he'd probably like to forget at this point in his career. The hype is getting old though.

 

[RoboticDreams]

I'm not hating on him. The guy said he was at fault for zero sacks. He was sacked 32 times last year. That's ridiculous. Like I said, he's a good, solid QB. He's had some great moments and some moments he'd probably like to forget at this point in his career. The hype is getting old though.

I agree. I have seen him look like he's a sure fire, future elite QB, and times when he looked like he was 5'10". I honestly believe he will ascend to the top in a couple of years, He has all the tools and has shown it on many occasions. He just needs to be more consistent.

 

[seafandoghawk]

I'm not hating on him. The guy said he was at fault for zero sacks. He was sacked 32 times last year. That's ridiculous. Like I said, he's a good, solid QB. He's had some great moments and some moments he'd probably like to forget at this point in his career. The hype is getting old though.

Just wait until the follow up article, where this guy, after incisive in-depth analysis, will show how not a single incomplete pass or interception was Luck's fault either. (J/K of course)

 

[Caliskinsfan]

Just wait until the follow up article, where this guy, after incisive in-depth analysis, will show how not a single incomplete pass or interception was Luck's fault either. (J/K of course)

Excellent!

 

[Jakology]

Kap when rushing: 9 TDs, and 10 fumbles.

Cam when rushing: 28 TDs, and 7 fumbles.

Less fumbles on a little more than double the attempts for Cam. And I think we all know that Kap is in a much better situation than Cam.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

It depends what you're looking for in a runner. If we're looking purely at running, I think it's pretty clear Kap is the most dangerous running in the open field. His speed and vision when he has some space are unique. Wilson is the most elusive in terms of escaping the pocket. And Cam is just a tank around the goal line. Luck is a savvy runner when he has to do it, and much more athletic than many realize, but he's not on the same level as a pure runner.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

Well, As much as we (Go Hawks) love RW, and his successful 1st down gains, 10+ or 20+, but not this elusive gain, he does the job. Luck is much the same.

Now this Kap guy, he could go OFF at any time. He scares me in the run game, very much. But keep him throwing, he will fold. Yes, FOLD. Not all the time, but a higher % than the elite.

Kaep scares me running the football. Could go 80+ at anytime, but QB is more than that. RW proved that.

Best running QB, sure, how does that help your niners win the SB???????, hasn't happened YET.

I really love how insecure some Hawks fans are.

 

[HaroldSeattle]

It depends what you're looking for in a runner. If we're looking purely at running, I think it's pretty clear Kap is the most dangerous running in the open field. His speed and vision when he has some space are unique. Wilson is the most elusive in terms of escaping the pocket. And Cam is just a tank around the goal line. Luck is a savvy runner when he has to do it, and much more athletic than many realize, but he's not on the same level as a pure runner.

That seems right. Although RG3 would rank pretty close before blowing out his knee. Also for a big fella Cam is dang fast.

 

[Jakology]

It depends what you're looking for in a runner. If we're looking purely at running, I think it's pretty clear Kap is the most dangerous running in the open field. His speed and vision when he has some space are unique. Wilson is the most elusive in terms of escaping the pocket. And Cam is just a tank around the goal line. Luck is a savvy runner when he has to do it, and much more athletic than many realize, but he's not on the same level as a pure runner.

You want to call more fumbles than TDs dangerous in the open field? I don't get it.

 

[ONEPANTHERSFAN]

The article makes one major mistake, there is a major difference between a "Running QB" and a "QB that is running for his life". Right now, Luck falls into the latter category. I also agree with others here that sportwriters are trying to push Luck into being a top QB (much like they did with Romo). But I'm not surprised, the sportswriters have been kissing Luck's fanny for what? Seven years now?

IMO the 3 best Running QB's, in no particular order, are Cam, Wilson, and Kap. They are the ones Defensive Coordinators have to make a gameplan that includes their running the ball. And like some others here, I'll play my homer card, and say Cam is the most dangerous. He may be the one running QB defenders are actually afraid of. At 6'5" and 250 pounds, (compared to 6'4" 230 for Kap and 5'11" 203 for Wilson) plus his speed, 4.56 40, when he hits you it HURTS. If you watch CB's and S's when Cam gets into the open field you will see them make business decisions about tackling him. In other words, they are not sure if they want to take Cam head on.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

That seems right. Although RG3 would rank pretty close before blowing out his knee. Also for a big fella Cam is dang fast.

RGIII could be the best runner of them all, but he runs dumb. He takes way too many hard hits. Kap has a knack for avoiding those hits. I can only recall a handful in his career. RGIII seems to take one or two a game.

I don't mean to limit Cam's efficacy to around the goal line. All of these guys can run very well. Cam just isn't quite as likely to go the distance as Kap is.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

You want to call more fumbles than TDs dangerous in the open field? I don't get it.

By most dangerous, I mean he's the most likely to break a long, game-changing run at any time. He does need to work on ball security.

 

[Jikkle]

You want to call more fumbles than TDs dangerous in the open field? I don't get it.

How many of those fumbles are lost though?

Kap's lost a total of 6 career fumbles but I would say almost all of those were from the pocket.

And also let's look at what have you done for me lately in 2013

Newton had 1 rushing fumble and Kap just had 3 rushing fumbles BUT

Kap had a 5.7 average vs Newton's 5.3 and Kap had 4 plays of 20+ yards vs Newton's 3 plays of 20+ yards and Newton had 6 TDs vs Kap's 4 TDs. Also Newton had 19 more attempts than Kap.

But even looking at those stats are skewed because Newton ran more in short yardage situations.

I would rate Kaepernick as the most dangerous runner because he has a nice blend of speed and power. He's not as fast as pre-injury RGIII but he's more powerful and he's not as powerful as Newton but he's faster and he's just got a great running instincts in avoiding hits and getting yardage.

Newton would be a very close second as he by no means is slow guy and he's excellent in short yardage situations.

Wilson is a bit of an oddball in this as he excels in using his legs to elude pressure, move around in the backfield, and extend plays for a long time in which he either gets a big pass play or picks up a good chunk running the ball because the play has gone on so long the defense is spread out and a bit gassed.

RGIII is a question mark as of now to see how he comes back this upcoming season. Pre-injury I would put him in a very tight group with Kap and Cam and call it splitting hairs between the 3 but for now I'll just say it's splitting hairs between Kap and Cam.

 

[Crimsoncrew]

How many of those fumbles are lost though?

Kap's lost a total of 6 career fumbles but I would say almost all of those were from the pocket.

And also let's look at what have you done for me lately in 2013

Newton had 1 rushing fumble and Kap just had 3 rushing fumbles BUT

Kap had a 5.7 average vs Newton's 5.3 and Kap had 4 plays of 20+ yards vs Newton's 3 plays of 20+ yards and Newton had 6 TDs vs Kap's 4 TDs. Also Newton had 19 more attempts than Kap.

But even looking at those stats are skewed because Newton ran more in short yardage situations.

I would rate Kaepernick as the most dangerous runner because he has a nice blend of speed and power. He's not as fast as pre-injury RGIII but he's more powerful and he's not as powerful as Newton but he's faster and he's just got a great running instincts in avoiding hits and getting yardage.

Newton would be a very close second as he by no means is slow guy and he's excellent in short yardage situations.

Wilson is a bit of an oddball in this as he excels in using his legs to elude pressure, move around in the backfield, and extend plays for a long time in which he either gets a big pass play or picks up a good chunk running the ball because the play has gone on so long the defense is spread out and a bit gassed.

RGIII is a question mark as of now to see how he comes back this upcoming season. Pre-injury I would put him in a very tight group with Kap and Cam and call it splitting hairs between the 3 but for now I'll just say it's splitting hairs between Kap and Cam.

It's also worth noting that comparing regular season stats doesn't really do justice to Kap. He's a bit more restrained in the regular season. In the postseason, he has averaged 84.5 yards a game, 9.9 YPC, and has four rushing TDs. In six postseason starts, he has rushed for 98+ yards three times, including going for 181 and 130. Those last two are the most ever by a QB in a playoff game, and the 181 the most ever by a QB in any game - and 15th best mark for any player in the playoff. By comparison, in Vick's six postseason games, he has 271 yards and a TD. Kap's postseason production on the ground has been insane.

 

[Jikkle]

It's also worth noting that comparing regular season stats doesn't really do justice to Kap. He's a bit more restrained in the regular season. In the postseason, he has averaged 84.5 yards a game, 9.9 YPC, and has four rushing TDs. In six postseason starts, he has rushed for 98+ yards three times, including going for 181 and 130. Those last two are the most ever by a QB in a playoff game, and the 181 the most ever by a QB in any game - and 15th best mark for any player in the playoff. By comparison, in Vick's six postseason games, he has 271 yards and a TD. Kap's postseason production on the ground has been insane.

Agreed that he has been "unleashed" far more in the playoffs running the ball than the regular season and that should be accounted for.

Though to rain a bit on the parade I thought the 1st GB playoff game and the recent Seattle NFC Championship game he had huge running days because the scheme completely fooled both defenses. Against the Pack it was obviously the Read Option and against Seattle they were not ready for the whole convince the entire defense it's a pass play and time it just right to where all the receivers start blocking when Kap crosses the LOS.