This spreadsheet compares Alex Smith's last four seasons' efficiency stats with those of the six Superbowl MVP QBs who are still playing. Notice, however, that it compares each of those QBs as they were at the same age, not the same year. (Joe Flacco is a year younger than Alex Smith, which is why he only has three years of stats listed.) Also notice that every efficiency statistic is included, but no counting statistic is. TDs, INTs, Completions, Attempts, and Yards are all counting statistics; TD to INT Ratio, Yards per Attempt, Passer Rating, Completion Percentage are all efficiency ratings.

If you know how to count, but don't know how to divide, then this spreadsheet will drive you crazy. So too, if you believe that counting is a more powerful measure than is division. For instance, if you think Alan Iverson was the best basketball player of his generation, you're probably a counter, not a divider, but you're also probably a complete idiot. I looked at Smith's last four years for a couple of reasons. First, Smith did not play five years ago. Second, this accounts for Smith's years under Harbaugh, but those two years only account for half of the data. This, I believe is the fair way to look at Smith. He entered the league very young and struggled early on. He is not the QB he was in 2005. But to focus only on the last two years is too short-sighted.

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