In 1968, the average passing yards per game in professional football was 168 yards (rushing was 128yds/game). In 1975, the average passing game in the National Football League was 162 yards. One decade later, the number of passing yards jumped to 198 per game. And in 1995, it had reached 224 yards per contest. Guess where the rushing yards had went? Down to 109 yards. Last season, the average passing yards per game had peaked to 234; with the rushing game staying stable at mid-90s levels. As we’ve seen the passing game open up (especially due to more restrictive pass defense rules introduced); the plan to throw deeper more often and put less emphasis on the ground attack has flopped the numbers my parents would have been familiar with growing up… or grandparents for some readers.
With history showing us the evolution of the sport, we still hold up the quarterbacks of those team from the decades passed. With minimal exception, most QBs during the 60s-90s were the game managers we so step on in today’s game.
With passing games expected to reach 300+ yards per game nowadays, many teams have the concept that the running back position can be an interchangeable piece. Plug and play is a popular term. And even though Fantasy Football is simply a digital board game for jocks; we’ve seen the decline in RB interests. Why? Most teams don’t establish and maintain the run game anymore... that’s why. However, is there a problem with actually focusing on the run first in 2014? When it comes to crediting the value of the modern starting quarterback, I believe that sentiment is now the norm. Unless your signal-caller is putting up video game numbers, he’s simply not worth it.
Most teams in last year’s playoffs either had a top 10 passing game or running game (with the exception of Indianapolis and Carolina). And all the teams, except Denver, had a team defense 11th or better. One game had arguably the best two passing performance of the entire playoffs: Andrew Luck leading a 28 point deficit comeback victory and Alex Smith putting up a perfect game amidst offensive injuries. Neither one of their respective teams averaged passing games above 17th place for the season. What is all this stating? As great as it is to have a consistent big stats passer, it doesn’t guarantee a single thing when leadership and efficiency is required.
Jim Kelly, Joe Montana, Terry Bradshaw, and even our beloved Len Dawson never put up any passing numbers close to what we see today. Yet, we hold them with high regard and would take them in their hay-day to lead this Kansas City Chiefs team in an instant. Not of these Hall of Famers ever consistently exceeded 30+ TDs in a season. Most of them averaged 25 TDs during the pinnacle of their careers. None produced 4,000 passing yards in a year. They did produce wins though. They had a habit of producing more wins than losses. They had a habit of limiting the turnovers. And they had a habit of playing their best when the games mattered most. They also all had great running games. These were running games producing the points then, that we now see being produce by the passing game instead.
The 2014 Chiefs have that old school passing game. While that may sound conveniently wax poetic, they don’t need a big and open passing attack. They have Jamaal Charles in the back field. Why would you waste chucking the ball to a mediocre wide receiving corps with Jamaal Charles available for handoffs and screens? Jim Kelly had Thurman Thomas. Joe Montana had Roger Craig. Terry Bradshaw had Franco Harris. Len Dawson had a running back by committee of Garrett, Holmes, and Podolak. They all had great running games, along with very good defenses... and the best coaching. And we would all say that these 4 HOFers, representing the past air games of the 60s-90s, are great players that deserve to be heralded as such. So, am I saying that Alex Smith is simply holding his ticket to the Hall of Fame in his back pocket? Of course not.
Yet, I am stating that the play of Alex Smith over the last few seasons (with different teams) has proven he has matured and found his confidence. His game is very reminiscent of how QBs used to be in this league. Very reminiscent of how teams used to win with a running game and solid defense; in addition to a signal-caller that plays with leadership and efficiency. The way the Kansas City Chiefs are built, they don’t run an offense that asks the quarterback to put up 300 yards and 3 TDs each outing. Yet, when it’s been asked of Alex to step up in big games, he has delivered. Leading the offense with his brain, knowing where to pass and when to throw away, and not turning the ball over are the strengths of the current Chiefs quarterback. And until the next Len Dawson lands in our laps, I believe #11 will do just fine for this town.