I know that the Russell bashers are getting fewer and farther between, but i do continue to hear people say that his statistics don't accurately reflect the season he is having and the progress he is making.I disagree. I posted this over at TD and thought i'd post it here too. This is a bit of compareson between Russell, this year, Mauck (2003), and Davey (2001). JaMarcus Russell GP- 9 Effic- 144.23 Att-Cmp-Int- 241-151-5 Pct- 62.7 Yds- 1988 TD- 12 Lng- 47 Avg/G- 220.9 Projected stats (assuming we make the SECCG) GP- 13 Effic (?) no idea how to calcualte it Att-Cmp-Int- 348-218-7 Pct- 62.7 Yds- 2872 TD- 17 Lng-47 Avg/G- 220.9 IF he were to finish with the projected stats the only 2 QB's in recent history (1997 was the oldest that i could find) that were better were Mauck in 2003 and Davey in 2001 Matt Mauck- 2003 GP- 14 Effic- 148.24 Att-Cmp-Int- 358-229-14 Pct- 64.0 Yds- 2825 TD- 28 Lng- 64 Avg/G- 201.8 Rohan Davey- 2001 GP- 12 Effic- 146.47 Att-Cmp-Int- 367-217-10 Pct- 59.1 Yds- 3347 TD- 18 Lng- 67 Avg/G- 278.9 I didn't include Booty in 2000 as a third comparison in this list because although he has comparitive yards and TD's (2121 -17) in less games (10), his efficiency rating of 120.44 and his 50% completion percentage didn't put him in the class as the other 2. I think Russell's stats speak very well for him. The fact that he is doing this as a Sophmore, compared to Davey (senior) and Mauck (Junior) also says a lot.
Great post! The guy is clutch and rarely have I seen him get rattled. Also consider how good the SEC defenses are for the most part. :geauxtige
The most important stat is wins, and so far JR has done what it takes to get the job done. The one big difference between the three is that JR is still very young and just becoming experienced, he still has the potential to be much much better. With the tremendous improvement and growth he has had this year it really makes you look forward to the next, but let's finish enjoying this one first.
Stats, stats, stats....i find stats interesting but not for argumentative purposes. Does he win games? Yes. It's not pretty, but he makes the clutch plays. There are plenty of examples of him missing receivers COMPLETELY (i.e. in the ground), but yet there are examples of receivers not catching the ball too. So I'm not completely sold on Russell yet. Do I think he'll rule next year? You bet, but somethign about this year and the maturation process makes me a little uneasy sometimes. But going back to my 2nd sentence: Does he win games? yes. we're 8-1. So I'm satisfied. In the defense-happy SEC, that is really damn good. Now someone can rip me apart...
Russell is #1 among SEC starting quarterbacks in pass completion percentage at 62.5%. He is #2 in the SEC behind Shockley in passing efficiency and is #26 nationally.
The coaches have been ultra-conservative, making Russell's efficiency go up. If the coaches weren't so conservative, would Russell respond well? He made some bad passes against 'Bama, but I feel like he could do more if the coaches allowed him to. Stats have some meaning, but they are also limited in the story they can tell.
I was one of those that doubted Russell's game management capabilities and football intelligence (see end of first half against Tennessee). I am now officially heating up my plate of crow, which I will eat for lunch after smothering it in some sausage gravy. JR just keeps finding ways to win. No matter how big the game is (Auburn) or the setting (Alabama), he does not seem to get rattled, especially the later the season is becoming.
