In the world of basketball potential is the most sought after, elusively divisive single element governing the sway of the entire league. On the contrary in football you don’t tend to have such a high importance placed on future gains. That’s of course until this year’s quarterback debate. RGIII vs Andrew Luck has become a monster. With Lucks team being a surprise playoff contender and RG3’s blitzing the league with better numbers, who actually is the best rookie QB has been hard to determine for most. But not for me. Football is still game where everything can change any given Sunday.(pardon the pun). So with that in mind let’s take a look at these QB’s as they are right now.
Let’s start with the straight numbers (through the first 13 games) RG3 has got 18td passes and 4 interceptions vs Luck who has 18 td passes and 18 interceptions. Hmmmmm .( I think I might be done writing this article.) On the surface the simple fact that Luck has more than 4 times as many interceptions as RG3 would seem like it should close the deal. But let’s take a look at another stat to maybe explain this one a little more. Luck has thrown for 3792 passing yards vs RG3 who has thrown for 2906 almost 1,000 yrds less than Luck. Why? Both players have the same number of passing TDs but Lucks has more yardage due to the Colts lack of a run game. Well what does that really mean? Andrew Lucks has to pass his team into the red zone were as RG3 can rely on is excellent rookie running back Allred Morris to eat up yards. When you take this into consideration the TD to interception discrepancy begins to look a little different. Luck, in order for his team to succeed, has to put the ball in the air far more often than RG3 hence there are more chance for him to make mistakes. Now this is true but it is not the whole story. RG3 is not just handing the ball of to Morris between the 20’s and taking it over when his team is in the red zone for an easy stat padding score. RG3 himself is another reason why he does not have to put the ball in the air as often as Luck. Andrew Luck has 223 rushing yds so far vs RG3’s 748. RG3’s total yds so far this year3654 and Andrew Luck’s 4015. That’s a difference of 361 yds. Hmmm…. But a running QB would have more fumbles right ? NO. RG3 has 11 fumbles with only 2 of them being lost vs Luck who has 10 fumbles with 5 of them being lost. Hmmm. 18 interceptions to 4 hmmm moving on.
Andrew Luck has 9 wins (9-4) vs RG3’s 7 wins (7-6). Well let’s dissect this for a moment. Out of the Colts 9 wins only 2 of those teams are in the playoff picture (The Vikings and Packers). Out of the 7 wins the Redskins have 5 of the teams they have beaten are in the hunt for the playoffs (Cowboys, Giants, Ravens, Vikings, and Buccaneers). So when you take in to account their strength of schedule what RG3 has done is far more impressive.
One last element of this debate would be the supporting cast. While RG3 is complimented by the run game of Alfred Morris who has 1228 yrds so far, Andrew Luck has had the benefit of throwing to Reggie Wayne the whole year. RG3 was without his number one receiver Peirre Garcon and his number 2 target Fred Davis for most of the year. But now that Garcon is back even though he’s not Reggie Wayne he improves RG3’s supporting cast.
It’s just painfully clear to me that RG3 is the better QB this year through the first 13 games. I like Andrew Luck and I think he will be a top 4 or 5 QB in this league. But right now I’m tipping my hat to RG3 as just being better. What do you think hit up the poll question
RG3 Highlights
Andrew Luck Highlights
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