One of the things I wanted to do this off season is see where Everett Golson fits in among his peers, and, thanks to the statistics nerds at www.und.com, I was able to pull all the data I needed (except for 1998) (WTH?) from the source, as it were. So, with a data-set of 21 years, I looked at each QB’s Total Passing Yards (TPY), Attempts (Atts), Completions (Comps), Completion Percentage (%), Touchdowns (TD’s) and Interceptions (INT’s). To qualify, a quarterback had to start four games in a season. So, without further ado, please, if you will, this:
[table “” not found /]A few things jump right out: 1.) how good was Brady “The Mighty” Quinn? 2.) how gaudy (and futile) were Jimmy Clausen’s numbers? and 3.) how different things could have been for Dayne Crist if…. if….. dammit, Dayne. But when you look at players getting their first starts, Everett’s numbers are surprising, even to an unabashed Golson fan such as myself. His 2405 total passing yards bests the first seasons of Ron Powlus (1729), Brady Quinn (1831), Dayne Crist (2033) and Jimmy Clausen (2007). 2405 is eighth-best going back to 1992 which, again, is not too shabby given the company.
When you look at rushing numbers, though, Golson’s numbers really become more interesting. They add a dynamic missing with other Irish signal callers. His 298 (net) rushing yardsand six touchdowns put him fourth on a list going back to 1992, one that sees 2001 Carlyle Holiday in first with 666 (net), 1999 Jarious Jackson in second with 464 (net) and seven touchdowns and 2000 Matt LoVecchio in third with 300 (net) and two touchdowns.
Three times (here, here, and here) I either extolled Golson’s duality or compared him to Kevin McDougal, whose 85 net rushing yards and four touchdowns now seem meager by comparison. But remember LAST offseason? When Tony Rice said this?
You know what, he may be right…
Hating Hurricanes Since 1990.
Bayou Irish is a Jersey boy and Double Domer who fell under New Orleans' spell in 1995. He's been through Katrina and fourteen years in the Coast Guard, so we cut him some slack, mostly in the form of HLS-subsidized sazeracs. But, when he's not face down on the bar and communing with the ghosts of Faulkner and Capote at the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone, he's our man in SEC-land, doing his best to convince everyone around him that Graduation Success Rate is a better indicator of success than the number of MNC's won in the last five years.
- Finding Flaws in a Diamond: Clemson’s Rushing Offense - December 17, 2018
- Why Nobody Will Cotton to Notre Dame - December 3, 2018
- Irish Finish Regular Season Perfect 12-0 - November 26, 2018
What I like about those numbers is that 2011 Tommy showed more capability of moving the offense and then in 2012 cut down on the high turnovers (not listed). Also, I like Everett Golson’s numbers when you can’t see the fumbles (hopefully that problem gets solved moving forward.
We SHOULD be in fine shape when it comes to the QB position this year.
Great to see the chart. Funny how mediocre Mirer and McDougall’s numbers look. I remember both of them fondly.
As you say, how great was Brady!
But to your point, I too am an unabashed Everett fan. Last summer I was in Myrtle Beach and a guy saw my ND t shirt and said to me with the biggest grin on his face,”wait till you see our boy!”
He will be great this year, which will open up the running lanes for everyone. Can’t wait.
Hey Canuck75, thanks for reading and commenting! I think the “mediocrity” of Kevin’s numbers (and Mirer’s) can be viewed in the context of the game in general and Notre Dame football in particular. If you look at the total passing yards from 1992 up to Brady Quinn’s first year, you’ll see an average of 1725 TPY per season, if you use a calculator. Starting with BQ’s first year through 2012, the average TPY jumps to 2575, reflecting, I think, better quality passing QBs (no offense, Kevin, Matt, et al.) and a shift towards more passing under recent coaches, especially Weis and Kelly.