…the Bears offensive line sucks and the receivers are all third-rate talents. I never hear anybody talk about drops when excusing Cutler’s woes.

I guess the one stat this doesn’t indicate that I would be interested in is what the breakdown between position players are for drops, what perctange of the drops came from WR, TE, and RB. While I agree that Cutler’s percentage is low, I am guessing that he still gets a fair amount of drops from his WR versus say his RB and TE which have better hands, conversely, I would bet most of Orton’s drops have been from the RB. Would also be interesting to see what the percentage of drops came on third downs and would they have converted if the WR caught it.

BTW…It is quite apparent that you are having quite a bit of fun with your new role and I for one, am enjoying your input…Not that I didn’t before…Just sayin’

that Orton delivers a “catchable” ball. Must be something to that . . .

that the QB makes the receiver. =)

I’ve been banging the drum all year about how Marshall is a much better player in 2009 than in 2008. Orton’s completion rate to him is around 65% (as opposed to 55% last year). More touchdowns, more YAC, a longer catch average. I’ve been hard on the guy in the past because I believed he was being evaluated for potential rather than performance. The performance has now arrived.

Heyward Bey is a real life Clifford Franklin…HORRID!

as always TJ!

Even when the Broncos aren’t doing so hot you bring a smile to my face while I read about football. Thanks dude.

Among the (many) things that folks forget when coming down on Orton is that he throws an extremely catchable ball. Thanks for putting this together!

The Heyward Bay Assault Index? You are a funny guy The Dude.

I laughed long and hard when Al Davis selected the second coming of Troy Williamson with the 7th pick in the 2009 draft. Seeing about 35,000 empty seats at each Raider game brings joy to my heart knowing Al is vastly overpaying JaBust, injured DMC, Huff, Hey Bey Bey, and Gallery. I was almost sad when they traded away their 2011 1st round pick for Seymour, I was looking forward to see how they would waste that pick.

BTW, that Seymour trade for Oakland is the equivalent of allowing a 4th and 20 fake FG for a TD. It’s impossibly stupid to trade that pick for a 30 year old D-lineman that is about to be an UFA in a few months.

The further along the season goes it seems as if there are many more reasons why taking Orton in the trade has paid big dividends. Also, is it me or is the MSM jumping the gun about the idea of Orton not getting and extension because of this injury….Man they love to hate him! They just cant wait to see him go down in flames!

Is it all those white russians that bring these tidbits to light? Whatever it is, the stats are singing off the page. Inspired stuff and certainly seems legit to me. After all, look which QB is ranked best — the guy with perhaps the best WR in the game. The antithesis of the DHB scenario.

I’m with Broncoman, I would love to see the results for whether the drops were third down or not.

I learned with this; I enjoyed this. Thanks for putting it together! I took Cutler as the most interesting point here. We all know our WR’s don’t drop balls, but it almost seems that Cutler gets a pass in Chi-Town due to his supposedly inept receivers. These numbers shine a different light. Yet, with that said, I’ll be interested to see these stats again with a full-season sample size.

I mean it seems a little hard to swallow the idea that Hester and Company are such reliable WR’s in comparison to others ranked so far below them. Well, I know that’s not what those stats say, but it’s sort of implied. My guess is there are many variables and even judgments in what’s called drops and not. I wonder how many of Marshall’s fought-for, go-up-and get-em catches that Hester or Bennet watched fly over their head… and therefore (perhaps) not called a drop.

Lots of variables, but again… sitll very enlightening. Thanks!! Rec’d of course

It’s a guest ranch where people come up and enjoy the scenic Salmon river on horse back or relax. It became defunct earlier this year and now I know why. He had to close it to afford Heyward Bey. Now that’s funny. He came up here last year and stayed a week in a guest house and never came out in fear of Bronco fans mugging him….heheheheh!

A very interesting stat those network people don’t bring up. Funny to see Cutler right with Orton, however that stat is misleading because his passes just get picked off. Where is the asterick? LOL!

According to Stats, Inc. Heyward Bey has been targeted 29 times for 6 receptions. This is unfathomable. He’s dropped a lot of balls (5). But the bigger problem would seem to be a combination of bad route running, bad gall skills and a terrible quarterback. 18 of the 29 times the balls been thrown his way, he hasn’t even been in position to make a play. Like the INT to Andre Goodman, where DHB was just wandering around the field like somebody walking off a drunk.

Thanks, again, Dude. Stats has some really good stuff available. When and if I ever have time again, I’ll head over there and try to produce some interesting posts.

Nothing worse than that gall bladder problem…lol. I agree – those are atrocious numbers. Fun piece, great comments!