Air Yards: Talkin’ YAC

Typically many fans, pundits and analyst spend the season evaluating the downfield production of quarterbacks, by how many yards a ball is thrown past the line of scrimmage or how many yards per attempt a quarterback has as a sound measure of how effective a quarterback has done, but by putting it into perspective. A quarterback’s numbers can be greatly aided by his receivers and vice versa. Essentially the “YAC” a receiver produces can have a profound effect on a quarterbacks numbers.

In essence, “Air Yards” and “YAC” separated from the overall number gives a better understanding of which quarterbacks were aided greatly by there respective receiving corps. How much of a quarterback’s production is based on the throw, and how much is based on his receivers’ playmaking abilities?

When Raheem Morris stated that everything the team does is with the development of Josh Freeman in mind, then don’t look now because the team might just feel giving Freeman a reliable receiver is a justified need based on the list of 39 quarterbacks graded. So if you are one who feels Dez Bryant is worth the 3rd overall selection, then the Bucs might be of the same mind set.

So which five quarterbacks received the most help from there receivers?

1. Kyle Boller 64%
2. Shaun Hill 56%
3. Matthew Stafford 55%
4. Jason Campbell 54 %
5. Trent Edwards 54%

The five quarterbacks who received the least amount of help from there receiving corps are.

1. David Garrard 39%
2. Matt Ryan 36%
3. Derek Anderson 36%
4. Matt Moore 36%
5. Josh Freeman 35%

Below, is the over all rankings of the 39 quarterbacks who saw significant playing time in 2009.

Rank	Player	Team	Passing Yards	YAC	Air Yards	% YAC	% Air Yards
1	Kyle Boller	StL	899	576	323	64%	36%
2	Shaun Hill	SF	943	529	414	56%	44%
3	Matthew Stafford	Det	2267	1236	1031	55%	45%
4	Jason Campbell	Was	3618	1964	1654	54%	46%
5	Trent Edwards	Buf	1169	626	543	54%	46%
6	Matt Hasselbeck	Sea	3029	1583	1446	52%	48%
7	Kyle Orton	Den	3802	1876	1926	49%	51%
8	Brady Quinn	Cle	1339	659	680	49%	51%
9	Marc Bulger	StL	1469	712	757	48%	52%
10	Tony Romo	Dal	4483	2154	2329	48%	52%
11	Kerry Collins	Ten	1225	583	642	48%	52%
12	JaMarcus Russell	Oak	1287	612	675	48%	52%
13	Joe Flacco	Bal	3613	1716	1897	47%	53%
14	Philip Rivers	SD	4254	1989	2265	47%	53%
15	Aaron Rodgers	GB	4434	2070	2364	47%	53%
16	Drew Brees	NO	4388	2039	2349	46%	54%
17	Tom Brady	NE	4398	2027	2371	46%	54%
18	Donovan McNabb	Phi	3553	1616	1937	45%	55%
19	Alex Smith	SF	2350	1051	1299	45%	55%
20	Matt Schaub	Hou	4770	2121	2649	44%	56%
21	Peyton Manning	Ind	4500	1999	2501	44%	56%
22	Brett Favre	Min	4202	1856	2346	44%	56%
23	Jake Delhomme	Car	2015	890	1125	44%	56%
24	Kurt Warner	Ari	3753	1634	2119	44%	56%
25	Eli Manning	NYG	4021	1737	2284	43%	57%
26	Chad Henne	Mia	2878	1237	1641	43%	57%
27	Ryan Fitzpatrick	Buf	1422	610	812	43%	57%
28	Bruce Gradkowski	Oak	1007	430	577	43%	57%
29	Jay Cutler	Chi	3666	1563	2103	43%	57%
30	Carson Palmer	Cin	3094	1308	1786	42%	58%
31	Matt Cassel	KC	2924	1236	1688	42%	58%
32	Vince Young	Ten	1879	791	1088	42%	58%
33	Ben Roethlisberger	Pit	4328	1821	2507	42%	58%
34	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	2444	981	1463	40%	60%
35	David Garrard	Jac	3597	1413	2184	39%	61%
36	Matt Ryan	Atl	2916	1062	1854	36%	64%
37	Derek Anderson	Cle	888	323	565	36%	64%
38	Matt Moore	Car	1053	382	671	36%	64%
39	Josh Freeman	TB	1857	653	1204	35%	65%

Tagged as: Air Yards, Buccaneers, Bucs, NFL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Tampa Bay Bucs, YAC