Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Bucs Central » Air Yards

Air Yards: Through Week 5

Staff Report — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 09:41:08 +0000

After reading a blurb from Pat Yasinskas on his ESPN.com NFC South blog about Josh Freeman and his average of 10.5 yards per pass through the air, leading the entire NFL. Something seemed off in the statistical ranking. Based on the stats that we keep here at Bucs Central for such statistical measurement of quarterbacks, they don’t match. Now, unless the fine folks at ESPN who track such stats, are using the point from with which each quarterback releases the football and the distance on a horizontal axis of travel it’s hard to see how they came up with said figure.

By taking the amount of YAC yards each quarterback was credited with and subtracting it from the total amount of yards each quarterback has amassed through weeks 1-5 we get total air yards or the distance the football traveled through the air before being caught. Then we divided total pass attempts including sacks to get an average per drop back. We also computed it per completion.

Below you will find Bucs Central’s Air Yard stats:

Name	Att.	Comp	Yds	Yds / Att	Yds / Com	Air Yds	Air Yds / Att	Air Yds / Com	Air Yds %	YAC	YAC Yds / Att	YAC Yds / Com	YAC Yds %
Philip Rivers	183	115	1759	9.61	15.30	1072	5.86	9.32	61%	687	3.75	5.97	39%
Kyle Orton	213	141	1733	8.14	12.29	1002	4.70	7.11	58%	731	3.43	5.18	42%
Aaron Rodgers	168	111	1233	7.34	11.11	778	4.63	7.01	63%	455	2.71	4.10	37%
Charlie Batch	49	29	352	7.18	12.14	225	4.59	7.76	64%	127	2.59	4.38	36%
Peyton Manning	216	146	1609	7.45	11.02	977	4.52	6.69	61%	632	2.93	4.33	39%
Eli Manning	174	112	1302	7.48	11.63	779	4.48	6.96	60%	523	3.01	4.67	40%
Michael Vick	96	59	799	8.32	13.54	428	4.46	7.25	54%	371	3.86	6.29	46%
David Garrard	116	77	789	6.80	10.25	511	4.41	6.64	65%	278	2.40	3.61	35%
Tony Romo	174	119	1346	7.74	11.31	758	4.36	6.37	56%	588	3.38	4.94	44%
Vince Young	96	59	684	7.13	11.59	418	4.35	7.08	61%	266	2.77	4.51	39%
Dennis Dixon	32	22	254	7.94	11.55	139	4.34	6.32	55%	115	3.59	5.23	45%
Josh Freeman	116	69	824	7.10	11.94	495	4.27	7.17	60%	329	2.84	4.77	40%
Joe Flacco	170	97	1116	6.56	11.51	714	4.20	7.36	64%	402	2.36	4.14	36%
Jay Cutler	102	68	912	8.94	13.41	426	4.18	6.26	47%	486	4.76	7.15	53%
Donovan McNabb	170	96	1315	7.74	13.70	706	4.15	7.35	54%	609	3.58	6.34	46%
Chad Henne	131	84	964	7.36	11.48	539	4.11	6.42	56%	425	3.24	5.06	44%
Ryan Fitzpatrick	85	52	595	7.00	11.44	349	4.11	6.71	59%	246	2.89	4.73	41%
Matt Ryan	177	109	1165	6.58	10.69	720	4.07	6.61	62%	445	2.51	4.08	38%
Max Hall	43	26	253	5.88	9.73	168	3.91	6.46	66%	85	1.98	3.27	34%
Carson Palmer	194	115	1287	6.63	11.19	752	3.88	6.54	58%	535	2.76	4.65	42%
Matt Schaub	164	102	1233	7.52	12.09	635	3.87	6.23	52%	598	3.65	5.86	48%
Brett Favre	131	74	861	6.57	11.64	486	3.71	6.57	56%	375	2.86	5.07	44%
Matt Hasselbeck	126	77	814	6.46	10.57	453	3.60	5.88	56%	361	2.87	4.69	44%
Mark Sanchez	147	81	902	6.14	11.14	523	3.56	6.46	58%	379	2.58	4.68	42%
Seneca Wallace	100	63	693	6.93	11.00	350	3.50	5.56	51%	343	3.43	5.44	49%
Bruce Gradkowski	102	53	709	6.95	13.38	347	3.40	6.55	49%	362	3.55	6.83	51%
Tom Brady	122	85	911	7.47	10.72	399	3.27	4.69	44%	512	4.20	6.02	56%
Derek Anderson	114	59	650	5.70	11.02	364	3.19	6.17	56%	286	2.51	4.85	44%
Drew Brees	199	142	1410	7.09	9.93	627	3.15	4.42	44%	783	3.93	5.51	56%
Matt Cassel	106	58	650	6.13	11.21	330	3.11	5.69	51%	320	3.02	5.52	49%
Matt Moore	59	25	342	5.80	13.68	173	2.93	6.92	51%	169	2.86	6.76	49%
Alex D. Smith	190	118	1229	6.47	10.42	526	2.77	4.46	43%	703	3.70	5.96	57%
Jake Delhomme	60	33	324	5.40	9.82	156	2.60	4.73	48%	168	2.80	5.09	52%
Jimmy Clausen	91	43	454	4.99	10.56	236	2.59	5.49	52%	218	2.40	5.07	48%
Sam Bradford	203	115	1159	5.71	10.08	524	2.58	4.56	45%	635	3.13	5.52	55%
Kevin Kolb	76	48	478	6.29	9.96	185	2.43	3.85	39%	293	3.86	6.10	61%
Shaun Hill	193	118	1218	6.31	10.32	451	2.34	3.82	37%	767	3.97	6.50	63%
Matthew Stafford	15	11	83	5.53	7.55	34	2.27	3.09	41%	49	3.27	4.45	59%
Jason Campbell	70	43	426	6.09	9.91	142	2.03	3.30	33%	284	4.06	6.60	67%
Trent Edwards	52	29	241	4.63	8.31	103	1.98	3.55	43%	138	2.65	4.76	57%

Air Yards: Talkin’ YAC

Staff Report — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 14:37:26 +0000

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?

Kyle Boller 64%
Shaun Hill 56%
Matthew Stafford 55%
Jason Campbell 54 %
Trent Edwards 54%

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

David Garrard 39%
Matt Ryan 36%
Derek Anderson 36%
Matt Moore 36%
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%

Air Yards

Roland Johnson — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 06:52:14 +0000

While sifting through different stats & sites that break down stats I came across what Brian Burke of advancedstats.com is coining as “Air Yards”. To get to the hidden stat within the game of football he subtracts the total number of YAC yards a team generates throughout the course of a game or season from the total number of passing yards to come up with his “Air Yard” stats. So after tracking down the necessary stats to run the equation, I have also broken down the percentage of YAC Yards & Air Yards per team then came up with the adjusted average for the entire NFL.

Also in the chart you will find Yards per completion through the air for each team along with YAC yards per reception and TD’s per completion.

While many fans were hoping the team would swing a trade for Matt Cassel, he was one of only four quarterbacks who relied on his receiving corps for more then 50% of his total yards and was the most dependent of all with 57% of his total yards coming in the form of YAC. Where as Eli Manning was the least dependent on his receiving corps as only 37% of his total yards came in the form of YAC. The NFL average for YAC per reception was 5.18 yards, where as the Patriots receivers averaged 6.35 YAC yards per receptions which was the highest for any team in the league or 1.17 yards above average. Cassel or this case “ Captain Checkdown” as he averaged 4.83 yards per pass through the air before the football was caught which was 31st in the NFL with only one team doing worse, which was the Bengals at 4.75 yards through the air before the football was caught.

I am sure some of you are wondering how well the Buccaneers passing game faired, well with the NFL average for YAC yards being 1,633 last season the Bucs managed to gain 1,736 which is 103 YAC yards better then the average.. The Air yard league average was 1,954 yards and the Bucs managed 2,052 or 98 yards above league average. As far as the league percentage for YAC yards and Air yards the team cam e in 46% of there yards coming in the form of YAC and 54% of them coming in the form of Air Yards which is also the league average.

The NFL average for yards through the air before the football is caught translated to 6.21 yards and the passing attack of the Bucs came in at 5.78 yards almost a half yard short to the league average.

On a side note the quarterback who averaged the highest yards through the air before the football was caught was Jake Delhomme with an average of 8.21 yards. Which is remarkable, to think of considering he was coming off of surgery to repair his shoulder.

Team	YAC Yard	Air Yards	% YAC Yard	% Air Yard	Av Comp. Air	Av Comp.	Av YAC Yards Per Rec	TD	Rec Per TD
Giants	1250	2103	37%	63%	7.06	11.25	4.19	23	13
Panthers	1269	2019	39%	61%	8.21	13.37	5.16	15	16
Falcons	1404	2036	41%	59%	7.68	12.98	5.30	16	17
Packers	1656	2388	41%	59%	6.96	11.79	4.83	28	12
Lions	1353	1946	41%	59%	6.93	11.74	4.81	18	16
Jaguars	1494	2126	41%	59%	6.35	10.81	4.46	15	22
Steelers	1498	2109	42%	58%	6.96	11.90	4.94	19	16
Broncos	1891	2654	42%	58%	6.88	11.77	4.90	25	15
Dolphins	1566	2195	42%	58%	6.65	11.40	4.75	20	17
Colts	1748	2432	42%	58%	6.19	10.64	4.45	27	15
Chiefs	1452	1906	43%	57%	6.15	10.83	4.68	23	13
Seahawks	1251	1580	44%	56%	6.03	10.81	4.77	18	15
Browns	1136	1401	45%	55%	5.89	10.66	4.77	11	22
Buccaneers	1736	2052	46%	54%	5.78	10.67	4.89	18	20
Chargers	1840	2169	46%	54%	6.95	12.85	5.90	34	9
Cowboys	1831	2157	46%	54%	6.58	12.16	5.58	29	11
Eagles	1876	2184	46%	54%	6.03	11.22	5.18	23	16
Bengals	1238	1439	46%	54%	4.75	8.83	4.09	11	28
Cardinals	2294	2581	47%	53%	6.17	11.66	5.49	31	13
Ravens	1454	1631	47%	53%	6.25	11.82	5.57	16	16
Saints	2398	2671	47%	53%	6.47	12.27	5.81	34	12
Vikings	1525	1692	47%	53%	6.34	12.05	5.71	22	12
Bills	1569	1733	48%	52%	5.61	10.69	5.08	14	22
Texans	2134	2340	48%	52%	6.38	12.19	5.81	21	17
49ers	1782	1942	48%	52%	6.28	12.05	5.77	21	15
Bears	1564	1665	48%	52%	5.48	10.62	5.14	20	15
Raiders	1302	1337	49%	51%	6.02	11.89	5.86	13	17
Rams	1615	1653	49%	51%	5.66	11.19	5.53	11	27
Titans	1459	1443	50%	50%	5.45	10.95	5.51	13	20
Jets	1808	1708	51%	49%	4.92	10.13	5.21	22	16
Redskins	1699	1592	52%	48%	5.01	10.35	5.34	14	23
Patriots	2154	1636	57%	43%	4.83	11.18	6.35	21	16
NFL Average	1633	1954	46%	54%	6.21	11.40	5.18	20	17