Are Interceptions a real bad thing?

**Raider Ran** · 07-17-2012, 06:50 PM

Originally Posted by The AzzAzzin

What he said

**raidernationbmw** · 07-17-2012, 07:11 PM

I wanna help this thread out too you know!

**Raidermofojeff** · 07-17-2012, 07:34 PM

I think this is an apologist thread for undisciplined gunslinger QBs.........Or a thread for fans who prefer exciting football to smart football....

In the end as fans we should all know that smart football will win the most games.........

**dmauke** · 07-17-2012, 10:35 PM

Originally Posted by Raidermofojeff

I think this is an apologist thread for undisciplined gunslinger QBs.........Or a thread for fans who prefer exciting football to smart football....

In the end as fans we should all know that smart football will win the most games.........

actually i think it stems from being a fan of a team that has a perpetual losing record. When fans view bad plays like turnovers and rate them based on a scale that goes from "heartbreaking" to "maybe this won't lose the game for us", then you know your team is probably not that good. When the team is doing well you don't weigh turnovers, you expect your team to limit mistakes and win games outright.

To Add:

Turnovers are unacceptable when your team is good and is used to winning. Back in 2002 Gannon took the team to the Super Bowl and was MVP of the league for putting up points, winning games, and being incredibly efficient. He didn't get any help to reach those achievements by throwing "good" interceptions.

**raidernationbmw** · 07-17-2012, 10:58 PM

LOL.

**The AzzAzzin** · 07-17-2012, 11:07 PM

Originally Posted by raidernationbmw

LOL.

hahaha I used to love that skit. And R kellys and R Kelly remix lmao.

**ecnirp** · 07-17-2012, 11:10 PM

Originally Posted by raidernationbmw

I wanna help this thread out too you know!

**ecnirp** · 07-17-2012, 11:22 PM

I still think this is the best...

^

**raidernationbmw** · 07-17-2012, 11:51 PM

Challenge accepted.

**The AzzAzzin** · 07-18-2012, 12:22 AM

lol I wonder how long you guys can keep that up haha.

**red dragon** · 07-18-2012, 12:22 AM

They are really only not a bad thing when they replace a punt on 3rd and long and its a long shot bomb at the end of the quarter.

**raidernationbmw** · 07-18-2012, 12:29 AM

until one of the mods see it they will stay. a lot more where that came from.

Wanna have a laugh watch the end of this clip the ref is really gay in real life and shows it even on the job listen closely. Forward to 2:10 mark and watch from there.

**16 to 88** · 07-18-2012, 01:17 AM

Great subject!!!

Here’s where I’m at with this...

Originally Posted by Harmer

believe that the INT stat is misleading cause it really depends on when and where the INT happens.

Absolutely the interception stat is misleading. And not by a little, but by a lot.

“inside the numbers” one has to consider just SOME of the following off the top of my head in no particular order...

What kind of system does the QB play in? Is he in a strict WCO, a hybrid of the WCO, or a vertical system? Take a look at Joe Montana who had an average arm but was in a system that fit him well.

Year in and year out he threw very few interceptions but he also threw a TON of those safe little swing passes to Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, Wendell Tyler and Bill Ring.

Not to mention all the little safe WCO short passes they attempted in hopes of breaking off a missed tackle here and there. They would quite literally dink and dunk themselves down the field.

When you have a QB with a superior arm that can make all the throws, more often then not he is asked to wind up and throw the ball down field. Obviously, this will lead to more interceptions.

The moment the ball leaves the QB’s hand it is essentially a FREE ball. The longer in the air and the more LB’s and DB’s you have to throw over and in-between the greater the chance for the INT.

How many passes did the QB attempt per interception has to be taken into consideration AS WELL as what types of passes is he attempting.

How good is his team at pass blocking?

How’s there running game?

How tough are there opponents in a particular season(s)?

How tough is there division?

How good is there defense? Is the QB constantly playing catch up?

How good is the receiving core? Where there any injuries in a particular season(s)?

Does his team play indoors or out?

Was it a timing pattern and did the receiver run the wrong route?

On and on and on and on.

We all measure a QBs success and failure by Yards/TDs/Int/fumbles.

Yes and no.

I myself have been guilty of this repeatedly but we shouldn’t measure a QB strictly on this.

Namely that Int arent necessarily a bad thing.

The KEY word in this sentence is “necessarily”. And yes, you ARE correct. They are NOT “necessarily” a bad thing.

Of course, each and every circumstance is predicated on this understanding.

A QB is backed at his 20 and does a few plays get to the opposing 40and throws an interception which is in let say at the 10 - 20 yard line, is it a bad thing? The alternative would be go 3 and out and punting and potentially reach the 20-30 yard line. With the first scenerio you are tiring the opposing defense with the later your tiring your own defense. So as the game goes on and the score is close the int actually plays into your hand.

Yes and no.

The KEY in this paragraph is that you saying later in the game the score is close. Given this scenario I agree it CAN (not necessarily) play into your particular teams hand.

Where it is a negative is it also CAN (not necessarily) play into the QB’s head.

Did he make a boneheaded throw? Did they lose the opportunity for a FG? How mentally tough is your QB to forget about it? Where’s the game being played? How good is the opponent? At what point in the season are they? How many INT’s does the QB already have in the game and/or season? On and on and on.

If the QB is able to make 12 - 18 plays then this keeps your defense on the sidelines resting and keeps the oppposing defense on the field. I just go back to most of the games where we would be pinned deep in our zone and couldnt move the ball and would just end up punting the ball.

Yes, and a terrific observation.

Yours truly has pointed this out numerous times as well.

Obviously, you don’t want to throw an INT but they will happen and sometimes they do NOT end up hurting you team.

In SOME cases driving the ball downfield then turning it over IS better then not being able to do anything with it the entire game.

One could even argue (and in fact I have seen this time and again in my 40+ years of watching football) that turing the ball over via and interception at YOUR OWN, say, 10 yard line ends up being a good thing!!!

How? The defense comes out and snuffs there offense and they are forced to kick a field goal. A series of plays such as this CAN (not necessarily) make a team feel superior to the opponent or prove it and the momentum of the game can completely shift.

**ecnirp** · 07-18-2012, 05:53 AM

Originally Posted by The AzzAzzin

lol I wonder how long you guys can keep that up haha.

**Strangebrew** · 07-18-2012, 06:14 AM

All INTs are bad but I think the OP has a point about some being worse than others. Think back to the days of Stabler. The guy threw a lot of picks but when it came down to the end of the game he was money more often than not. That meant a lot more wins than losses.