On several occasions, winstonbiggs wrote that quarterbacks were better 30 years ago and that it isn't really close. I did not agree with him. I think today's QBs compare very favorably to QBs of the late 1970s and, as a whole, might be better. I have listed every team's top QBs of 1978. The number in parentheses represents games started at the QB position. I have also listed each team's top QBs of 2008. I went three deep in cases where teams don't seem to know what the heck they are doing (see Buccaneers, Falcons, Ravens). Giants 1978: Joe Pisarcik (12), Randy Dean (2), Jerry Golsteyn (2) 2008: Eli Manning, David Carr Redskins 1978: Joe Theismann (14), Billy Kilmer (2) 2008: Jason Campbell, Todd Collins Cowboys 1978: Roger Staubach (15), Danny White (1) 2008: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson Eagles 1978: Ron Jaworski (16), John Walton (0) 2008: Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb Bears 1978: Bob Avellini (12), Mike Phipps (4) 2008: Kyle Orton, Rex Grossman Vikings 1978: Fran Tarkenton (16), Tommy Kramer (0) 2008: Tarvaris Jackson, Gus Frerotte Packers 1978: David Whitehurst (16), Bobby Douglass (0) 2008: Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm, Matt Flynn Lions 1978: Gary Danielson (11), Greg Landry (5) 2008: Jon Kitna Buccaneers 1978: Doug Williams (10), Mike Rae (5), Mike Boryla (1) 2008: Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese Falcons 1978: Steve Bartkowski (13), June Jones (3) 2008: Matt Ryan, Chris Redman Saints 1978: Archie Manning (16), Bobby Scott (0) 2008: Drew Brees, Mark Brunell 49ers 1978: Steve DeBerg (11), Scott Bull (5) 2008: J.T. O'Sullivan, Alex Smith Rams 1978: Pat Haden (16), Vince Ferragamo (0) 2008: Marc Bulger, Trent Green Seahawks 1978: Jim Zorn (16), Steve Myer (0) 2008: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace Cardinals 1978: Jim Hart (15), Steve Pisarkiewicz (1) 2008: Kurt Warner, Matt Leinart Jets 1978: Matt Robinson (11), Richard Todd (5) 2008: Brett Favre, Kellen Clemens Dolphins 1978: Bob Griese (9), Don Strock (7) 2008: Chad Pennington, Chad Henne Bills 1978: Joe Ferguson (16), Bill Munson (0) 2008: Trent Edwards, J.P. Losman Patriots 1978: Steve Grogan (16), Tom Owen (0) 2008: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel Browns 1978: Brian Sipe (16), Mark Miller (0) 2008: Derek Anderson, Brady Quinn Steelers 1978: Terry Bradshaw (16), Mike Kruczek (0) 2008: Ben Roethlisberger, Byron Leftwich Bengals 1978: Ken Anderson (12), John Reaves (4) 2008: Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick Oilers/Titans 1978: Dan Pastorini (16), Gifford Nielsen (0) 2008: Vince Young, Kerry Collins Colts 1978: Bill Troup (11), Bert Jones (3), Mike Kirkland (2) 2008: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi Chargers 1978: Dan Fouts (14), James Harris (2) 2008: Philip Rivers, Billy Volek Broncos 1978: Craig Morton (13), Craig Penrose (2), Norris Weese (1) 2008: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey Chiefs 1978: Mike Livingston (14), Tony Adams (2) 2008: Brodie Croyle, Damon Huard Raiders 1978: Ken Stabler (16), David Humm (0) 2008: JaMarcus Russell, Andrew Walter Teams that did not exist in 1978- Panthers 2008: Jake Delhomme, Matt Moore Jaguars 2008: David Garrard, Cleo Lemon Texans 2008: Matt Schaub, Sage Rosenfels Ravens 2008: Kyle Boller, Troy Smith, Joe Flacco
It is a tough call...I think it's obvious that if you put today's QB's back in the 1978 scheme they will be much better..but that is just due to today's training and mechanics.....But I think for their time the 1978 QBs might have the edge.
Of the 28 teams that were in existence in 1978, I think 15 of them have a better QB situation now than they did back then. If it's not 15-13 in favor of 2008, then it is a 14-14 tie or 15-13 in favor of 1978. Bottom line- it is close either way.
My winners: Giants 2008: Eli Manning, David Carr Redskins 1978: Joe Theismann (14), Billy Kilmer (2) Cowboys 1978: Roger Staubach (15), Danny White (1) Eagles 2008: Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb Bears 2008: Rex Grossman, Kyle Orton Vikings 1978: Fran Tarkenton (16), Tommy Kramer (0) Packers 2008: Aaron Rodgers, Brian Brohm Lions 2008: Jon Kitna, Drew Stanton Buccaneers 2008: Jeff Garcia, Brian Griese, Luke McCown Falcons 1978: Steve Bartkowski (13), June Jones (3) Saints 1978: Archie Manning (16), Bobby Scott (0) 49ers 1978: Steve DeBerg (11), Scott Bull (5) Rams 2008: Marc Bulger, Trent Green Seahawks 2008: Matt Hasselbeck, Seneca Wallace Cardinals 1978: Jim Hart (15), Steve Pisarkiewicz (1) Jets 2008: Chad Pennington, Kellen Clemens Dolphins 1978: Bob Griese (9), Don Strock (7) Bills 1978: Joe Ferguson (16), Bill Munson (0) Patriots 2008: Tom Brady, Matt Cassel Browns 1978: Brian Sipe (16), Mark Miller (0) Steelers 2008: Ben Roethlisberger, Charlie Batch Bengals 2008: Carson Palmer, Ryan Fitzpatrick Oilers/Titans 2008: Vince Young, Kerry Collins Colts 2008: Peyton Manning, Jim Sorgi Chargers 1978: Dan Fouts (14), James Harris (2) Broncos 2008: Jay Cutler, Patrick Ramsey Chiefs 1978: Mike Livingston (14), Tony Adams (2) Raiders 1978: Ken Stabler (16), David Humm (0) Finally Tally: 2008: 15 1978: 13 And, Garrard is a top 10 QB, so I count that for 2008. We win.
Old players without a doubt. Back then the QB actually had to take a hit. Alot of these pretty boys of now a days couldn't play like Namath or Bradshaw did.
There are certainly rules in place now to better protect quarterbacks, but does that mean today's quarterbacks are pretty boys? Jon Kitna was sacked 51 times last year. He started every game and was very tough all year. Ben Roethlisberger was another one who got beat up all year. Marc Bulger played a game with broken ribs. He sucked in the game (at Dallas), but he did make the effort.
The Steelers are great at Drafting QBs, even with Bradshaw's early down years. Can we be like that Franchise please?
Good ones they drafted, but played their best football for other franchises: Johnny Unitas Len Dawson Bill Nelsen Jim Miller Great selections: Terry Bradshaw Ben Roethlisberger Three who had some decent moments in the 1970s: Terry Hanratty Joe Gilliam Mike Kruczek Won playoff games as the Steelers starting QB: Mark Malone Bubby Brister Neil O'Donnell Kordell Stewart
Kind of a funny sentence.... Back then QB didn't GET hit... Not that they didn't GET GET hit, yeah, they GOT hit, no doubt. But defenders then aren't what they are now. Then you could get nailed in the sternum by a LBs helmet on a sack, get up, and keep playing. Todays defenders are 300+ pounds and faster than ever. Force = mass x acceleration, both mass and speed of defenders has increased in 30 years. Hence the force they hit you with is a lot harder. Granted there were big beast back then, but they were slow- everyone was slow. Now a days a simple elbow from todays defenders will fracture a few ribs.
I think the biggest difference though is that today's QBs are much more system guys where the older QBs had a lot more freedom to get creative and direct the offense on the field. It was their teams... Physically I don't think the old guys stand a chance, but in terms of who would be better?...very interesting. I gave the edge to the current crop, but thinking on it I really don't know.
Physically the QBs now are bigger and stronger, as are the players at just about every position, but back then more QBs called their own plays and coaches weren't as much in control. Depends on how you want to break it down. If you go team by team it will be mixed because there were good and bad QBs then as there are now.
I think QBs don't look as good today because defenses are so much better. But the top guys from today can hang with the top guys from yesterday, and so on.
Saints, Rams, Patriots and Colts all have demonstrably better QBs now. Everything else is arguable. Tough call spanning the generations, though. I'd love to see Todd and Robinson with today's Jets.
I'd go with the older QBs because they called the plays. The current QBs are better physical specimens, as are all players in general, but I don't think they're smarter.
You would want to see Todd again!?. Now, it is true I have some lingering feeling for the past and a lot of positive things occurred at that time--such as the bleachers at Shea rocking during a comeback against the 'fins (I think we ended up losing that game but it is a great memory), and Todd going in from the one with bandaged ribs. But usually, it was a critical turnover or a fumbled snap that occurred, not to mention the AFC champ. mud game. I think I am limited in my ability to feel deeply since becoming numb from that game. Or maybe you mean you would like to see him get sacked by standing in the pocket too long while having a wide open man he does not find because he has tunnel vision on one receiver? Well, I do wish him good luck and good health in his current life.
One other thing that you didn't mention is that the NFL has changed the rules to help the offense score more points. Illegal contact didn't exist back then. The D-Backs were allowed to beat the snot out of the WR's up until the ball was in the air. Then again, "Stick-em" was in heavy use back then also. It was just a different game.
