Analytics: McCown 29th rated quarterback in NFL
New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown is a journeyman playing for his 10th NFL team.
Yet, he has the Jets off to a surprising 3-4 record.
McCown ranks near the bottom of the pack of starting quarterbacks in the NFL, according to analytics website Football Outsiders.
They evaluate quarterbacks according to a defense-adjusted yards-above-replacement (DYAR) measure, and McCown’s minus-177 rating, is 29th in the league. He’s ranked ahead of Chicago’s Mike Glennon, Baltimore’s Joe Flacco and Cleveland’s DeShone Kizer.
They also rank the quarterbacks according to the defense-adjusted value over average (DVOA), and McCown has a minus-22.5 rating, which ranks 28th.
McCown has completed 153 of 221 passes (69.2 percent) for 1,583 yards, 10 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s been sacked 22 times and has a passer rating of 91.3.
“Josh is a veteran,” Jets coach Todd Bowles said. “He’s great for our locker room. He’s a team guy. He’s team-first, but he’s very competitive. Smart football player. I think injuries have held him back over the years, but he’s finally healthy.”
McCown has a 21-46 record as a starter. With the score tied against Miami in the final minute, he was intercepted by Bobby McCain, and the Dolphins won the game at the buzzer with a field goal.
“He’s playing mistake-free football for the most part,” Bowles said. “I think there are one or two balls that he’d like to have back, but we’re very happen with him from a leadership standpoint, an accuracy standpoint and just a team camaraderie standpoint. He’s been great for the younger guys in the locker room.”
McCown also has 20 rushes for 53 yards and two touchdowns.
“He’s a good quarterback,” Falcons safety Keanu Neal said. “He can toss the ball around. He can make plays on his feet as well. He’s a good quarterback.”
About the Author
Honored by the Pro Football Hall of Fame in recognition of his "long and distinguished reporting in the field of pro football," D. Orlando Ledbetter, Esq. has covered the NFL 28 seasons. A graduate of Howard University, he's a winner of Georgia Sportswriter of the Year and three Associated Press Sports Editor awards.
