Topic: Can Someone Simply Explain QBR

[mu79grad]

I noticed that Cam Fancher's QBR (Quarterback Rating), as measured by ESPN, was 34.5 and that put him at 102nd in the nation.  However, he's in the top 10 in completion percentage according to NCAA stats.  Can someone explain QBR in simple terms because that seems like a wide discrepancy to me?       

[Johnnyherd]

It was created to differentiate between QBs that completes passes down the field in clutch downs from QBs that throw a 2 yard passes that go for 98 yard touchdowns in garbage time on first downs.   It separates dink and dunk game managers from QBs that put the team on their back and win games with their arms.

[herdorbust2]

I noticed that Cam Fancher's QBR (Quarterback Rating), as measured by ESPN, was 34.5 and that put him at 102nd in the nation.  However, he's in the top 10 in completion percentage according to NCAA stats.  Can someone explain QBR in simple terms because that seems like a wide discrepancy to me?     

Top 10 completion percentage and virtually everyone is dinking and dunking now days.

[gochneaur645]

College QBR is an ESPN created stat, and they don't even publicly release the formula for it.

I imagine Yards Per Attempt is a big factor. Fancher is 59th in that.

[goherd24]

I noticed that Cam Fancher's QBR (Quarterback Rating), as measured by ESPN, was 34.5 and that put him at 102nd in the nation.  However, he's in the top 10 in completion percentage according to NCAA stats.  Can someone explain QBR in simple terms because that seems like a wide discrepancy to me?     

QBR is a way to "see through stats" for dummies. 102 is about right.

[CJHerdgrad]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/17653521/how-total-qbr-calculated-explain-our-improved-qb-rating

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_quarterback_rating
From the above article:
There are six steps to building QBR:[5]

Each QB "action play" (passes, rushes, sacks, scrambles, or penalties attributable to the QB) is measured in terms of the expected points added (EPA)
Adjust for the difficulty of each play. EPA is adjusted based on the type and depth of a pass, and whether the QB was pressured.
If there is a completion, he only is credited for the typical number of yards after the catch (passer rating takes all yards into effect) based on the type and depth of the pass
There is a discount on garbage time, or a time where the score is out of reach near the end of the game.
Opponent adjustment: More credit is given with tougher defenses and vice versa.
QBR averages the adjusted EPA per play and transforms it to a 0 to 100 scale, with 50 being average.

[HerdEcon]

I noticed that Cam Fancher's QBR (Quarterback Rating), as measured by ESPN, was 34.5 and that put him at 102nd in the nation.  However, he's in the top 10 in completion percentage according to NCAA stats.  Can someone explain QBR in simple terms because that seems like a wide discrepancy to me?     

Pass Efficiency Rating simply a mathematical formula used my some including the NCAA.  It is not the same as QBR which is an ESPN calculation.  PER has a number of problems and can make a bad QB look great or a good QB look bad.  One obvious flaw is if a QB takes a snap and then grounds the ball or throws it out of bounds just to stop the clock near the end of the half, near the end of the game, or to avoid being sacked.  That counts as an incomplete pass.  That may not seem like a big deal but it can affect the stats.  A good QB can "throw" the ball several times a game without intending to complete the pass.  PER also doesn't account for QBs with a great WR or RB that can catch a pass at the LOS and run the ball 99 yards for a TD on any given play.  PER calculates YAC in the QBs statistics.

QBR contains subjectivity and is not simply a mathematical formula.  In theory QBR takes into account every play and various variables such as whether the QB was under pressure before he threw the pass.  ESPN subjectively assigns a value to every pass attempt based on a number of factors such as whether the QB was under pressure, the quality of the defense, down and distance on 3rd downs, the distance the ball traveled in the air before being caught, etc.  In theory it is supposed to be a more accurate method to rate QBs than the purely statistical Pass Efficiency Rating.  In reality, QBR has its own set of problems.  QBR also solves some of the problems of PER by only counting the yards the ball travels in the air.  QBR attempts to rank only the quality of the QB and factor out variables such as YAC.  It also factors in other variables such as the difficulty of the pass being completed if the QB was under pressure or scrambling when he threw the ball.  The exact methodology ESPN uses to calculate QBR is unknown and not published by ESPN.

[goherd24]

Pass Efficiency Rating simply a mathematical formula used my some including the NCAA.  It is not the same as QBR which is an ESPN calculation.  PER has a number of problems and can make a bad QB look great or a good QB look bad.  One obvious flaw is if a QB takes a snap and then grounds the ball or throws it out of bounds just to stop the clock near the end of the half, near the end of the game, or to avoid being sacked.  That counts as an incomplete pass.  That may not seem like a big deal but it can affect the stats.  A good QB can "throw" the ball several times a game without intending to complete the pass.  PER also doesn't account for QBs with a great WR or RB that can catch a pass at the LOS and run the ball 99 yards for a TD on any given play.  PER calculates YAC in the QBs statistics.

QBR contains subjectivity and is not simply a mathematical formula.  In theory QBR takes into account every play and various variables such as whether the QB was under pressure before he threw the pass.  ESPN subjectively assigns a value to every pass attempt based on a number of factors such as whether the QB was under pressure, the quality of the defense, down and distance on 3rd downs, the distance the ball traveled in the air before being caught, etc.  In theory it is supposed to be a more accurate method to rate QBs than the purely statistical Pass Efficiency Rating.  In reality, QBR has its own set of problems.  QBR also solves some of the problems of PER by only counting the yards the ball travels in the air.  QBR attempts to rank only the quality of the QB and factor out variables such as YAC.  It also factors in other variables such as the difficulty of the pass being completed if the QB was under pressure or scrambling when he threw the ball.  The exact methodology ESPN uses to calculate QBR is unknown and not published by ESPN.

To sum it up, again, it sees through QBs that throw screen passes and end up with 268 yards.

[elginherd]

To sum it up, again, it sees through QBs that throw screen passes and end up with 268 yards.

LOL!!!

[HerdEcon]

To sum it up, again, it sees through QBs that throw screen passes and end up with 268 yards.

If you trust ESPN. 

[goherd24]

If you trust ESPN.

It pretty much aligns with facts in this case, so yeah, he is a bottom 20% QB

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

[HerdEcon]

It pretty much aligns with facts in this case, so yeah, he is a bottom 20% QB

Sent from my Pixel 7 Pro using Tapatalk

Good point.