Joe Burrow weekly Rankings

[Luvnit2]

(10-23-2020, 10:55 AM)fredtoast Wrote: Many people think that passing numbers have just always gone up over the years, but in the early 70's the passing numbers were actually WORSE than in the 60's and part of the 50's.

Ken Anderson was drafted at the absolute worst time for the passing game in the history of the NFL.

Our younger fans probably do not know the rule changes since the Ken Anderson days. DB's could maul receivers all the way down field until the ball was throw, I remember guys like Mel Blount being physically dominating, he was awesome and in the hall of fame and would have been great in any era, but maybe not HOF great.

I remember pass rushers could head slap OL knocking them silly on way to the QB.
I remember the pass rusher could throw a QB on his head, it happened to Anderson on many occasions.
I remember a lot more injuries to QB's, most were pocket passers and no such thing as an illegal hot on a QB.
A QB could not just throw the ball away in or out of the pocket, had to be a receiver in the area. Now, a QB can just chuck it 20 yards above a receiver's head in or out of the pocket as long as it gets past the LOS. 

Of course last few years the advantage changed for receivers, DB's literally can not tee up receivers like they did in the Jack Tatum days. Safeties and LB's waited for a receiver to come across the middle with the goal to decapitate them, not just tackle them

Yes, in today's game the passing game has huge advantages over the old days. I am sure I have missed some others.