YACety-YAC!

The formula for winning in the NFL appears simple: “Dink and Dunk” your way down the field and then hit your big guy in the back of the end zone for six. (Brady-Welker-Gronkowski)

The run is now used primarily to keep defenses honest and to keep the middle of the field available for short passes. Quarterbacks no longer need the long ball to accumulate big yardage. Athletic receivers who get the ball in space can get big YAC (Yards After Catch). Statistically it makes quarterbacks look very good and it is the most effective way to move the chains.

So is it any surprise that in 2011 Drew Brees and Tom Brady eclipsed Dan Marino’s 1984 record for total passing yards? Not at all. In fact, with the “hands-off” rules receivers have a big advantage on defenders and an accurate quarterback can easily throw back-shoulder passes on defenders who are afraid of being beat deep. Not sure if Dan Marino had the luxury of throwing back shoulder passes to Mark Clayton or Mark Duper who averaged 19 and 18.4 yards per catch respectively in ’84. More often than not, Marino went deep down the field and over-the-shoulder of his receivers with his tightly spun air strikes.

For the talented group of quarterbacks who are currently under center in the NFL, picking apart line-backing crews who have the task of covering quicker, more athletic receivers on short passes across the middle, looks too easy. Linebackers have had to get quicker and more athletic to compete, becoming cover guys and not just the run stoppers of the past. They’re the ones who can stop the big YAC-ers from controlling the game.

The game of football has changed. It has gotten faster and smarter. Your everyday QB has got to work out of the no-huddle, from the shotgun formation, be able to read defensive formations and audible at the line of scrimmage in order to consistently win.

Back in 1984 with receivers and defenders tugging and pushing their way down the field, 23 year old Dan Marino threw for 5,084 yards, had 48 TD passes, and a 108.9 QB rating. The Dolphins won the AFC Championship that year finishing the regular season 13-3. (YAC stats were not kept until 1992)

In 2011 three quarterbacks threw for over 5,000 yards. Of Drew Brees’ 5,476 yards, 2,322 came after the catch. Of Tom Brady’s 5,235 yards, 2,423 came after the catch. And of 23 year old, 3^rd year QB Matthew Stafford’s 5,038 yards, 2,118 came after the catch.

For the 13-3 Patriot’s receivers, Welker had 707 YAC, Gronkowski 632, and Henandez 417. For the 13-3 Saints, Sproles had 665 YAC, Graham 436, and Thomas 445. For the 10-6 Lions, Johnson had 469 YAC, Burleson 371, Best 287, and Pettigrew 285.

The long ball is still one of the most exciting plays in football. Back in the day who wasn’t impressed with Bob Hayes or Homer Jones going post? And more recently, watching Randy Moss sprint past defenders to reel in a deep one?