What Happened To The NFL Long Ball? Is The, "Big Play," Dead?

[BillsImpossible]

Remember when receivers like Marvin Harrison, Michael Irvin, Terrell Owens, Randy Moss and Jerry Rice used to torch defenses for long touchdown passes on a weekly basis?

NFL highlight films used to show the long pass in slow motion set to beautiful music that accompanied the classic NFL, "Big Play."

Poetry in motion.

'Wha' happened?'

Have great quarterbacks like Brees, Big Ben, Brady and Manning been forced to throw shorter passes because of super talented secondaries, or is there another reason?

Is the NFL trying to make the QB a less relevant player?

Is it all about the numbers? Statistics can be deceiving. Big Ben had a 94 yard TD pass, but how far did he throw it?

http://espn.go.com/nfl/statistics/player/_/stat/passing/sort/passingTouchdowns

"Shorter passes equal higher completion percentages."

True. In general, it's easier for a QB to make shorter passes compared to long passes, and the numbers prove it in college and pro football.

For the better, or worse though?

http://www.footballstudyhall.com/2013/2/28/4036850/adjusted-completion-percentages-collin-klein-matt-barkley

Completion Rates For Different Pass Distances<center style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box; color: rgb(41, 41, 41); font-family: 'Mercury SSm A', 'Mercury SSm B', Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2244447/QBCompletion.jpg (http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2244447/QBCompletion.jpg)</center>

Geno Smith was very good, but after 20 yards he was horrible.

EJ Manuel was very good, but after 15 yards he went in the tank too.

Is this what the NFL is turning in to? A dink and dunk league, with quarterbacks throwing mostly 5-10 yard passes?

The longest pass I can remember from last year's Super Bowl was thrown by Wilson late in the 4th quarter.

What was the longest completed pass Peyton Manning or Tom Brady made in last year's playoffs?

What happened to the amazing to see 40-50 yard pass down the sideline to an elite wide receiver that gave the NFL the, "Big Play?"

[01001100]

Longer passes take more time in the pocket. Not to mention. There is also considerably less run-plays, resulting in less play action.

[BillsOwnAll]

Yah clearly you don't need a good QB to win anymore. And those played like MH TO RM you mentioned avged way less then one long td bomb a game. It's just you were 7 then so it seems like it was crazy deep and more exciting.

[Pinkerton Security]

Its funny that you went through such an effort to put together this length post with links and everything, and nowhere does it actually show a regression in long pass plays in the NFL. The links you posted are for college quarterbacks passes in the 2012 season, and then the top passers in the NFL last year - nothing at all showing a regression.

[IlluminatusUIUC]

Have great quarterbacks like Brees, Big Ben, Brady and Manning been forced to throw shorter passes because of super talented secondaries, or is there another reason?

Yeah, one reason is that three of those four guys are getting old and don't have the arm strength any more to gun the football down the field with regularity. If you brought up younger players like Flacco, Luck, or Wilson you might have a different view. The other reason is that coaches specifically design offenses around high percentage plays now, which airmailing 40-50 yard bombs aren't.


Is the NFL trying to make the QB a less relevant player?

http://cdn5.raywenderlich.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/What_Meme.jpg


Big Ben had a 94 yard TD pass, but how far did he throw it?

40+ yards in the air, according to ESPN splits: http://espn.go.com/nfl/player/splits/_/id/5536/ben-roethlisberger

http://www.steelers.com/videos/videos/Steelers-at-Bengals-94-yd-TD-to-Martavis-Bryant/bf0629d6-51eb-4565-bbee-3ae77d8652cc


Is this what the NFL is turning in to? A dink and dunk league, with quarterbacks throwing mostly 5-10 yard passes?

"Turning into"? The NFL has been built around the short pass since the West Coast offense became all the rage.


The longest pass I can remember from last year's Super Bowl was thrown by Wilson late in the 4th quarter.

You are incorrect. He had two long plays to Chris Matthews in the first half.

[GreedoII]

dink and dunk....the best QB's do it all day and matriculate down the field...Manning/Brady/Rodgers/Brees...all do it...take their shots after they soften up the D

[BillsOwnAll]

Do you remember the last year the Ravens won it. During the playoffs flacco would legit just chuck it up near boldin in triple cover and he'd catch it? I don't feel like looking up the stats but there were more then 4 long balls in a few playoff games there

[Mr. Pink]

I love how you mention Jerry Rice but how often did Montana or Young throw bombs?

San Fran had a west coast offense that was predicated on quick precision passing, Rice would turn a 7 yard slant into a 50 yard TD. John Taylor too for that matter.

[jamze132]

The game has changed, no other explanation or theory holds water.

When teams ran the ball down the defense's throat, the long ball was always there. I think you'll see it more in Buffalo this year as teams creep up to the line. if Sammy or Percy are left one-on-one on the outside, we're going balls-deep.