How Did Successful Quarterbacks Perform In Their First 2 Years?

[JohnJohnson]

Drew Brees

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2001 SDG 1 15 27 55.6 221 8.2 1 40 0 94.8
2002 SDG 16 320 526 60.8 3284 6.2 17 52 16 76.9
2003 SDG 11 205 356 57.6 2108 5.9 11 68 15 67.5
2004 SDG 15 262 400 65.5 3159 7.9 27 79 7 104.8
2005 SDG 16 323 500 64.6 3576 7.2 24 54 15 89.2
2006 NOR 16 356 554 64.3 4418 8.0 26 86 11 96.2
2007 NOR 16 440 652 67.5 4423 6.8 28 58 18 89.4
2008 NOR 16 413 635 65.0 5069 8.0 34 84 17 96.2
2009 NOR 12 271 392 69.1 3536 9.0 29 75 10 111.3


Brett Favre

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

1991 ATL 2 0 4 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 2 0.0
1992 GNB 15 302 471 64.1 3227 6.9 18 76 13 85.3
1993 GNB 16 318 522 60.9 3303 6.3 19 66 24 72.2
1994 GNB 16 363 582 62.4 3882 6.7 33 49 14 90.7
1995 GNB 16 359 570 63.0 4413 7.7 38 99 13 99.5
1996 GNB 16 325 543 59.9 3899 7.2 39 80 13 95.8
1997 GNB 16 304 513 59.3 3867 7.5 35 74 16 92.6
1998 GNB 16 347 551 63.0 4212 7.6 31 84 23 87.8
1999 GNB 16 341 595 57.3 4091 6.9 22 74 23 74.7
2000 GNB 16 338 580 58.3 3812 6.6 20 67 16 78.0
2001 GNB 16 314 510 61.6 3921 7.7 32 67 15 94.1
2002 GNB 16 341 551 61.9 3658 6.6 27 85 16 85.6
2003 GNB 16 308 471 65.4 3361 7.1 32 66 21 90.4
2004 GNB 16 346 540 64.1 4088 7.6 30 79 17 92.4
2005 GNB 16 372 607 61.3 3881 6.4 20 59 29 70.9
2006 GNB 16 343 613 56.0 3885 6.3 18 82 18 72.7
2007 GNB 16 356 535 66.5 4155 7.8 28 82 15 95.7
2008 NYJ 16 343 522 65.7 3472 6.7 22 56 22 81.0
2009 MIN 12 278 403 69.0 3149 7.8 26 63 5 108.5


Philip Rivers

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2004 SDG 2 5 8 62.5 33 4.1 1 13 0 110.9
2005 SDG 2 12 22 54.5 115 5.2 0 22 1 50.4
2006 SDG 16 284 460 61.7 3388 7.4 22 57 9 92.0
2007 SDG 16 277 460 60.2 3152 6.9 21 49 15 82.4
2008 SDG 16 312 478 65.3 4009 8.4 34 67 11 105.5
2009 SDG 12 242 374 64.7 3311 8.9 21 81 6 104.9


Aaron Rodgers

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2005 GNB 3 9 16 56.3 65 4.1 0 16 1 39.8
2006 GNB 2 6 15 40.0 46 3.1 0 16 0 48.2
2007 GNB 2 20 28 71.4 218 7.8 1 43 0 106.0
2008 GNB 16 341 536 63.6 4038 7.5 28 71 13 93.8
2009 GNB 12 275 420 65.5 3399 8.1 25 74 7 103.3


Peyton Manning

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

1998 IND 16 326 575 56.7 3739 6.5 26 78 28 71.2
1999 IND 16 331 533 62.1 4135 7.8 26 80 15 90.7
2000 IND 16 357 571 62.5 4413 7.7 33 78 15 94.7
2001 IND 16 343 547 62.7 4131 7.6 26 86 23 84.1
2002 IND 16 392 591 66.3 4200 7.1 27 69 19 88.8
2003 IND 16 379 566 67.0 4267 7.5 29 79 10 99.0
2004 IND 16 336 497 67.6 4557 9.2 49 80 10 121.1
2005 IND 16 305 453 67.3 3747 8.3 28 80 10 104.1
2006 IND 16 362 557 65.0 4397 7.9 31 68 9 101.0
2007 IND 16 337 515 65.4 4040 7.8 31 73 14 98.0
2008 IND 16 371 555 66.8 4002 7.2 27 75 12 95.0
2009 IND 12 322 460 70.0 3685 8.0 25 80 11 101.9


Ben Roethlisberger

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2004 PIT 14 196 295 66.4 2621 8.9 17 58 11 98.1
2005 PIT 12 168 268 62.7 2385 8.9 17 85 9 98.6
2006 PIT 15 280 469 59.7 3513 7.5 18 67 23 75.4
2007 PIT 15 264 404 65.3 3154 7.8 32 83 11 104.1
2008 PIT 16 281 469 59.9 3301 7.0 17 65 15 80.1
2009 PIT 11 255 368 69.3 3145 8.5 19 57 11 100.2


Matt Schaub

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2004 ATL 6 33 70 47.1 330 4.7 1 59 4 42.0
2005 ATL 16 33 64 51.6 495 7.7 4 53 0 98.1
2006 ATL 16 18 27 66.7 208 7.7 1 47 2 71.2
2007 HOU 11 192 289 66.4 2241 7.8 9 77 9 87.2
2008 HOU 11 251 380 66.1 3043 8.0 15 65 10 92.7
2009 HOU 12 295 434 68.0 3449 7.9 22 72 12 97.2


Kurt Warner

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

1998 STL 1 4 11 36.4 39 3.5 0 21 0 47.2
1999 STL 16 325 499 65.1 4353 8.7 41 75 13 109.2
2000 STL 11 235 347 67.7 3429 9.9 21 85 18 98.3
2001 STL 16 375 546 68.7 4830 8.8 36 65 22 101.4
2002 STL 7 144 220 65.5 1431 6.5 3 43 11 67.4
2003 STL 2 38 65 58.5 365 5.6 1 37 1 72.9
2004 NYG 10 174 277 62.8 2054 7.4 6 62 4 86.5
2005 ARI 10 242 375 64.5 2713 7.2 11 63 9 85.8
2006 ARI 6 108 168 64.3 1377 8.2 6 64 5 89.3
2007 ARI 14 281 451 62.3 3417 7.6 27 62 17 89.8
2008 ARI 16 401 598 67.1 4583 7.7 30 79 14 96.9
2009 ARI 11 273 404 67.6 3003 7.4 23 44 11 97.0


Tom Brady

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2000 NWE 1 1 3 33.3 6 2.0 0 6 0 42.4
2001 NWE 15 264 413 63.9 2843 6.9 18 91 12 86.5
2002 NWE 16 373 601 62.1 3764 6.3 28 49 14 85.7
2003 NWE 16 317 527 60.2 3620 6.9 23 82 12 85.9
2004 NWE 16 288 474 60.8 3692 7.8 28 50 14 92.6
2005 NWE 16 334 530 63.0 4110 7.8 26 71 14 92.3
2006 NWE 16 319 516 61.8 3529 6.8 24 62 12 87.9
2007 NWE 16 398 578 68.9 4806 8.3 50 69 8 117.2
2008 NWE 1 7 11 63.6 76 6.9 0 26 0 83.9
2009 NWE 12 301 458 65.7 3638 7.9 22 81 10 96.9


Tony Romo

YEAR TEAM G CMP ATT PCT YDS AVG TD LNG INT RAT

2005 DAL 16 0 0 0.0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0.0
2006 DAL 16 220 337 65.3 2903 8.6 19 56 13 95.1
2007 DAL 16 335 520 64.4 4211 8.1 36 59 19 97.4
2008 DAL 13 276 450 61.3 3448 7.7 26 75 14 91.4
2009 DAL 12 257 414 62.1 3325 8.0 20 80 7 96.3





This forum makes it way too difficult to format anything, you can at least read the QB rating and completion percentage pretty quickly.

Consider the team around the quarterback before making your vote. Stats aren't everything.

[Bosanac]

waste of a topic, you need some stats for a question like that

[RoflDogs]

Matt Ryan is struggling as well....

[Shawn`]

some of best Quarterbacks didn't do well in their first years.

Peyton Manning INTs through 4 years:
1st season: 28
2nd season: 15
3rd season: 15
4th season: 23

People need to learn that QBs have a learning curve. Newsflash to some people: Joe Flacco isn't the best QB in the world. He's human and he's going to have bad and terrible games.

That does not mean we bench him.

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Shawn`' date='10 December 2009 - 12:11 AM' timestamp='1260421901' post='308685']
People need to learn that QBs have a learning curve. Newsflash to some people: Joe Flacco isn't the best QB in the world. He's human and he's going to have bad and terrible games.

That does not mean we bench him.
[/quote]
I don't think the majority of fans are calling for Flacco to be benched for performance reasons, but rather, for injury reasons. And not even beyond a game.

Of course, my bias wants him to play -- but I'd understand resting him if the game against the Lions gets well in-hand early.

Bottom line, I'd like to think that the majority of Ravens fans have embraced Flacco as the QB. The people that don't, don't understand that young QBs will make mistakes and will continue to make them for their first five years until they turn a corner.

[Purple Punishment]

whew! tell it. Look at Manning now. Arguably going down as the best QB in NFL History when his career is over

[theFRANCHISE]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' date='10 December 2009 - 12:15 AM' timestamp='1260422106' post='308687']
whew! tell it. Look at Manning now. Arguably going down as the best QB in NFL History when his career is over
[/quote]
Same with Brady; the man's numbers were downright pedestrian at times for a Super Bowl-winning QB early in his career. Yet, all he did was just win games. Eventually, the stats came along with the experience.

[Shawn`]

I think the turning point in Brady's career was Randy Moss.

If you look at it, a QB is only as good as his supporting cast. Point and case: Matt Cassel last year. Belichicks offense was a plug and play because of the supporting cast. Patriots fans are arguing that last years team was better than this year.

But you look at Matt Cassel now on the Chiefs offense, because of that terrible o-line. He's not doing that well.

The challenge for this year and the next couple years is to give Flacco that supporting cast so he can make that turn and become an elite NFL QB.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

I think what we all saw Monday night was a 24 year old,second year QB,play like one.True,better wideouts around him will help alot,but I think the postings about Brady and Manning speak for themselves.If someone does put up the numbers I think it would show Joe's progressing along the learning curve just fine.Teams also have alot more film to study on him,remember he was not supposed to start last year and he was an unknown commodity.He can't "sneak" up on anybody anymore.I still believe we got us a good one here and the best is yet to come.

[Purple Punishment]

He is a good one but our team needs to Gel offensively this season so Joe can look good. It also doesnt help when our teams fans just keep saying how much he sucks and start Troy Smith....

[H8R]

He's slightly above the normal 2nd year QB but like nay second year guy, decision making skills are his downfall.

[McBoller]

[quote name='Bosanac' date='09 December 2009 - 11:47 PM' timestamp='1260420459' post='308674']
waste of a topic, you need some stats for a question like that
[/quote]
ditto. I clicked on this thread hoping to see proof that flacco is just going through normal progressions. This is not an issue of opinion, we need facts.

[steeliam]

Big Ben = Won his first 13 games he started his rookie year. Won the SB his second year!!!

[darklight1216]

Tom Brady, year one: 18 tds, 12 ints, 6.9 ypa, 63.9% 86.5 qb rating
Tom Brady, year two: 28 tds 14 ints, 6.3 ypa, 62.1% 85.7 qb rating

Peyton Manning, rookie season: 26 tds, 28 ints, 6.5 ypa, 56.7%, 71.2 qb rating
Peyton Manning, sophomore season: 26 tds 15 ints,7.8 ypa, 62.1%, 90.7 qb rating

Drastic improvements for future HOF P. Manning. His record as a starter went from 3-13 to 13-3.

Ben Roethlisberger, rookie season: 17 tds, 11 ints, 8.9, 66.4%, 98.1 qb rating
Ben Roethlisberger, sophomore season: 17tds 9 ints, 8.9, 62.7%, 98.6 qb rating

Slight improvement from Worthlessberger. He won the SB in his second year.

Philip Rivers, year one: 22 tds, 9 ints, 7.4 ypa, 61.7%, 92.0 qb rating
Philip Rivers, year two: 21tds, 15 ints, 6.9 ypa, 60.2%, 82.4 qb rating

Rivers regressed moderately.

Eli Manning, year one: 24 tds, 17 ints, 6.8 ypa, 52.8%, 75.9 qb rating
Eli Manning, year two: 24 tds, 18 ints, 6.2 ypa, 57.7%, 77.0 qb rating

Manning did not have significant statistical changes except in his completion percentage.

Joe Flacco, rookie season: 14 tds, 12 ints, 6.9 ypa, 60%, 82.4 qb rating
Joe Flacco, sophomore season (so far): 14 tds, 11 ints, 7.1 ypa, 63.3% 84.6 qb rating

Flacco has improved slightly.

[quote name='Shawn`' date='10 December 2009 - 12:11 AM' timestamp='1260421901' post='308685']
some of best Quarterbacks didn't do well in their first years.

Peyton Manning INTs through 4 years:
1st season: 28
2nd season: 15
3rd season: 15
4th season: 23

People need to learn that QBs have a learning curve. Newsflash to some people: Joe Flacco isn't the best QB in the world. He's human and he's going to have bad and terrible games.

That does not mean we bench him.
[/quote]
Peyton Manning led his team to the greatest single season comeback in NFL history when he was a sophomore quarterback. That's not the best comparison to use.
[quote name='McBoller' date='10 December 2009 - 08:45 AM' timestamp='1260452727' post='308751']
ditto. I clicked on this thread hoping to see proof that flacco is just going through normal progressions. This is not an issue of opinion, we need facts.
[/quote]
I wanted to see some stats too. Maybe someone will add to what I've started.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='10 December 2009 - 09:40 AM' timestamp='1260456020' post='308771']
Tom Brady, year one: 18 tds, 12 ints, 6.9 ypa, 63.9% 86.5 qb rating
Tom Brady, year two: 28 tds 14 ints, 6.3 ypa, 62.1% 85.7 qb rating

Peyton Manning, rookie season: 26 tds, 28 ints, 6.5 ypa, 56.7%, 71.2 qb rating
Peyton Manning, sophomore season: 26 tds 15 ints,7.8 ypa, 62.1%, 90.7 qb rating

Drastic improvements for future HOF P. Manning. His record as a starter went from 3-13 to 13-3.

Ben Roethlisberger, rookie season: 17 tds, 11 ints, 8.9, 66.4%, 98.1 qb rating
Ben Roethlisberger, sophomore season: 17tds 9 ints, 8.9, 62.7%, 98.6 qb rating

Slight improvement from Worthlessberger. He won the SB in his second year.

Philip Rivers, year one: 22 tds, 9 ints, 7.4 ypa, 61.7%, 92.0 qb rating
Philip Rivers, year two: 21tds, 15 ints, 6.9 ypa, 60.2%, 82.4 qb rating

Rivers regressed moderately.

Eli Manning, year one: 24 tds, 17 ints, 6.8 ypa, 52.8%, 75.9 qb rating
Eli Manning, year two: 24 tds, 18 ints, 6.2 ypa, 57.7%, 77.0 qb rating

Manning did not have significant statistical changes except in his completion percentage.

Joe Flacco, rookie season: 14 tds, 12 ints, 6.9 ypa, 60%, 82.4 qb rating
Joe Flacco, sophomore season (so far): 14 tds, 11 ints, 7.1 ypa, 63.3% 84.6 qb rating

Flacco has improved slightly.


Peyton Manning led his team to the greatest single season comeback in NFL history when he was a sophomore quarterback. That's not the best comparison to use.

I wanted to see some stats too. Maybe someone will add to what I've started.
[/quote]
what about the donovan mcnabbs, the tony romos,

the good quarterbacks who aren't like the top 3 in the league lol.....

(imo top 3 being P.Manning, Brady, Rivers)

[Raven-In-ATL]

I dont think benching Flacco is the answer but putting Troy in on occasion like Vick might help us move away from the one-trick pony moniker.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='Bosanac' date='10 December 2009 - 12:47 AM' timestamp='1260420459' post='308674']
waste of a topic, you need some stats for a question like that
[/quote]

www.nfl.com/players

People can look up their own stats, it's not that hard.

Not everything is objective, there is an element of opinion here. The team around the quarterback is not something you can really look at statistically (Joe will be credited with those pathetic drops from last game), and QB rating does not always accurately reflect performance. It could be argued that GB was the worst game of Flacco's career, even though it was only his third lowest QB rating.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='JohnJohnson' date='10 December 2009 - 11:28 AM' timestamp='1260462489' post='308806']
www.nfl.com/players

People can look up their own stats, it's not that hard.

Not everything is objective, there is an element of opinion here. The team around the quarterback is not something you can really look at statistically (Joe will be credited with those pathetic drops from last game), and QB rating does not always accurately reflect performance. It could be argued that GB was the worst game of Flacco's career, even though it was only his third lowest QB rating.
[/quote]

but you gotta give some sort of medium here.... just can't really open a topic like this and be like "discuss" try to throw in stats for a QB or 3 or 4 (including Flacco) so people can post their opinions of what they think on the situation.... if that makes any sense at all

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='theFRANCHISE' date='10 December 2009 - 12:16 AM' timestamp='1260422169' post='308688']
Same with Brady; the man's numbers were downright pedestrian at times for a Super Bowl-winning QB early in his career. Yet, all he did was just win games. Eventually, the stats came along with the experience.
[/quote]
Get it right. lol Brady was practically avg until he got some weapons to throw to (Moss, Welker)

[FerrariFan87]

[quote name='TSizzle00' date='10 December 2009 - 01:42 PM' timestamp='1260470560' post='308874']
Get it right. Brady was practically avg until he got some weapons to throw to (Moss, Welker)
[/quote]

Really? Is that why he won 3 Super Bowls without either of them?

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='FerrariFan87' date='10 December 2009 - 01:45 PM' timestamp='1260470718' post='308876']
Really? Is that why he won 3 Super Bowls without either of them?
[/quote]
Brady put up avg numbers and got his team in FG range to win his super bowls. Thats hardly the greatest QB of the decade. People didn't start calling Brady the best QB of this decade until that 50TD season with Moss and Welker.

[darklight1216]

[quote name='Reddawn36' date='10 December 2009 - 10:51 AM' timestamp='1260460283' post='308793']
what about the donovan mcnabbs, the tony romos,

the good quarterbacks who aren't like the top 3 in the league lol.....

(imo top 3 being P.Manning, Brady, [s]Rivers[/s] Brees)
[/quote]
Well I did include Eli Manning... You could look it up for yourself you know, but I will humor you.

Chad Pennington, year one (12 games started): 13 tds, 12 ints, 7.8 ypa, 68.9%, 104.2 qb rating
Chad Pennington, year three (not enough games in year 2): 16 tds, 9 ints, 7.2 ypa, 65.4%, 91.0 qb rating.

The most accurate qb in NFL history regressed in some stats and advanced in others.

Donovan McNabb, year one: 21 tds, 13 ints, 5.9 ypa, 58.0%, 77.8% qb rating.
Donovan McNabb, year two: 25 tds, 12 ints, 6.5 ypa, 57.8%, 84.3 qb rating.

The least intercepted quarterback in NFL history took a step forward in his second year.

Tony Romo: 19tds, 13 ints, 8.6 ypa, 65.3%, 95.1 qb rating.
Tony Romo: 36tds, 19 ints, 8.1 ypa, 64.4%, 97.4 qb rating.

America's quaterback had massive improvements in his second year as a starter.

Bear in mind that my stats for "first year and second year" are actually stats for the players first and second year as a starter.

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='10 December 2009 - 02:04 PM' timestamp='1260471846' post='308890']
Well I did include Eli Manning... You could look it up for yourself you know, but I will humor you.

Chad Pennington, year one (12 games started): 13 tds, 12 ints, 7.8 ypa, 68.9%, 104.2 qb rating
Chad Pennington, year three (not enough games in year 2): 16 tds, 9 ints, 7.2 ypa, 65.4%, 91.0 qb rating.

The most accurate qb in NFL history regressed in some stats and advanced in others.

Donovan McNabb, year one: 21 tds, 13 ints, 5.9 ypa, 58.0%, 77.8% qb rating.
Donovan McNabb, year two: 25 tds, 12 ints, 6.5 ypa, 57.8%, 84.3 qb rating.

The least intercepted quarterback in NFL history took a step forward in his second year.

Tony Romo: 19tds, 13 ints, 8.6 ypa, 65.3%, 95.1 qb rating.
Tony Romo: 36tds, 19 ints, 8.1 ypa, 64.4%, 97.4 qb rating.

America's quaterback had massive improvements in his second year as a starter.

Bear in mind that my stats for "first year and second year" are actually stats for the players first and second year as a starter.
[/quote]
Romo and McNabb didn't they both have TO in their best years? Yet another weapon the Ravens do not have.

[JohnJohnson]

[quote name='darklight1216' date='10 December 2009 - 03:04 PM' timestamp='1260471846' post='308890']
Well I did include Eli Manning... You could look it up for yourself you know, but I will humor you.

Chad Pennington, year one (12 games started): 13 tds, 12 ints, 7.8 ypa, 68.9%, 104.2 qb rating
Chad Pennington, year three (not enough games in year 2): 16 tds, 9 ints, 7.2 ypa, 65.4%, 91.0 qb rating.

The most accurate qb in NFL history regressed in some stats and advanced in others.

Donovan McNabb, year one: 21 tds, 13 ints, 5.9 ypa, 58.0%, 77.8% qb rating.
Donovan McNabb, year two: 25 tds, 12 ints, 6.5 ypa, 57.8%, 84.3 qb rating.

The least intercepted quarterback in NFL history took a step forward in his second year.

Tony Romo: 19tds, 13 ints, 8.6 ypa, 65.3%, 95.1 qb rating.
Tony Romo: 36tds, 19 ints, 8.1 ypa, 64.4%, 97.4 qb rating.

America's quaterback had massive improvements in his second year as a starter.

Bear in mind that my stats for "first year and second year" are actually stats for the players first and second year as a starter.
[/quote]


That is something that must be considered. Don't you think that Aaron Rodgers benefited from practicing with Brett Favre and the team for 3 years?

Perhaps we should post stats that show everything up to the QB's second year as a starter.

[TSizzle00]

[quote name='JohnJohnson' date='10 December 2009 - 04:31 PM' timestamp='1260480683' post='308994']
That is something that must be considered. Don't you think that Aaron Rodgers benefited from practicing with Brett Favre and the team for 3 years?

Perhaps we should post stats that show everything up to the QB's second year as a starter.
[/quote]
If you think about it looks to me that Rodgers didn't look at Favre at all lol he does not make nearly the same bonehead turnover type plays as Favre did. Favre would throw at a WR being covered by Darell Revis and Ed Reed just because he could. I think Rodgers is going to turn out to be a smarter QB then Favre.

[Guest I-70WestRaven]

[quote name='Purple Punishment' date='10 December 2009 - 07:30 AM' timestamp='1260451841' post='308748']
He is a good one but our team needs to Gel offensively this season so Joe can look good. It also doesnt help when our teams fans just keep saying how much he sucks and start Troy Smith....
[/quote]
You got that right!!

[darklight1216]

[quote name='JohnJohnson' date='10 December 2009 - 04:31 PM' timestamp='1260480683' post='308994']
That is something that must be considered. [b]Don't you think that Aaron Rodgers benefited from practicing with Brett Favre and the team for 3 years?[/b][/quote]
I think he benefitted from riding the bench for a while before being thrust into the NFL as a full time starter. I believe that Football Outsiders did a comparison between quarterbacks who started as rookies and those that didn't and found that pine riders were usually better off.
[quote]
Perhaps we should post stats that show everything up to the QB's second year as a starter.
[/quote]
Are you going to get on that?

Since the topic is about the first two years, it might be appropriate to look at some other quarterbacks who had winning records as starters in their rookie seasons.

Only ten of 40 rookie quarterbacks have had winning records since 1978 and they are:

1979 Phil Simms, NYG
1980 David Woodley, Mia
1983 Dan Marino, Mia
1988 Chris Chandler, Ind
1995 Kerry Collins, Car
2003 Kyle Boller, Balt
2004 Ben R’brgr, Pitt
2005 Kyle Orton, Chi
2006 Vince Young, Tenn
2007 Trent Edwards, Buf
http://www.dallasnews.com/s/dws/nwsltr/sports/fromthe50/stories/121708dnspoinsidenfl.695db5a9.html
On why so few rookie qbs are successful:

“The truth of it is most of those guys probably didn’t go to great teams," Said Flacco. "More than anything else it has to do with the team that’s around you."

So there's one answer. Few quarterbacks have had more success in their first year than Joe Flacco.

[JohnJohnson]

Ok, I posted some stats for the poll.

I think Joe Flacco will be a great quarterback. I watch him play, I watch what he has to deal with sometimes with the offensive line and his receivers, and I see immense potential. Because he progressed so quickly his rookie year, some expected the same rate of progression. This is usually not how it works. The season is not over, and the Ravens have 3 of their easiest games ahead of them...expect his numbers to improve. Whether or not we make the playoffs, Flacco has held up fine during a very difficult season, without having the caliber receivers that most successful quarterbacks need to look good.

Some things you just have to learn yourself. I guarantee you he'll never throw across his body again...he really thought he could make that throw without setting his feet. Confidence is good, now he needs to learn to manage the game and make more calculated decisions.