This off-season has been one of exponential growth for myself in terms of access to data (a PFF staple) and analyzing trends within that data. I looked at receivers and tight ends with a high yards-per-reception here and will look at quarterback interception rates from year-to-year in this article. When looking at touchdown rates, they are calculated based on the number of touchdowns per completion for quarterbacks. Keeping in line with the idea that a quarterback can only throw a touchdown on a completion, I used only a quarterback's incompletions to calculate and analyze their interception rate.
In order to get a more significant sample size, I used ProFootballFocus.com data going back to 2008 and ProFootballReference.com as an additional resource to begin this study with the 2005 NFL season. For a quarterback to be included in this study, they require 400+ attempts in a season and 90+ attempts in their Y+1 campaign.
- 136 quarterbacks qualified for study between 2005 and 2010.
- The NFL average for this metric is 7.1% based on Y1 data.
- 85 quarterbacks fell within the range of 5% and 9%, where there was little evidence of any trend for their Y+1 interception rate.
First, here are the 25 quarterbacks that were below the 5% threshold from 2005-2010:
Year | Player | INT Rate | Y+1 Rate | Change |
2010 | Tom Brady | 2.38% | 5.71% | 3.33% |
2007 | David Garrard | 2.56% | 6.50% | 3.94% |
2008 | Jason Campbell | 3.14% | 8.33% | 5.19% |
2010 | Josh Freeman | 3.28% | 10.73% | 7.45% |
2010 | Ben Roethlisberger | 3.36% | 7.41% | 4.05% |
2007 | Jeff Garcia | 3.39% | 4.55% | 1.16% |
2009 | Aaron Rodgers | 3.66% | 6.75% | 3.09% |
2006 | Marc Bulger | 3.67% | 9.55% | 5.88% |
2010 | Matt Cassel | 3.72% | 8.26% | 4.54% |
2007 | Donovan McNabb | 3.85% | 4.87% | 1.02% |
2005 | Jake Plummer | 3.91% | 9.15% | 5.24% |
2005 | Bryron Leftwich | 3.94% | 6.67% | 2.73% |
2008 | Kerry Collins | 4.07% | 8.25% | 4.18% |
2009 | Brett Favre | 4.17% | 13.48% | 9.31% |
2010 | Matt Ryan | 4.21% | 5.48% | 1.27% |
2010 | Michael Vick | 4.32% | 8.24% | 3.92% |
2010 | Kyle Orton | 4.39% | 8.82% | 4.43% |
2006 | Donovan McNabb | 4.41% | 3.85% | -0.57% |
2009 | Tony Romo | 4.43% | 10.77% | 6.34% |
2008 | Chad Pennington | 4.52% | 8.70% | 4.18% |
2005 | Kerry Collins | 4.56% | 12.50% | 7.94% |
2006 | Peyton Manning | 4.62% | 7.87% | 3.25% |
2008 | JaMarcus Russell | 4.71% | 8.73% | 4.02% |
2008 | Donovan McNabb | 4.87% | 5.68% | 0.81% |
2009 | David Garrard | 4.95% | 11.54% | 6.59% |
The first thing that sticks out is that one of these things is not like the other. That is Donovan McNabb in 2006. Of the 25 players, he was the ONLY one to repeat or lower his low interception rate the following season. In fact, 64% of them were above the NFL average the following season. During this six-year stretch even top names like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, and Aaron Rodgers regressed and almost doubled their previous season's rate. In short, a whopping 96% of these low interception rates rose the following season and by an average of over 4%.
Now, here are the 25 quarterbacks from 2005-2010 with an interception rate greater than 9%:
Year | Player | INT Rate | Y+1 Rate | Change |
2006 | Joey Harrington | 9.09% | 6.02% | -3.08% |
2006 | Rex Grossman | 9.17% | 6.80% | -2.38% |
2007 | Philip Rivers | 9.20% | 6.63% | -2.57% |
2005 | Jake Delhomme | 9.25% | 6.55% | -2.70% |
2006 | Chad Pennington | 9.30% | 11.11% | 1.81% |
2006 | Matt Hasselbeck | 9.32% | 5.71% | -3.60% |
2010 | Jay Cutler | 9.36% | 5.30% | -4.06% |
2010 | Chad Henne | 9.52% | 8.33% | -1.19% |
2010 | Matt Hasselbeck | 9.55% | 7.04% | -2.51% |
2007 | Marc Bulger | 9.55% | 6.88% | -2.67% |
2007 | Jon Kitna | 9.71% | 9.60% | -0.11% |
2006 | Jon Kitna | 9.82% | 9.71% | -0.11% |
2007 | Carson Palmer | 9.90% | 7.41% | -2.49% |
2007 | Kurt Warner | 10.00% | 7.11% | -2.89% |
2007 | Tony Romo | 10.27% | 8.00% | -2.27% |
2010 | Drew Brees | 10.48% | 7.41% | -3.07% |
2006 | Tony Romo | 11.11% | 10.27% | -0.84% |
2009 | Matthew Stafford | 11.36% | 4.32% | -7.04% |
2009 | Jay Cutler | 11.87% | 9.36% | -2.51% |
2009 | Mark Sanchez | 11.98% | 5.70% | -6.28% |
2006 | Ben Roethlisberger | 12.17% | 7.86% | -4.31% |
2008 | Brett Favre | 12.29% | 4.17% | -8.12% |
2005 | Brett Favre | 12.34% | 6.67% | -5.67% |
2010 | Eli Manning | 12.50% | 6.96% | -5.54% |
2009 | Jake Delhomme | 12.59% | 12.50% | -0.09% |
Not only is it eerie that there was the same sample size of 25 quarterbacks, but just like the low-rate group, 24 of the 25 saw an improvement in their rate the following season. Once again, a ridiculous 96% regressed towards the NFL average. The average quarterback saw a 3% reduction in their rate and 56% of them dropped down to the NFL average or below. Chad Pennington in 2006 was the only outlier to this trend, rising from 9.3% to an even higher 11.1% in 2007. In terms of looking for a sure thing in this world, the only things that beat this interception rate trend are death and taxes – and someone needs to check Donovan McNabb's 2008 and Chad Pennington's 2007 return!
Now, it is time for the important part: What quarterbacks are likely to increase or decline in 2012? Here are the names to remember this year:
2012 Winners
Year | Player | INT Rate |
2011 | Philip Rivers | 9.26% |
2011 | Rex Grossman | 10.36% |
2011 | Ryan Fitzpatrick | 10.65% |
2011 | Josh Freeman | 10.73% |
2011 | Carson Palmer | 12.40% |
Philip Rivers was obvious inclusion. He is a huge name in fantasy football that had a downright horrible first half of 2011. His interception rate was at or below the NFL average between 2008-2010, so he is a prime candidate to return to form in 2012 in this metric. As a likely backup, Rex Grossman probably will not see enough attempts in 2012 to be included in the 2013 study of this metric. Ryan Fitzpatrick had another season of 10%+ in 2009, which improved to 8.1% in 2010. While he will never be confused with a top NFL quarterback, Fitzpatrick is likely to move his interception rate closer to the NFL average in 2012. Josh Freeman has needed motion-sickness medication because of all the highs and lows with his interception rate in the NFL. His rookie year in 2009 saw a rookie-like 13.6%, which rebounded all the way to his ridiculous 2010 season of 3.3% to go along with 25 touchdowns. Then, 2011 happened. Tampa Bay literally fell apart before our eyes along with Freeman's interception rate, which returned to a 2009-like 10.7%. This off-season brought about Freeman losing weight, a new coaching regime, and the added weapons of Vincent Jackson, Doug Martin, and Dallas Clark. Freeman is a prime candidate to see a 2012 interception rate closer to 2010, than his disappointing 2011.
2012 Losers
Year | Player | INT Rate |
2011 | Alex Smith | 2.91% |
2011 | Sam Bradford | 3.59% |
2011 | Aaron Rodgers | 3.80% |
Just three names qualify from 2011. Aaron Rodgers' historic season should come as no surprise to fall into this category. Alex Smith was the ultimate game-manager in 2011 after seasons of 8.2% and 7.2% interception rates in San Francisco. His 7.3 aDOT is far below the NFL average and his 9.1% sack rate suggests he was more than willing to eat the ball and not risk a turnover. Sam Bradford's interception rate is often overlooked from 2011. He attempted almost 36 passes a game on a team with few weapons around him. Bradford's aDOT was a healthy 8.3 in 2011 and he improved his 6.3% interception rate from 2010 down to 3.8%.
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