Best Possession Quarterbacks?

[1986 Giants]

This game is showing me just how much I don't know about football, after merely watching it on TV for the past few decades. :o

For example, Greta just announced her list of "Best Possession Quarterbacks." I am guessing that this means quarterbacks who fumble the least. Correct?

[jbergey22]

In my opinion it would be the quarterbacks that turn the ball over the least and are able to work the clock. As your name indicates you were likely a fan someone like Phil Simms would do well in this particular list.

[RedKingGold]

In my opinion it would be the quarterbacks that turn the ball over the least and are able to work the clock. As your game indicates someone like Phil Simms would do well in this particular list.

I think you're half right. I'm pretty sure it has nothing to do with 'working the clock", but is related to quarterbacks least likely to throw interceptions. Avoiding fumbles might be invovled, but I'm pretty sure it's a strong hint of the quarterbacks with the top ten highest avoid interceptions rating.

[1986 Giants]

OK, thanks for the replies. Here's a real noob question, then.

I gather that there are ratings that the game ("Greta") is looking at, like fumble/interception proneness, that are not displayed in a Player Report. Is there a way to see these hidden ratings or are such judgments ("Best Possession Quarterbacks") just to be taken on faith?

The reason I am asking is because my own quarterback was on that list, and he ended up the season with one more INT than TDs (14 and 13) and fumbled 11 times. I know actual performances may not correspond to ratings in the short run, but I am curious nonetheless.

[jbergey22]

OK, thanks for the replies. Here's a real noob question, then.

I gather that there are ratings that the game ("Greta") is looking at, like fumble/interception proneness, that are not displayed in a Player Report. Is there a way to see these hidden ratings or are such judgments ("Best Possession Quarterbacks") just to be taken on faith?

The reason I am asking is because my own quarterback was on that list, and he ended up the season with one more INT than TDs (14 and 13) and fumbled 11 times. I know actual performances may not correspond to ratings in the short run, but I am curious nonetheless.

I believe one of the bars is avoiding interceptions unless I am off on that. I am sure there is some formula for these lists but its likely hard to figure out exactly what it is. I prefer not to know to much about the numbers and trying to crack the particular numbers. I just think of each bar as an ability and I use them particular abilities to build the best squad I can without trying to get advantages in finding little flaws within the game.

[Hammer]

Without seeing the players on the list, I would guess short passing.

Avoid interceptions is most careful QBs.

[Ben E Lou]

OK, thanks for the replies. Here's a real noob question, then.

I gather that there are ratings that the game ("Greta") is looking at, like fumble/interception proneness, that are not displayed in a Player Report. Is there a way to see these hidden ratings or are such judgments ("Best Possession Quarterbacks") just to be taken on faith?

The reason I am asking is because my own quarterback was on that list, and he ended up the season with one more INT than TDs (14 and 13) and fumbled 11 times. I know actual performances may not correspond to ratings in the short run, but I am curious nonetheless.

Avoid fumbles and Avoid interceptions are both hidden intentionally, and can't be seen. "Most Careful Quarterbacks" corresponds to Avoid Interceptions.

I'm not sure about "Best Possession Quarterbacks," though. I loaded up three SP leagues (one on Main Street and 6.1-generated) and simmed to Week 14. There's no correlation with any one revealed rating that I can see. The ones that were high most often (but in some cases very low) were Medium Passing and Sense Rush. It may be that this is Avoid Fumbles--or maybe it's some other unknown hidden rating.

[AlexB]

While trying to work out this very thing the other day, another question struck me - are we to take it that Greta is the Seer of FOF, and her listings are gospel?

If this is true, Greta's list aren't just good for top 10 player ratings, but also for scout evaluation. If, for example, Medium Passing & Sense Rush are the ratings for Possession QBs, but his scout says a few of them are poor in these areas, time to get a better QB scout...

[Sgran]

Could it simply be related to 'time of possession'?

[Ben E Lou]

Could it simply be related to 'time of possession'?
Extremely unlikely. I'm virtually certain that it's static. In other words, I simmed to Week 14 with the same savegame thrice, and the list was identical from 1 to 10 all three times. Given the combination of these two factors:

1. all of the other Greta reports are clearly strictly ratings-based
2. the long odds that the top 10 in time of possession would be identical on three consecutive runs,

it's safe to assume that this one is strictly ratings-based as well.

[cuervo72]

I thought it might be medium passes too. The FOFL file I had at home was at that stage, and the guys on the list all had very good medium pass ratings (though there may have been at least one who showed up in the medium pass "recommend player" list that wasn't on Greta's).

[Hammer]

Its not avoid fumbles, just had a look at week 13 from the archive of a league I'm in, cross referencing with FOF2004. I can see no relationship with any of the bars shown.

[RedKingGold]

That's what I get for trying to answer a question when it's late and I'm tired. :)

[RedKingGold]

Comparing several MP and SP leagues that I have saved up to week 14, there appears to be a strong connection with "Best Possession QB's" and Medium Passing/Third Down Passing.

[RedKingGold]

For example, I rolled back my GEFL file to Week 14 of this year and recorded Greta's Top Ten Possession Quarterbacks along with the top fifteen players with the highest medium passing and third down passing ratings (as per the "Recommend Player" search)

Greta's Top Ten Possession QB's
1. John Elway
2. Joe Montana
3. Jim Kelly
4. Dan Marino
5. Dan Fouts
6. David Woodley
7. Joe Ferguson
8. Dave Krieg
9. Jim Zorn
10. Marc Wilson

Top Fifteen "Medium" Passers (Recommend Player screen)
1. John Elway
2. Jim Zorn
3. Dan Marino
4. Joe Montana
5. Jim Kelly
6. Lincoln Murray
7. Marc Wilson
8. Tony Eason
9. Bill Kenney
10. Dan Fouts
11. Vince Ferragamo
12. Jerome Mendez
13. Deangelo Marin
14. Neil Lomax
15. Joe Ferguson

Top Third-Down Passing Ratings (Recommend Player screen)
1. Tito Doan
2. Jake Longoria
3. John Elway
4. David Woodley
5. Phil Simms
6. Curtis McElroy
7. Joe Montana
8. Jim Kelly
9. Warren Moon
10. Dave Krieg
11. Joe Ferguson
12. Lynn Dickey
13. Brian Sipe
14. Steve Young
15. Dan Fouts

Notice that David Woodley (#21 in medium passing) and Dave Krieg (#20) made Greta's list while not being in the league's top fifteen of medium passers. Also, Lincoln Murray (#23 in third down passing), Tony Eason (NR), and Bill Kenney (NR) did not make the list despite high medium passing ratings.

My guess is that Murray would be rated #11 on Greta's list.

[1986 Giants]

Thanks, all.