In the summer doldrum days awaiting a football season, just for fun, food for thought, here are some QB numbers to ponder.
Reviewed every UF season from 1964 through 2023, comparing QBs’ passing stats, and found an interesting parallel:
Trask 2019, stepped in after Franks’ injury Game 3
Mertz 2023, injured 3rd Qtr. game 11
Leak 2006 NC for comparison, 14 games
Comp/Att % Yds. YPA TD I QBR
Trask 237 354 66.9 2941 8.3 25 7 156.1
Mertz 261 358 72.9 2903 8.1 20 3 157.8
Leak 232 365 66.6 2942 8.1 23 13 144.9
I would say that Mertz, with a far inferior OL, getting sacked 33 times, with only ONE receiver or tight end with prior starting experience (Pearsall) and with 5 starts (Caleb Douglas), and plagued with a truly bad defense, had a pretty remarkable year.
In case you’re wondering, Danny, Timmy and Rex performed at significantly higher levels, as did Kyle in 2020. Shane Matthews’ best year was 1991, very comparable to Mertz’s 2023.
Two things to note: We know that Graham seldom threw deep. Not much time in the pocket? Biggest difference is that he and John Reaves are our only QBs among 14 with 2000-yard seasons who suffered a losing record.
Reviewed every UF season from 1964 through 2023, comparing QBs’ passing stats, and found an interesting parallel:
Trask 2019, stepped in after Franks’ injury Game 3
Mertz 2023, injured 3rd Qtr. game 11
Leak 2006 NC for comparison, 14 games
Comp/Att % Yds. YPA TD I QBR
Trask 237 354 66.9 2941 8.3 25 7 156.1
Mertz 261 358 72.9 2903 8.1 20 3 157.8
Leak 232 365 66.6 2942 8.1 23 13 144.9
I would say that Mertz, with a far inferior OL, getting sacked 33 times, with only ONE receiver or tight end with prior starting experience (Pearsall) and with 5 starts (Caleb Douglas), and plagued with a truly bad defense, had a pretty remarkable year.
In case you’re wondering, Danny, Timmy and Rex performed at significantly higher levels, as did Kyle in 2020. Shane Matthews’ best year was 1991, very comparable to Mertz’s 2023.
Two things to note: We know that Graham seldom threw deep. Not much time in the pocket? Biggest difference is that he and John Reaves are our only QBs among 14 with 2000-yard seasons who suffered a losing record.
