Did Kordell Stewart play in the wrong era?

Even though I agree, I still believe that a Qb is the main reason You win , or lose in the playoffs.
I was always taught, and I believe it to be true from all that I've seen, that a HC will get You to the playoffs, and a Qb will get you to the promise land, the SB.

 

Yes, he played in the wrong era. Teams today are much more able to utilize the QB's legs on designed runs, and they are able to scheme ways to make that threat open up the passing lanes. He wouldn't have had to have been highly accurate. Complete 60% of passes (many tailored, easy throws off of rollouts), run a good bit, etc. He would've been a menace in the red zone today too. I don't think he would've been a super star, but he would've been an effective starter that could get hot and find a PB/AP a year or so in there, but be largely run of the mill when he's not hot. Think Jalen Hurts. High ceiling, but can be remarkably average for stretches too.

 

Can’t say he played in the wrong era, but he definitely played for the wrong coordinators.

 

I'm not sure he was willing to give up being a QB without an honest try. He was ok that 1st year with the "slash" role because it got him on the field. Guys like Ward and Randel El were far more aware that the path to the NFL was by switching to receiver and not QB. There have been a couple guys on offensive line that I think would excel at guard but got the idea that after a try a tackle they wanted that instead because more money. I remember Foster saying that to guys who were converted to tackles that they should stay tackles for the money.

 

Yeah, definitely. I remember thinking that while I thought he should be a RB, he'd never give up the QB role. But it would have been better for him and the team.

 

I think what you're describing is pretty much what Stewart was.

Starter for multiple years. > 3k passing 2x (I think this was harder back then, but I don't have stats on how many 3k passers there were then vs. now). One probowl.

Best year (2001) finished 4th in MVP voting (and comeback player of the year).
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/awards/awards_2001.htm

Maybe the biggest thing re: era that Steward would have benefited from was protections for QBs? Big concussion in 2002. Neck injury in 2003.

I think it's also worth mentioning that making the AP team for a QB is really, really hard. Ben was never a 1st team all pro (maybe not even a 2nd team?). And he should be a 1st ballot HoF player. Miles better than Stewart ever could have been.

 

There are similar numbers of 3k passers now as there was in 2000, but way more 4k passers now. The peak for passing was the early 2010's, and we're regressed from then in a passing capacity; but still ahead of Stewart's time.

I think he would've had more staying power in today's league. Statistically his rushing would be higher and probably his passing as well. Some OC would have found a way to utilize his strengths. AP likely would have been a bit easier in 2001 than in Ben's time simply because Ben played in the best QB era ever. Brady, Manning, Brees, Rodgers, Luck... Just studs everywhere in the league. There were good QB's in the late 90's but it was different. The league changed offensively because of how good the QB play was in Ben's era.

 

Thanks for the info re: 3k passers. That's interesting that the threshold for having 3k didn't seem to change when passing got easier, but getting to 4k did.

If I had to guess...maybe this tells us something like "it doesn't make it easier to process info fast enough to be a competent QB (3k yards), but for the guys who can do that well the increase in passing attempts and rules limiting defenses make it easier to get huge numbers (4k yards)"?

I think you're right about Ben and APs. Just really, really hard. Even to make the probowl since he was basically always in the league with Brady and either Manning or Mahomes.

His career in a modern NFL would certainly have looked different. He wouldn't have had to put in a couple years as "Slash" because he'd be a QB right away (so his career as a QB would be longer on the front end). There would be a lot more offenses in the league that would be willing to run around a guy like him. Defenses would have had more / better ways to deal with QBs like him. He'd have been more protected. And he'd probably have had more options as a backup after his prime starting years were done.

But in the end, I think his main issue was accuracy. So I think he would have had a longer career in today's NFL. But I don't know that he would have had bigger accomplishments than he already had (but maybe would have had more of them with more starting years).

 

Politics in a sports forum. Has always been one of my favorite things.

 

He likely would've been an 8-10 year starter. He may not have been an excellent one, but a decent one that could get hot and take a team far if their defense is good. Who knows though. I just know he would've had a better shot in the modern NFL than he would have in the 90's with everyone trying to make him a pocket passer.

 

So You are saying he would have been what He was already. A guy that had a couple of great years, but when You average it all together, not great.

 

I have a feeling some of You either don't remember the Kordell years well, or didn't watch. He had years with 81, 88, and 96 runs in the year. I'm sorry but that's not trying to force a Qb to be a pocket Qb.
I believe many either didn't watch, or forgot all the designed runs he had, but after that doesn't work, and every time You make the playoffs a team forces you to win with your arm, and You can't, eventually a team gives up on it.

 

Kordell was not a QB in any era. He is one of the worst QBs in NFL history. If you cannot pass then you are not a QB. He should have stayed WR/RB.

 

Yeah, I just think his bad years would have been better, so he would've remained a starter longer. I also think his good years could've been better too. Similar to what he was, but in an era that was more conducive to letting him be who he was and excel at the things he was good at in an attempt to help him with the things he wasn't.

 

Kordell Stewart was my favorite player as a kid. I didn't understand football like I do now, but I always remember that when things were good, he was electric and exciting. I certainly remember the Kordell days...

Also, 81 runs in a 16 game season isn't a running QB, that's 5 a game. They were also not all designed runs and were a lot of him just scrambling from the pocket. Shoot, pocket passers nowadays run it 60-65 times a year (Patrick Mahomes ran it 75 times in the regular season last time they won a SB). The Ravens are "Protecting Lamar" and he's run it an average of 154 times a season (factoring 16 game seasons) in his MVP years... that's a running QB. Jalen Hurts is a running QB. Kordell just took off when he couldn't get through his progressions anymore or if pressure got there. They were definitely trying to develop him as a passer. He was very rarely designed runs, nor was he instructed to run the ball as a second or third read.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGozy9nnM4A&t=96s

That link is a video of Kordell's longest run every year as a Steeler. The first year was the "Slash" year, and it was a pitch to him (he was playing RB on this particular play). Every other year was a drop back pass that he took off running on. None of them were designed. The one year it wasn't a drop back, he had a long TD run where it appeared to be a broken play. They look to have blocked an end around and he either forgot to pitch it, or just missed his assignment so he took off and scored.

I understand why the Steelers gave up on Kordell, but had he been a rookie in this era... I think that he would have a much higher chance at succeeding. We would run many designed runs with him, more rollouts and QB friendly schemes. His passing percentages would go up, and he'd be a threat with his legs (and we'd design 8-10 runs a game with him and he'd be highly effective).

 

Kelly is deservedly in the HoF. He lost four straight SBs, but at that time the NFC was dominant. Just like when the Vikings could not beat the Chiefs, Fins, Steelers & Raiders in the 70s. Broncos also lost many SBs until Elway got Terrell Davis.

Think About 30 years of the NFL with the Dolphins, Steelers & Raiders of the 1970s, then the 49ers & Giants plus one great 1985 Bears team. Then the 90s with the Skins, Cowboys and Broncos.

About 8-10 teams really dominated the game.

The recent Steelers were playing Moneyball and riding a reputation leftover from the days of Bill Cowher. Time for a new chapter.

 

All running Qbs run from around 80 - over 100 times a year. You also picked the most runs a Year by Pat Mahomes , and by the way , it was his worst year ever. Patrick Mahomes runs about 55 times a year on average of his history of the NFL. That's a hell of a lot less than 82, 88,and 96 runs by Kordell Stewart. Especially considering when this was, and considering that people are trying to say they were forcing him to be a pocket passer. People forced to be pocket passer don't run 96 times in a season. I'm not trying to disturb how you remember it, but I totally remember it, and even have the games . I got Sunday ticket in 96, and had it for every year since. I seen every game Kordell played, and a few live.

 

Harsh. Kordell was better than JaMarcus Russell.

 

Lots of QB's run over 80 times a year nowadays. Guys like Jackson, Hurts, Allen, Daniels, and Maye are going to run it over 100 times every year they are healthy. Jaxson Dart ran it 86 times in 12 starts. Do you consider Justin Herbert a running QB? What about Trevor Lawrence? Bo Nix? All those guys ran it over 80 times, but I wouldn't consider any of them "running QB's". Its just how the position has gone over the years and it would have benefitted Kordell, since he always excelled in the open field with his legs.

In reference to Mahomes, so what? The year before he ran 61 times in an MVP year and that is like barely over 1 carry per game less than Stewart. The difference is how QB's are used today. Kordell ran up the pocket on designed passes. There were minimal, if any, designed runs. Today, OC's give the QB's rollouts, designed runs, RPO's, etc. to give them more opportunity to use their legs. None of that was a thing in the 90's, and it was actively discouraged. Let's not pretend that Kordell was being used like running QB's today. He certainly wasn't and it is quite obvious.

Glad you're an OG Sunday Ticket user. My dad had a dish from the late 90's as well. I've missed like single digit number of games since I was in elementary school. Seen Kordell live like 4-5 times too. I was younger, but I was there. It was definitely responsible for MANY core childhood memories.

 

I did see an interview with Kordell and he took credit for today's RPO QBs.

He said: I am the daddy of them.

For whatever that's worth.

 

Kordell sucked and it took Cowher way too long to realize it and deal with it. Poor passing skills were his biggest weakness, so he would not be a good starter in any era. Personally, I thought his attitude sucked and he often failed to take responsibility for his screw-ups and even threw teammates under the bus.

 

With half the brains.

 

Kelly was one tough SOB. Always been a fan. Can't say anything bad about him but not sure he was better than Allen.

 

Typical Kordell. A legend in his own mind.

 

Lamar Jackson, Dart, Allen, and Daniels are running Qbs.
So none of this was true.
1st Trevor Lawrence runs about 60 times average a year. Lot less than 96 times.
I already said Mahomes runs about 50 times average a year.
Bo Nix is a running Qb as of now, as is Maye.
Justin Herbert averages 62 runs a season.
So nothing you said was true. You can't just take one year to try , and make Your point.
Appears you didn't watch Kordell play, he had all kinds of role outs, and designed runs. If You don't believe me , we can make a friendly wager. It really appear you don't remember much of him playing.
Again nobody is forcing a guy to be a pocket passer that is running the ball 82, 88, and 96 times.
In 97 he had the 2nd highest rushing attempts by a Qb.
In 98 he had the most rushing attempts by a Qb
In 2001 he again had the most rushing attempts by a Qb. Yeah they were really forcing him to play from the pocket.