AFC South: Quarterback Rankings

Over the next few weeks, I’ll be ranking each of the position groups in the AFC South. Up this week: Quarterbacks.

(AP Photo/Phelan Ebenhack)

By Jeremy Philipson

1) Andrew Luck (Indianapolis Colts)

No one has done more with less this year than Andrew Luck. He became the face of the Colts’ franchise and has turned an awful team into a respectable one looking to land a playoff berth. Take at look at these two stat lines:

Player A: 59.2% completion, 1,814 yards, 12 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 0 rushing touchdowns

Player B: 57.5% completion, 2,631 yards, 10 touchdowns, 9 interceptions, 5 rushing touchdowns

Player A has a better completion percentage, better touchdown to interception ratio, but has thrown for over 800 fewer yards. Player B, has 3 more total touchdowns, and clearly his team needs him to throw a lot to win games.

Player A is Jay Cutler. Player B is Andrew Luck. With almost no rushing game and an aging defense, Luck has been asked to be the best player on the Indianapolis roster. He has revived a team that was 2-14 a year ago, and will be a mainstay at Lucas Oil Stadium for years to come.

2) Matt Schaub (Houston Texans)

While many may think that Schaub deserves to be at the top of this list, he has been the beneficiary having an All-Pro running back behind him and a top ranked defense. Schaub has been just as efficient as last year, throwing for a high completion percentage, but less yards and a lower average completion. Although Schaub has less yards, yards, and passing touchdowns, he does not need to throw for 4,500 yards or 40 touchdowns with Arian Foster behind him. 2009 Matt Schaub may have been at the top of this list, where he threw for 4,770 yards and 29 touchdowns, but 2012 Matt Schaub is a much more efficient player, better fit for a Super Bowl run.

3) Jake Locker/Matt Hasselbeck (Tennessee Titans)

Because Locker has been hurt, and has only appeared in 5 games, the Titans’ quarterback duo will be evaluated as one player. With that being said, their combined stats are 61.5% completion, 2,270 yards, 13 touchdowns, and 7 interceptions. Had one player put up those numbers they would be high on this list. The Titans are all in on Locker as the quarterback of the future, and should be excited with his progress thus far. But, until he can stay healthy for an entire season, he will be third best in the AFC South.

4) Blaine Gabbert (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Blaine Gabbert finds himself at the bottom of this list for numerous reasons. First off, he has not developed as expected in second year in the league. Although his completion percentage is way up (+7.2%) and is on pace to throw for more yards and touchdowns, that success has not translated to the win column. Last year, the Jaguars were 5-11 with Gabbert starting 15 games. This year, Jacksonville is only 1-8 and without running back Maurice Jones-Drew, could end up with only a few wins. Until Gabbert starts putting up numbers in the win column, he will be looking up at the rest of the quarterbacks in this division.

Next week: Running Backs