dhockster
Footballguy
Andy Reid has been a very successful coach in the NFL. One reason is his QB's throw a very low percentage of interceptions per attempt. Now he could have just been blessed with QB's who just happen to be good at not throwing interceptions, or he is doing some coaching to help them in that regard. Since Alex Smith didn't have a low interception percentage in his early years with San Francisco, I lean towards the latter explanation.
It's funny that people always ragged on McNabb for throwing "worm burners" but I think some of that may have been coached. If you are going to miss on a throw, it is better to miss low than to miss high. High balls tend to get tipped more and tipped balls get intercepted at a higher rate.
I put together the following chart. It is interesting to see the correlation between interception rate and team record. Obviously other factors are involved, but it is interesting that the correlation seems to hold true over 2 teams and 4 QB's. Also interesting is that Nick Foles started 7 games in 2012 and was 5th in lowest interception percentage rate. That doesn't correlate with winning that year (the Eagles were 2-5 in Foles starts) but it does add credence to the thought that Reid is coaching QB's how not to throw interceptions.
Keep in mind that Reid was a QB coach before he became a head coach.
Year Team Predominant interception Team
Starter Percentage Record
Rank
1999 Philadelphia Pederson Not top ten 5-11
2000 Philadelphia McNabb 6 11-5
2001 Philadelphia McNabb 3 11-5
2002 Philadelphia McNabb 4 12-4
2003 Philadelphia McNabb 5 12-4
2004 Philadelphia McNabb 2 13-3
2005 Philadelphia McNabb Not top ten 6-10
2006 Philadelphia McNabb 5 10-6
2007 Philadelphia McNabb 4 8-8
2008 Philadelphia McNabb 6 9-6-1
2009 Philadelphia McNabb 8 11-5
2010 Philadelphia Vick 4 10-6
2011 Philadelphia Vick Not top ten 8-8
2012 Philadelphia Vick Not top ten 4-12
2013 Kansas City Smith 3 11-5
2014 Kansas City Smith 2T 9-7
2015 Kansas City Smith 1 7-5
It's funny that people always ragged on McNabb for throwing "worm burners" but I think some of that may have been coached. If you are going to miss on a throw, it is better to miss low than to miss high. High balls tend to get tipped more and tipped balls get intercepted at a higher rate.
I put together the following chart. It is interesting to see the correlation between interception rate and team record. Obviously other factors are involved, but it is interesting that the correlation seems to hold true over 2 teams and 4 QB's. Also interesting is that Nick Foles started 7 games in 2012 and was 5th in lowest interception percentage rate. That doesn't correlate with winning that year (the Eagles were 2-5 in Foles starts) but it does add credence to the thought that Reid is coaching QB's how not to throw interceptions.
Keep in mind that Reid was a QB coach before he became a head coach.
Year Team Predominant interception Team
Starter Percentage Record
Rank
1999 Philadelphia Pederson Not top ten 5-11
2000 Philadelphia McNabb 6 11-5
2001 Philadelphia McNabb 3 11-5
2002 Philadelphia McNabb 4 12-4
2003 Philadelphia McNabb 5 12-4
2004 Philadelphia McNabb 2 13-3
2005 Philadelphia McNabb Not top ten 6-10
2006 Philadelphia McNabb 5 10-6
2007 Philadelphia McNabb 4 8-8
2008 Philadelphia McNabb 6 9-6-1
2009 Philadelphia McNabb 8 11-5
2010 Philadelphia Vick 4 10-6
2011 Philadelphia Vick Not top ten 8-8
2012 Philadelphia Vick Not top ten 4-12
2013 Kansas City Smith 3 11-5
2014 Kansas City Smith 2T 9-7
2015 Kansas City Smith 1 7-5
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