"Top 10 Mobile QBs of All-Time" (1 Viewer)

[Raider Nation]

10) Donovan McNabb

9) Doug Flutie

8) Jim Zorn

7) Dan Marino ----->

6) Roger Staubach

5) Bobby Douglass

4) Michael Vick

3) Randall Cunningham

2) Steve Young

1) Fran Tarkenton

Out in the cold, among others:

Steve Grogan, Kordell Stewart, Vince Young, Archie Manning, John Elway.

 

[CalBear]

Silly list.

 

[mlball77]

No way Vince Young could be on that list already... in a couple years he will have earned it though.

As for Marino, I'm guessing he is included because of great pocket presence??? Knowing when to step up etc. or just having a sixth sense to avoid a sack. Thats all I can think of in defense of him being on the list.

Interesting list though... thanks for posting it.

 

[fridayfrenzy]

How is Vick not #1?

 

[CalBear]

How is Vick not #1?

And how is Bobby Douglass even on the list at all? (43% completions, 36 TD 64 INT).

 

[Reservoir Dog]

No John Elway, but they list DAN MARINO?!

 

[JohnnyU]

Well, that's 30 seconds I'll never get back. How the hell is Dan Marino on that list? He was a freaking statue.

 

[Jeff Pasquino]

Well, that's 30 seconds I'll never get back. How the hell is Dan Marino on that list? He was a freaking statue.

Apparently Peyton just missed the cut.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Dan Marino could never run, however he was the master of the side step in the pocket. Many a sack he avoided by simply buying time back there. He also had the quickest release evah!

 

[JohnnyU]

Dan Marino could never run, however he was the master of the side step in the pocket. Many a sack he avoided by simply buying time back there. He also had the quickest release evah!

If side stepping makes a QB qualify as "mobile", then Dan's the man. His quick release has nothing to do with him being mobile.

 

[KING]

How is Vick not #1?

And how is Bobby Douglass even on the list at all? (43% completions, 36 TD 64 INT).

duh, it's top ten mobile QB's. not top ten completetion percentage.

 

[Raider Nation]

How is Vick not #1?

And how is Bobby Douglass even on the list at all? (43% completions, 36 TD 64 INT).

Huhwhat?Before Vick set the single-season rushing record for a QB, Douglass held it.

 

[Bri]

Randall clear cut #1 IMO

Vick would be a long ways back too

Young....he was and wasn't a running QB ....yeah I guess so but...

 

[Raider Nation]

Dan Marino could never run, however he was the master of the side step in the pocket. Many a sack he avoided by simply buying time back there. He also had the quickest release evah!

If side stepping makes a QB qualify as "mobile", then Dan's the man. His quick release has nothing to do with him being mobile.

That's exactly why he made the list. They showed highlight after highlight of his side-stepping a pass rusher. Then they showed him being interviewed, and he credited his quick feet as the reason his arm was so effective. This may all be true, but it's still silly to have him on this list. Hell, even Drew Bledsoe and his cement feet side-stepped a pass rusher now and again.

 

[Bri]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO. Randall had a champion fighter get backup type chin, Vick doesn't have that at all. Those Ds hit everyone and hit em' hard.

 

[Bri]

How much did Staubach run?

 

[Raider Nation]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO

I feel sorry for the younger posters here who either don't remember RC at all, or only remember him as a Viking. When he was a young buck with the Eagles, he had SILLY athletic ability.

 

[Raider Nation]

How much did Staubach run?

A lot early on, before he had the Super Bowl-quality talent around him.EDIT: Actually, checking PFreference, Roger was on some great Dallas teams early in his career. But he definitely ran less as his career moved on.

 

[Bri]

How much did Staubach run?

A lot early on, before he had the Super Bowl-quality talent around him.

like McNair?just comparison wise, not debating the two. That seem like a fair comparison?

 

[Bri]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO

I feel sorry for the younger posters here who either don't remember RC at all, or only remember him as a Viking. When he was a young buck with the Eagles, he had SILLY athletic ability.

I love to bring up Gary Anderson RB for the same reason

 

[Billy1x]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).

I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

 

[Block]

No John Elway, but they list DAN MARINO?!

 

[Raider Nation]

How much did Staubach run?

A lot early on, before he had the Super Bowl-quality talent around him.

like McNair?just comparison wise, not debating the two. That seem like a fair comparison?

Interesting comparison. IMO, pre-injuries McNair had much more athletic prowess.

 

[Billy1x]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).

I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

 

[Raider Nation]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

The guy was astounding. He could avoid Deacon Jones and Merlin Olsen in a phone booth.

 

[SSOG]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

Even then, not listing Elway is silly. Elway always knew where the passrushers were coming from (and he faced a lot more of them than Marino, since his O-Line was nothing compared to Dan's). Elway said in an interview once that he could always sense when a passrusher was coming up from behind, and he used to toy with them, waiting until the last possible second, until they were SURE they had him, before ducking or stepping away. I mean, he TOYED with opposing DEs.

 

[Reservoir Dog]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

Even then, not listing Elway is silly. Elway always knew where the passrushers were coming from (and he faced a lot more of them than Marino, since his O-Line was nothing compared to Dan's). Elway said in an interview once that he could always sense when a passrusher was coming up from behind, and he used to toy with them, waiting until the last possible second, until they were SURE they had him, before ducking or stepping away. I mean, he TOYED with opposing DEs.

Then he'd throw a 70 yard bomb back across his body for a TD!

 

[DoubleG]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO

I feel sorry for the younger posters here who either don't remember RC at all, or only remember him as a Viking. When he was a young buck with the Eagles, he had SILLY athletic ability.

I strongly agree with their top 3. Vick should only be that high if it said "Top 10 mobile RBs playing the QB position." - Vick belongs on the list, but lower as someone in the thread said:

I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass.

I'm looking at you Michael and Bobbie. Other than the top 3 (and McNabb) you have QBs that either weren't particularly mobile or weren't particularly...well, QBs.

 

[Dhizz]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO. Randall had a champion fighter get backup type chin, Vick doesn't have that at all. Those Ds hit everyone and hit em' hard.

Yeah those 230lb LBs back in the 80s. Man they were brutal. 180 lb DBs. Crazy.News flash, players now are bigger, stronger, faster, and 80% of the guys from the 80s wouldn't make an NFL roster.So Vick taking a beating (panthers, bucs anyone?) is at worse (and horribly wrong) on par with the 80s, but it's actually far more vicious today. And Vick takes lots of brutal licks, try watching him play. If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today, and the defenses today are far beyond anything from the 70s/80s.

 

[Raider Nation]

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).

I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

Even then, not listing Elway is silly. Elway always knew where the passrushers were coming from (and he faced a lot more of them than Marino, since his O-Line was nothing compared to Dan's). Elway said in an interview once that he could always sense when a passrusher was coming up from behind, and he used to toy with them, waiting until the last possible second, until they were SURE they had him, before ducking or stepping away. I mean, he TOYED with opposing DEs.

Remember that time when Joe Montana toyed with Leonard Marshall? PIC

 

[Raider Nation]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO. Randall had a champion fighter get backup type chin, Vick doesn't have that at all. Those Ds hit everyone and hit em' hard.

Yeah those 230lb LBs back in the 80s. Man they were brutal. 180 lb DBs. Crazy.News flash, players now are bigger, stronger, faster, and 80% of the guys from the 80s wouldn't make an NFL roster.

 

[Bri]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO. Randall had a champion fighter get backup type chin, Vick doesn't have that at all. Those Ds hit everyone and hit em' hard.

Yeah those 230lb LBs back in the 80s. Man they were brutal. 180 lb DBs. Crazy.News flash, players now are bigger, stronger, faster, and 80% of the guys from the 80s wouldn't make an NFL roster.So Vick taking a beating (panthers, bucs anyone?) is at worse (and horribly wrong) on par with the 80s, but it's actually far more vicious today. And Vick takes lots of brutal licks, try watching him play. If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today, and the defenses today are far beyond anything from the 70s/80s.

that's a reasonable replyI mean no one on those Ds ever made the hall of fame and no one considers them two of the best Ds ever.Current Panthers and Bucs are not anywhere near as good as those two Ds.Seeing Vick get smacked by a DB is nowhere near the same as LT's sack breaking Theisman's leg.

 

[DoubleG]

How is Vick not #1?

The mid 80s Giants D or Bears D would have taken turns knocking Vick out of the game. He could not do what Randall did IMO. Randall had a champion fighter get backup type chin, Vick doesn't have that at all. Those Ds hit everyone and hit em' hard.

Yeah those 230lb LBs back in the 80s. Man they were brutal. 180 lb DBs. Crazy.News flash, players now are bigger, stronger, faster, and 80% of the guys from the 80s wouldn't make an NFL roster.So Vick taking a beating (panthers, bucs anyone?) is at worse (and horribly wrong) on par with the 80s, but it's actually far more vicious today. And Vick takes lots of brutal licks, try watching him play. If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today, and the defenses today are far beyond anything from the 70s/80s.

NEWS FLASH: Any defensive player even so much as looks at Vick late, there will be three flags for late hit - or one of several other rules that have been implemented to protect QBs/offensive players since the 80's. As a corralary, how many domes did the top 3 get to play in?? HINT: Tarkenton's home field was NOT a dome when he played for the Vikings.

 

[Bri]

If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today,

I don't believe this is true statistically He's only played 16 games once.David Carr

 

[Da Guru]

How is Vick not #1?

Probably because they were not sure that he is a QB.

 

[DoubleG]

If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today,

I don't believe this is true statistically He's only played 16 games once.

David Carr

 

[DawnBTVS]

Other mobile QBs who could've been "outside" shots (Say 15-20)...

Ken Anderson, Daunte Culpepper, Terry Bradshaw, Jeff Garcia, and Tobin Rote (50's era... Had 2 seasons with 8 and 11 TD respectively on the ground)

 

[SSOG]

If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today,

I don't believe this is true statistically He's only played 16 games once.

David Carr

True, and even if Vick does get hit a lot compared to guys today, Cunningham early in his career got hit at a HISTORIC rate. The 1986 Eagles allowed an NFL-record 104 sacks ( !!!). Cunningham wound up QBing the Eagles over a stretch where they gave up 41 sacks in 4 games. He finished that season with 72 sacks, despite only starting a handful of games. He only attempted 209 passes that season, which means literally he was sacked ONCE FOR EVERY FOUR TIMES HE DROPPED BACK TO PASS. Imagine Vick getting sacked 5 times for every 20 passes he attempted- that's how much he'd have to get hit to finish on par with the beating that Cunningham took back in 1986. Read here for more on just how historically awful the 1986 Eagles were when it came to pass protection.

 

[CalBear]

How is Vick not #1?

And how is Bobby Douglass even on the list at all? (43% completions, 36 TD 64 INT).

duh, it's top ten mobile QB's. not top ten completetion percentage.

So what? He has two seasons with over 500 yards rushing, three with over 300. He has one season in the top 20 rushing seasons in yardage by a QB--for comparison, Cunningham has 5, Vick has 4, McNair has two. He obviously couldn't pass. He doesn't belong in a top list of anything other than top out-of-position RBs.

 

[DoubleG]

If nothing else, you can't question Vicks toughness. He gets hit far more then any QB today,

I don't believe this is true statistically He's only played 16 games once.

David Carr

True, and even if Vick does get hit a lot compared to guys today, Cunningham early in his career got hit at a HISTORIC rate. The 1986 Eagles allowed an NFL-record 104 sacks ( !!!). Cunningham wound up QBing the Eagles over a stretch where they gave up 41 sacks in 4 games. He finished that season with 72 sacks, despite only starting a handful of games. He only attempted 209 passes that season, which means literally he was sacked ONCE FOR EVERY FOUR TIMES HE DROPPED BACK TO PASS. Imagine Vick getting sacked 5 times for every 20 passes he attempted- that's how much he'd have to get hit to finish on par with the beating that Cunningham took back in 1986. Read here for more on just how historically awful the 1986 Eagles were when it came to pass protection.

That's why they got Randall - "Well, we can't protect him, so we better get a QB that can run for his life."

 

[ZzZ]

Well, that's 30 seconds I'll never get back. How the hell is Dan Marino on that list? He was a freaking statue.

Apparently Peyton just missed the cut.

Just after Bernie Kosar (aka Ichabod Crane).

 

[zed2283]

How much did Staubach run?

I've seen a clip (I think on the 75th Anniversary video) where Staubach says he put up with Landry calling the plays and so Landry had to put up with him running.

Tarkington was the #1. No one could touch him. He could stand in a 10' square and everybody would go around him or over the top. His jersey was made of teflon. He couldn't get hit from behind (eyes in the back of his head).

I think the definition of the mobile for this program was he who avoids the rush and completes the pass. Crossing the line of scrimmage doesn't count.

I was thinking about this the other day (while mulling over the All-Time Best thread) and asked myself "why is Fran Tarkenton never ever mentioned on any list of all-time great QB's?" I mean, I would be willing to bet that most people wouldn't even have him in their top 20. In fact, he just never seems to come to mind. But the fact is that he led the Vikings to 3 or 4 Super Bowls (was Joe Kapp the QB in one?), is in the Hall of Fame, and held the record for career passing yards until Marino broke it.Is it because the Vikings lost all those Super Bowls? My first guess would be yes. I'll admit, I never saw him play. I just knew him as one of the hosts of "That's Incredible!"

edit: I stand corrected. Reservoir Dog has him at #8 on his all-time QB list.