N/S - Is Phillip Rivers really a top 5 QB? (1 Viewer)

OG Steve

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Lifelong Saints fan here. I usually don't pay too much attention to AFC teams, but I heard something yesterday that really puzzled me & got me thinking...

On our local sports talk radio yesterday, one of the segments was about how the GM & coaching staff were to blame for the Chargers recent demise. The only reference to Rivers was in the context about what a shame it was to be wasting a top-5 QB (Rivers) on such a sorry team, and that he would be their only Pro Bowl player. There was exactly zero blame laid on Rivers' shoulders for their disappointing start.

Someone explain to me why the experts at ESPN and others keep referring to Rivers as a top 5 QB and refuse to even slightly criticize his performance this season? I watched some of that game on Monday night and I just don't understand all the love for him. What am I missing? His release looks nearly side-arm and his ball doesn't have much zip on it at all. He misses open receivers and makes questionable throws at times. About the only thing I was impressed with was his ability to stay in the pocket as it collapses, knowing he is about to get pummeled.

Not sure why I care, other than I get bothered when "experts" continue to lump Rivers & Brees together in the same QB status.
 
Disclaimer: My 7 year old son is a Charger fan, so we watch the games.

I think Rivers is a top 5 QB. His O line is half backups already and he is still making big plays. His accuracy is great and he can throw the deep ball as well as anyone. And he is tough as nails (playing a playoff game with a torn ACL). The real problem for San Diego is that their defense is crap this year and their O line is broken. And they've still been in every game they've lost, due to the fact that Rivers is that good.
 
Not in my top 5

Here are Rivers' DYAR rankings from Football outsiders:

2009 12
2008 3
2007 16
2006 6

Based on their analysis, he's only been a top 5 QB once. Based on wins/losses, I'd say no.

Let's try it another way. Name your top 5 QBs today. Is Rivers on your list?
Not mine.

Brees
P. Manning
Brady
Rothlisberger

And then...
Farve, Warner, Schaub, Cutler, Ryan, McNabb, E. Manning, or Palmer?

I think I'd take several of those other guys over Rivers.

To me, top 10 yes but not top 5.
 
Rivers is definitely a top 5 QB, he just doesn't have that great of a supporting cast (mainly O-Line and Defense). The numbers he put up last year were the best in the NFL. He's tough, and smart with a rocket for an arm. Not much more you can ask for out of your QB.
 
These are the top 4 Brees, Peyton, Brady, and Rothlisberger. Is Rivers next? I dunno, but he's close.
 
Rivers:
1. 33-15 W/L record
2. 92 QB rating
3. average of 3600 yards passing a year
4. 85 TD's - 39 INT's
5. 62% copletion rate

All that adds up to a really good QB. It's better than another young QB who's often considered top 5. And it compares favorably to Big Ben, often seen as a top 5 QB.

Cutler:
1. 17-20 W/L record
2. 87 QB rating
3. 3700 yards passing a year
4. 64 TD's - 44 INT's
5. 62% completion rate

Rothlisberger:
1. 51-20 W/L record
2. 91 QB rating
3. 3000 yards passing a year
4. 111 TD's - 75 INT's
5. 63% completion rate
 
Here are Rivers' DYAR rankings from Football outsiders:
Based on wins/losses, I'd say no.

How can you be a Saints fan, and base how good of a QB he is on his win/loss record? Since 2006 he has more regular season and playoff wins than Drew Brees. I'm not saying he's better than Brees, but who the heck here would say Drew isn't top 5 based on his win loss record? Just so you know his w/l record, it's 35-18 with 3 postseason wins, starting in 2006. Drew is 31-24 with 1 postseason win.
 
I think he should probably be included in the conversation for top 5, at least. I was there Monday night and dude had no time to throw on the off chance Norv Turner actually called a pass play.

For me the top five looks something like this:

Brees

Brady

P. Manning-->top three are nearly inseparable and heads and shoulders above the rest

Ryan/Flacco -->both are developing nicely and should be counted among the tops in the league, IMO, though Ryan moreso than Flacco at this point

Someone from Warner, Roethelisberger (sp?), Rivers

It irks me that Cutler is even mentioned in the top five. I don't think McNabb and Favre are anywhere near as reliable as the above guys, and I don't know anything about Schaub. Palmer, when he's healthy, maybe? I'm not terribly sure about the AFC teams.
 
He reminds me an awful lot of another Chargers QB (and Im not talking about Brees) only he has been more sucessful with the same lame attitude.
 
Here are Rivers' DYAR rankings from Football outsiders:

2009 12
2008 3
2007 16
2006 6

Based on their analysis, he's only been a top 5 QB once. Based on wins/losses, I'd say no.

Let's try it another way. Name your top 5 QBs today. Is Rivers on your list?
Not mine.

Brees
P. Manning
Brady
Rothlisberger

And then...
Farve, Warner, Schaub, Cutler, Ryan, McNabb, E. Manning, or Palmer?

I think I'd take several of those other guys over Rivers.

To me, top 10 yes but not top 5.

I don't think Rivers is a top 5 QB, but I think you can take Cutler off that list as well. He definitely doesn't belong there.
 
I did this on another forum:

1)Brees
2)Peyton
3)Roethlesburger
4)Favre
5)Brady - one more game of solid play and he'll be back at #3
6)Rodgers
7)Eli
8)Schaub
9)Ryan
10)Rivers
11)Warner
12)Flacco
13)McRib - being generous here, I think his time is running out
14)Palmer - might be higher, haven't watched enough
15)Cutler
16)Orton


17)Kolb - need more evaluation time
18)Romo
19)Stafford - need more evaluation time
 
I did this on another forum:

1)Brees
2)Peyton
3)Roethlesburger
4)Favre
5)Brady - one more game of solid play and he'll be back at #3
6)Rodgers
7)Eli
8)Schaub
9)Ryan
10)Rivers
11)Warner
12)Flacco
13)McRib - being generous here, I think his time is running out
14)Palmer
15)Cutler
16)Orton
17)Kolb
18)Romo
19)Stafford
Warner too high, Palmer too low.
 
I have had Rivers in my fantasy league for 3 years straight, and have watched a lot of his games over the years. I don't think he's a top 5 QB at all. This isn't just Rivers, but the entire offense struggles early in games all the time. They only time they actually win is to keep the game close with a couple of big plays here and their and then torch a prevent defense late the game.

Rarely do you ever see the chargers run a 10+ play drive that goes the length of the field and eat time off the clock. They are alwasy looking downfield and more often then not, Rivers can't connect.
 

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