Brandon Marshall

[EKnight]

^^This. Marshall wasn't the only one dropping passes in Miami. Bess dropped 6 as well, and he wasn't targeted nearly as often as Marshall. Makes you wonder how much really is Brandon, and how much is not. Overall, Miami was 14th highest in the league in drops. -EK

[Pappy13]

At the end of the day:

- Marshall did a lot of talking about how great the Cutler days were and how much he misses having a great QB
- he was roundly criticized for making such statements
- when given an opportunity to play with quality QBs, he outshined every other WR in the league (for that game)

Looks to me like he basically showed he was right.

It's been well established by Marshall that he thinks the play should be "Marshall you go deep and I'll just throw it up and you catch it."  Well that's what the Pro Bowl has devolved into. If the games on Sunday's during the regular season looked like that, then maybe he'd be on to something, unfortunately on game days there some things like double coverage and a pass rush that changes things.

I'm happy that Brandon got a chance to shine, but unfortunately the game doesn't count and it only happens once a year. That's not exactly what he gets paid for.

[hordman]

It's been well established by Marshall that he thinks the play should be "Marshall you go deep and I'll just throw it up and you catch it."  Well that's what the Pro Bowl has devolved into. If the games on Sunday's during the regular season looked like that, then maybe he'd be on to something, unfortunately on game days there some things like double coverage and a pass rush that changes things.

I'm happy that Brandon got a chance to shine, but unfortunately the game doesn't count and it only happens once a year. That's not exactly what he gets paid for.

+1 Shuts the coffin door and hits the nail on the head.

[Spider-Dan]

It's been well established by Marshall that he thinks the play should be "Marshall you go deep and I'll just throw it up and you catch it."  Well that's what the Pro Bowl has devolved into. If the games on Sunday's during the regular season looked like that, then maybe he'd be on to something, unfortunately on game days there some things like double coverage and a pass rush that changes things.

As a receiver, the "pass rush" (and a QB's ability, or inability, to get the ball to him) is not something that is under Marshall's control.

Marshall was double-covered on at least one of those TDs, so I'm not sure where you're going on that.

[el diablo]

The pass rush is not in his control. However, if a QB is being hit before his 3rd step it kinda takes away the ability to get a guy the ball 40 yds downfield. When QB drops the ball where only his receiver can get it & he drops it. Or he catches a ball only to run out of bounds with no one around him. Those are things, that he can control.  Brandon is a great talent, but talent can't substitute for execution.

Its a team sport, "Leon" Marshall.

[Spider-Dan]

The pass rush is not in his control. However, if a QB is being hit before his 3rd step it kinda takes away the ability to get a guy the ball 40 yds downfield.

There are teams with much, much worse offensive lines than Miami's.  Quite a few, actually.

When QB drops the ball where only his receiver can get it & he drops it. Or he catches a ball only to run out of bounds with no one around him. Those are things, that he can control.

That's a fair point.  I would argue that when you have mediocre performance at the QB position, it magnifies every mistake Marshall makes (because there are much fewer opportunities).

[Pappy13]

As a receiver, the "pass rush" (and a QB's ability, or inability, to get the ball to him) is not something that is under Marshall's control.

Exactly, it's under the control of the offensive coordinator who realizes that his job is a little tougher than drawing in the sand and saying "Marshall you go deep and Moore will throw it to you."

Marshall was double-covered on at least one of those TDs, so I'm not sure where you're going on that.

You're not suggesting that the Pro-Bowl looked ANYTHING even remotely similar to a regular season game are you?  The rules are very specific in the Pro-Bowl. No blitzing. No hitting the QB. No specialized defense. ETC ETC ETC.

I watched the game, but only the first half for the most part. I saw no point in watching the rest of the pitch and catch exhibition. I've seen Madden games that had more strategy.

[el diablo]

There are teams with much, much worse offensive lines than Miami's.  Quite a few, actually.
That's a fair point.  I would argue that when you have mediocre performance at the QB position, it magnifies every mistake Marshall makes (because there are much fewer opportunities).

Point taken. There are worse offensive lines than Miami's.
Moore finished 12th in QB rating. If Marshall doesn't drop 4 potential TD's, Moore finishes with a QB rating of 91.4 (60.9 comp. percentage, 20 TD, 9 INT). Just that alone puts him ahead of all three QB's that threw a TD to Marshall in the pro bowl. If 9th is mediocre, I'll take it.

[EKnight]

You're not seriously implying those numbers make Moore better than Rivers, Dalton, or Ben are you? -EK

[Spider-Dan]

Moore finished 12th in QB rating. If Marshall doesn't drop 4 potential TD's, Moore finishes with a QB rating of 91.4 (60.9 comp. percentage, 20 TD, 9 INT). Just that alone puts him ahead of all three QB's that threw a TD to Marshall in the pro bowl.

None of the three QBs that threw a TD to Marshall have a Pro Bowl MVP-caliber WR on their roster.

But let's be serious: regardless of this year's passer rating, Moore is not remotely in the same class as any of those QBs (except maybe the rookie, Dalton, which isn't really a compliment to Moore).

[el diablo]

What I'm saying is that this season, Moore would've had a better statistical year than those 3 had a certain Pro Bowl MVP caught some of those dropped TD passes. That puts the ball back in Marshall's court. Over the course of their careers, those three will probably be better. To lay the blame at a QB who put the ball in your hands, and you drop them, is ludicrous to me.

And Vincent Jackson, A.G. Green, & Mike Wallace aren't pro bowl caliber?

[EKnight]

Not over the course of their careers. THIS year all three were significantly better than Moore. QB rating is one of many, many evaluations. There's a reason those guys made the pro bowl and Moore didn't. He stinks. -EK

[Spider-Dan]

What I'm saying is that this season, Moore would've had a better statistical year than those 3 had a certain Pro Bowl MVP caught some of those dropped TD passes.

This year, Moore threw for career highs in completions, yards and TDs, while Big Ben and Rivers both posted a worse passer rating than their career average (Rivers dramatically so).  Your argument appears to be that even though Marshall had more receptions and yards than the other three WRs mentioned, if he had only caught more TDs too, Moore would have been rated above the other QBs.  In other words, if Marshall was a dramatically superior WR in every aspect of the game, Moore would have looked better than his competitors.  This is leveling the playing field?

On a side note, you keep mentioning the "4 TD drops" but I know there were a couple that came from Henne, not Moore.  Which 4 TD drops from Moore to Marshall are you talking about?  Because it's ridiculous to give Moore credit for a TD pass that was thrown by another player.

[Pappy13]

This year, Moore threw for career highs in completions, yards and TDs...

And prior to this year Moore was playing for Carolina, so what's your point? That Moore's year was an aberration? Perhaps he just needed a few more reps with some better receivers. Mind if we wait until at least he's had another chance before we pigeon hole this year into the "luck" category.

[el diablo]

This year, Moore threw for career highs in completions, yards and TDs, while Big Ben and Rivers both posted a worse passer rating than their career average (Rivers dramatically so).  Your argument appears to be that even though Marshall had more receptions and yards than the other three WRs mentioned, if he had only caught more TDs too, Moore would have been rated above the other QBs.  In other words, if Marshall was a dramatically superior WR in every aspect of the game, Moore would have looked better than his competitors.  This is leveling the playing field?

On a side note, you keep mentioning the "4 TD drops" but I know there were a couple that came from Henne, not Moore.  Which 4 TD drops from Moore to Marshall are you talking about?  Because it's ridiculous to give Moore credit for a TD pass that was thrown by another player.

My argument was that a few more completed plays by Marshall, Moore has a top 10 year. First year with the team, no offseason, working with the 2nd team in preaseason, & doesn't start until game 4(due to injury). Granted Moore is not a rookie, but it was still his 1st with this team.  Maybe, I'm alone in seeing potential here. But to sit here and act like a nearly to 2 to 1 touchdown to interception ratio, with a 6-3 finish is completely garbage, is just unreal. I know Moore is not a top 5 QB, but he's not a bottom 5 either.