Chiefs QB Evaluations: Geno V. Aaron V. Donovan

Now that the big “secret” is out that the Chiefs are bringing in Geno Smith for an “official” visit and evaluation, it’s time to take a look at a few comparables. Like, how does Geno’s West Virginia career stack up against Donovan McNabb’s Syracuse career and or Aaron Rodgers time in a Cal uni?

In Andy Reid’s first year as the Philadelphia Eagles’ head coach he drafted QB Donovan McNabb with the 2nd pick in 1999. In 2005, while with the Green Bay Packers, the K.C. Chiefs new GM John Dorsey helped draft reigning NFL QB king Aaron Rodgers with the 25th pick.

These two QBs are players that Reid and Dorsey have already drafted, so let’s compare their college careers to that of Geno Smith’s.

In the chart above, it shows a comparison of each QBs interception percentage offered by totalfootballstats.com. Donovan McNabb’s interception percentage (the total percentage of interceptions out of all passes thrown) was 3.4%. Aaron Rodgers interception percentage was 6.6%. However, Geno Smith’s interception percentage was only 1.4%.

Geno Smith’s passer efficiency rating clearly stands out over both McNabb’s and Rodger’s as well. With a higher volume of pass attempts you’d expect Geno Smith (1,465) to have more INTs but, he in fact, has less. A lot less.

A statistic that’s frequently used to assess a QBs value is their TD to INT ratio. Below you can see how Geno Smith has fared against both Aaron Rodgers and Donovan McNabb.

Even though Geno Smith played two more years of college ball, the percentage of TDs he’s thrown compared to INTs is significantly better than Aaron Rodgers who many now believe is the best QB in the NFL.

Normally, when a college QB plays during his freshman and sophomore years, the percentage of INTs is much higher, consequently skewing their overall statistics but, not in Geno Smith’s case. During Geno’s two first seasons his TD to INT ratio was 25 to 8 (a 75.8 TD%). McNabb’s was 35 and 15 (70% TD%) and Rodgers sophomore year was 19 and 5 (79.1%).

Geno Smith has maintained a TD-INT ratio percentage of greater than 80% for three plus college seasons which speaks positively about his consistency. Consistency… which many people question yet, remains unmatched by either Donvan McNabb or Aaron Rodgers.

Below you’ll find a chart outlining many of the other critical statistic that QBs are typically measured by.

Although Geno Smith played the same number of years in college as Donovan McNabb, he had 3,000+ more yards passing. Geno threw for twice as many yards in college as Aaron Rodgers and more than twice as many TDs. Mr. Smith was so prolific on the university gridiron that he had 20 more completions than Donovan McNabb had passing attempts. McNabb played in 45 games for the Orangemen. Geno Smith played in 44 for the Mountaineers. Aaron Rodger, 25 for the Golden Bears.

Geno Smith’s college completion percentage is 9.3% higher than Donovan McNabb’s and 3.6% better than Aaron Rodgers.

When Andy Reid drafted Donovan McNabb in 1999 he was getting a running QB. Reid has a history of corralling QB’s who can tool (see Michael Vick). McNabb was said to run a 40 time below 4.40. Reid knows the advantages of having a QB who possesses fleet feet. The shifty Rodgers on the other hand ran a 4.71 but, is considered one of the hardest QBs to corner in the backfield. Geno Smith’s lowest time was 4.52 which was fastest among QB prospects this year and also gives him a higher degree of escapability. A trait Reid values.

Donovan McNabb’s 19 rushing TDs are impressive but nothing like Colin Kaepernick’s 59 rushing TDs. The difference for McNabb is that he has always had such a stout and stocky build that he could hand out as much punishment as receive it. Both Aaron Rodgers and Geno Smith are elusive but, neither compares when it comes to running for a score like McNabb.

If GM John Dorsey and head coach Andy Reid can be party to drafting Donovan McNabb and Aaron Rodgers, why can’t they swing another deal to bring in a college QB, that for the most part, has outperformed these marquee players they’ve already drafted?

Draw whatever other conclusions you want to from these charts but, it’s clear once again that Geno Smith is being grossly underestimated… no matter whose tool you use to evaluate or compare him.

I’m still hoping the Chief brass sees enough to like, to ask Geno Smith into the Chiefs family on draft day.

What do you think Addict? A few too many Kamikaze’s?