Rookie season. Every rookie player handed in their report card and presented it to the public for examination and scrutiny. It became the starting point of their entire career, an important metric that would accompany them for countless years to come.
In the 2011 season, four rookie quarterbacks became starters and left their mark. Regardless of whether they were newsworthy enough or could be compared, everyone was bound to see them as "graduates of the same class," and the comparisons between them would continue endlessly. What's more, everyone said this was a great year for quarterbacks.
For Blaine Gabbert, it was a nightmare. He started 14 games, had a 50.8% completion rate, 2,214 passing yards, 12 passing touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 14 fumbles, and was sacked 40 times, with a final season quarterback rating of 65.4.
Among these, his completion rate was second to last in the league, only better than Tim Tebow. He had the third-most sacks in the league, the most fumbles in the league, the lowest average passing yards in the league, and his season quarterback rating of 65.4 was the fifth-worst in history for a quarterback who started more than 10 games. All of his stats were a complete and utter disaster.
In the rookie training camp, his Wonderlic Test score of 42, his decent tactical knowledge, and his impressive college record all made scouts optimistic about Gabbert's future in the league. He was the third quarterback selected in the draft and became the starting quarterback after just two games. High hopes were placed on him. But it was clear that Gabbert's rookie season was a bitter one. It's worth mentioning that the Jacksonville Jaguars' season record was 5-11, which was very close to the Carolina Panthers' 6-10, which once again proved that football is a team sport.
For Andy Dalton, it was a beautiful dream. He started 16 games, had a 58.1% completion rate, 3,398 passing yards, 20 passing touchdowns, one rushing touchdown, 13 interceptions, four fumbles, and a final season quarterback rating of 80.4.
First, Dalton was the first non-first-round rookie in history to start all 16 games. However, he had to share this honor with Lu Ke. Second, Dalton achieved a feat in his rookie season by completing 3,000 passing yards and 20 touchdowns in a single season. He was the sixth rookie quarterback in history to achieve this goal. The other five were Charlie Conerly, Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Cam Newton, and Lu Ke.
At the rookie combine, Dalton's physical test data wasn't particularly outstanding; it was generally up to par. His Wonderlic Test score was only 29, but his good passing performance still earned him a positive evaluation, and he became the fifth quarterback to be selected that year. In his first season in the league, Dalton's performance was clearly far beyond expectations, and it was a pleasant surprise for the Bengals.
For Cam Newton, it was a fairy tale. He started 16 games, had a 60% completion rate, 4,051 passing yards, 21 passing touchdowns, 14 rushing touchdowns, 17 interceptions, five fumbles, and a final season quarterback rating of 84.5.
To put it simply, compared to Dalton, all of Newton's stats were better. He handled the immense pressure of being the number one overall pick and also crushed all doubts. He carved out his own path with his own hands and feet. Although the Panthers didn't make the playoffs, the fans showed him great support and recognition.
Without a doubt, Newton had a reason to be proud and confident. He was undoubtedly the most successful running quarterback since Michael Vick and truly showed the power of a new type of quarterback. Compared to Tim Tebow, Newton's tactics were more diverse; he wasn't just a college player who only knew how to run the Wildcat offense, although he was still more used to running for yards with his legs. His 700 rushing yards in a single season was also the best performance since Vick.
For Lu Ke, it was a legend. He started 16 games, had a 69.1% completion rate, 3,779 passing yards, 43 passing touchdowns, two rushing touchdowns, six interceptions, three fumbles, and a final season quarterback rating of 107.1. You can look at a set of stats to see how perfect this season was. He was second in the league in completion rate, third in the league in passing touchdowns, had the fewest interceptions in the league, and was third in the league in quarterback rating.
In addition, the rookie season completion rate record of 66.4% held by Ben Roethlisberger and the rookie quarterback rating record of 98.1 held by Ben Roethlisberger were both taken by Lu Ke. Of course, Lu Ke also broke Peyton Manning's rookie season passing yards record, but Newton's performance was better, and he made the record his own.
It's worth mentioning that Lu Ke was not only the first undrafted quarterback in history to start all 16 games in his rookie season, but also the first quarterback in history to have a quarterback rating of over 100 in his rookie season. How amazing is this? You can find out by simply looking at a set of data.
Drew Brees only had a quarterback rating of over 100 in two seasons of his career. This season was a new high for him at 110.6. The other season was in 2009 when he won the Super Bowl.
Aaron Rodgers had a quarterback rating of over 100 in four seasons of his career. This season was also a new high for him at 122.5, which was also a new historical record for the league. But other than that, his second-highest season was 106.0, which was in 2007 when he only played two games, so it doesn't really count.
Tom Brady had a quarterback rating of over 100 in three seasons of his career. His highest was in the perfect 2007 season, at 117.2. This season, it was 105.6, which was lower than Lu Ke's and ranked fourth in the league.
Peyton Manning had a quarterback rating of over 100 in three seasons of his career. His highest was in 2004, at 121.1, which was also the league's historical record before this year. The career stats of the four elite quarterbacks were undoubtedly the best reference. It was clear at a glance.
Why didn't any rookie quarterback have a season rating of over 100? Why was Lu Ke's quarterback rating so shocking? Why was the 107.1 rating so incredible? This was the reason. Such an achievement was no longer just about setting a record; it was a legend!
Finally, all this glory and feat came from an undrafted rookie, who was also the first Chinese-American quarterback in history. Any beautiful praise seemed pale and weak. In the rookie training camp, all the critical looks, all the speculation, and all the hesitation could now temporarily come to an end. This was not only because of his 13-3 record but also because of his all-around brilliant performance. Not even Kurt Warner's Cinderella-like legendary season reached such a height.
Seventeen years ago, at the NFL Draft, all the teams and scouts collectively made a mistake and missed Kurt Warner. This undrafted rookie struggled for five years before he came into people's sight. In his first season as a starting quarterback, the ugly duckling turned into a swan and led the St. Louis Rams to their only Super Bowl in the team's history. Everyone was wondering, who was this guy?
Eleven years ago, at the NFL Draft, scouts made another mistake and missed Tom Brady. The New England Patriots picked up this gem in the sixth round with the 199th pick. After that, Brady led the team to three championships in four years and successfully dominated the first decade of the 21st century. Everyone was wondering, what the hell was going on here?
This year, at the NFL Draft, the 32 teams missed Lu Ke again. Was this history repeating itself? At least from his rookie season performance, it seemed likely. So, was he a fleeting shooting star or an everlasting star?
Andy Dalton performed well, and Cam Newton performed brilliantly. But Lu Ke appeared out of nowhere! There is no harm without comparison. When people look back on the 2011 season five or ten years from now, it will feel very strange. In this season, four rookie quarterbacks served as starters, three of them performed outstandingly, and two of them led their teams to the playoffs. This was definitely one of the most memorable great quarterback years in history. It was just that the so-called "great year" was a little different from people's impressions. It wasn't Blaine Gabbert, Jake Locker, Christian Ponder, or Colin Kaepernick, but...
When people looked at Dalton and Newton, they couldn't help but marvel at their excellence and how they successfully broke the rookie barrier. Although both quarterbacks showed a certain degree of instability, and their weaknesses were more obvious, such as Dalton's completion rate and Newton's interceptions, their excellence was undeniable, and they showed the potential of a great quarterback.
However, their performances seemed insignificant in front of Lu Ke. They were just good, but Lu Ke was transcendent. They were just rookies, but Lu Ke had already shown dominance. That was the gap, an insurmountable gap!
It was now certain that in the next few seasons, the performances of Dalton, Newton, and Lu Ke, three quarterbacks from the same draft class, would be constantly compared. It was interesting that the three quarterbacks had three different skin colors. If they faced each other directly, it would be even more exciting.
Especially Newton and Lu Ke, one was the number one overall pick, and the other was an undrafted rookie. On top of that, there was the grudge between the two of them and Newton's careless words in his interview, which only added fuel to the fire. The league became spectacular because of these matchups!
As a rookie quarterback, Lu Ke's outstanding performance not only easily crushed his peers but also made a strong push into the top tier of the league, and even became a strong candidate for the regular season MVP. When people came to their senses, Lu Ke's name was already placed alongside Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, and Tom Brady. This... this seemed a little off!
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