NFL Top 10 Series: Quarterbacks - #3

Welcome one and all to the much talked about and much anticipated (maybe not so much) debut of the NFL Top 10 Series. We’ve gone through the motions since the middle of the month of April with honorable mentions posts, which if you’re reading this post right now you have probably read through most if not all of them. So once again, thank you for the page views. It is appreciated. We’re through seven, and mercifully this is almost over. I’ll admit it wasn’t the best idea, but in theory it was a great idea. I guess I should think things through more and be less ambitious. Needless to say, we’re almost done and then from there I’ll hope to get these done before the start of football season (which is just over two months away). Now that I’ve got your attention, here’s #3. A familiar face, in a new place.

Quarterback #3 – Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos

For the first time in a while, Peyton Manning has legitimate question marks in front of him.

Wait, what?

Still sounds weird doesn’t it? The man who rocked the blue and white jersey for since 1998 has since changed it to orange crush and blue this offseason. Surreal as it sounds, it’s the truth and reality we’ll all need to realize this upcoming season. Peyton Manning is no longer an Indianapolis Colt, and is a Denver Bronco.

Now onto the fact that I still think he’s a Top 3 quarterback in this league. I’ll say this statement with caution though. After a year off the field thanks in part to a neck injury and several surgeries, there’s no telling how Peyton Manning will play this season, and the next few seasons as well. He could bottom out, he could be injured and never play again, or he could be the same incredible quarterback that we’ve all watched since he was a rookie from the University of Tennessee, following in his father Archie’s footsteps, and eventually, becoming at this point, one of the greatest quarterbacks in the history of the National Football League.

Since we can’t look back at his missed 2011, let’s venture back to the last time that we saw Peyton Manning for a full season. In 2010, Manning threw for 4,700 yards, 33 touchdowns, and 17 interceptions, completing 66.3% of his passes on a league-most 679 attempts. The 4,700 yards thrown were the highest in Manning’s career, but on the other hand, the 17 interceptions were the most he threw since 2010, and amounted for the fourth most in his entire career. Believe it or not however, Manning threw for 30+ touchdowns for what was the second consecutive year in a row, something he has only replicated once in his historic career.

Manning was ranked as the 18th best player in the league on Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 list, which gauges who had the best regular season performance. And they bring up an interesting point regarding Manning’s 2010 season:

“There was a stretch of play where you began toquestion the longevity of Peyton Manning, only for the face of the Colts torespond in brilliant fashion as he guided Indy to the playoffs onceagain.  Certainly wasn’t always at his best, but losing two of his threetop targets, his number one running back and still trying to make do with aterrible offensive line can be too much even for the best of players. No teamis as dependent on one player.”

So Manning threw for the highest passing yardage total in his entire career despite the loss of his best wide receiver and tight end targets, running back, and an awful offensive line. PFF ranked them as the 20th best (or 12th worst) offensive line in football in 2010, finishing 20th in run blocking and 18th in pass blocking/protection. That’s a lot to consider when you talk about just how great Peyton Manning was in 2010 and is.

However you can’t ignore the neck injuries and concerns that everyone seems to have. You also have to wonder if Peyton can adjust to a new scheme and a new offense. Sure, Peyton is always known as “the offense” and he’s as intelligent as they come. Quarterbacks are not always plug and play. There might be a bit of a learning curve that Manning for the first time in a while may have to drive himself through, and playing on an offensive line that came in 12th in 2010 and then downgraded to 22nd in 2011, there may be some more concerns for Manning’s health and his ability to succeed.

On the other hand, this is Peyton Manning. He’s a living legend, and he’s one of the brightest and most intelligent players the game has ever seen. He knows the structure of the game, he knows all the adjustments that he has to make, and there’s a good chance that he succeeds in Denver and proves his worth and his place as an elite quarterback despite being sidelined for an entire year. One thing’s for certain: no matter what happens in 2012, all eyes will be on #18.