Playcall balance under Andy Reid by TGryn, originally written Jan 13 2006 I did a little breakdown of the Eagles' playcall balance under Reid, here it is: 1999: 57% passing (472 passes, 355 runs*) Pederson at QB, McNabb starts after week 9 2000: 65% passing (570 passes, 303 runs*) 2001: 62% passing (521 passes, 313 runs*) 2002: 58% passing (543 passes, 391 runs*) McNabb on IR week 12, Feeley starts - under Feeley, 51% passing (152 passes, 147 runs) 2003: 60% passing (483 passes, 326 runs*) 3-headed running attack: Buckhalter, Staley, Westbrook 2004: 59% passing (547 passes, 376 runs) Owens arrives, Buckhalter, Ritchie hurt 2005: 63% passing (620 passes, 365 runs) McNabb on IR week 11, McMahon starts Prior to Owens arriving in '04, Reid had actually been reducing the percentage of the offense that was passing for four years straight, culminating in '03 when the offense was virtually balanced. (Oct 2009 note: this is true until you remove McNabb's 71 scrambles from the '03 numbers, which reduces the # runs considerably). Then Reid got T.O., who'd arguably been the #1 weapon on offense while he was playing, and lost Buckhalter and Ritchie. So I don't think its a case of Reid stubbornly throwing regardless of the situation, more that he's altered the offense to fit the weapons he's had on hand. 2006: 57% passing (544 passes, 416 runs) Garcia starts last six games - under Garcia, 54% passing (203 passes, 176 runs) 2007: 58% passing (577 passes, 421 runs) 2008: 59% passing (606 passes, 427 runs) 2009: 59% passing (553 passes, 384 runs) 2010: 58% passing/ 64% adjusted** (561 passes, 428 runs (QB runs: 115)) 2011: 55% passing/ 61% adjusted** (554 passes, 450 runs (QB runs: 97)) 2012: 60% passing/ 64% adjusted** (618 passes, 413 runs (QB runs: 73)). Reid fired at end of year. * Note: 1999-2003 numbers above remove runs by QBs and passes by non-QBs to try and compensate for McNabb's scrambling, which in many cases were called passes which turned into runs. This is why the #s for those years won't exactly match up with published NFL stats, but otherwise the analysis is open to the criticism that "many of the runs were just scrambles by McNabb which pad the # runs stat." McNabb's rushing attempts fell considerably after 2003, and so I stopped making this adjustment to the numbers. ** Same adjustment as 1999-2003 done for 2010-2012 to remove Vick's runs. Historical comparisons: 1981 Chargers: 57% passing (629 passes, 481 runs) highest # passes for Fouts/Air Coryell 1986 Dolphins: 65% passing (645 passes, 349 runs) highest # passes for Marino 1991 Oilers: 67% passing (667 passes, 331 runs) run and shoot offense 1991 Falcons 55% passing (499 passes, 410 runs) Red Gun offense 1995 Lions: 61% passing (605 passes, 387 runs) run and shoot offense 2012 Lions: 65% passing (740 passes, 391 runs) Here's how the overall league run/pass ratio has changed over time: YEAR/AVER # PASS / AVER # RUN / % PASSING 2012 555.9 435.2 56.1% 2011 544.1 436.6 55.5% 2010 539.7 435.0 55.4% 2009 532.3 440.3 54.7% 2008 516.4 441.2 53.9% 2007 532.7 437.1 54.9% 2006 512.2 451.5 53.1% 2005 514.5 449.2 53.4% 2000 526.5 441.2 54.4% 1995 556.6 440.0 55.8% 1990 482.7 444.4 52.1% 1985 515.1 487.0 51.4% 1980 489.5 513.7 48.8% 1978 422.5 574.1 42.4% 1977-1978: major rule changes regarding passing (5-yd contact limit, etc.) numbers via http://www.pro-football-reference.com numbers via http://www.pro-football-reference.com