This was an interesting comparison video, gives me chills just a little.
I know some on here have differing opinions of Gunner, but he threw his first interception this past weekend and has been efficient, at least from a numbers perspective. As proof, peep the college football QBR rankings:
Sidebar: imagine Taylen Green being on a solid football team.Yikes.
But how does he really compare to Stetson Bennett? After all, Bennett was just named one of the Top 25 quarterbacks of the quarter century, coming in at 19.
I’m not going to bore everyone with statistical breakdowns. Well, no, let me bore everyone with them.
Stockton, after his first five regular season starts:
Passing: 91/132, 68.9%; 1,047 yards, 6 TD, 1 INT, 7.9 Y/A, 209.4 ypg
Rushing: 39 attempts, 194 yards, 5.0 Y/A, 5 TD
Bennett (note: only including four full starts in 2020 and first start in 2021)
Passing: 71/131, 54.2%; 864 yards, 4 TD, 7 INT, 6.6 Y/A, 172.8 ypg
Rushing: 19 attempts, 44 yards, 2.3 Y/A 2 TD
To be fair, Bennett’s first five starts were against SEC opponents only – 2020 Auburn, Tennessee, Alabama, and Kentucky. His 2021 start against Arkansas, let’s face it, it was defense and manball all the way for the win. What a way to welcome the Pitt Boss back to Athens. He also started the 2020 tilt with the Gators, going 5 for 16 with a pick and a TD, famously where both he and Rosemy-Jacksaint were taken out on the same play, so I didn’t count the Florida game in these stats.
Say, I wonder where D’wan Mathis is nowadays?
Stockton, by comparison (omitting the Sugar Bowl, these are regular season starts), has faced only three SEC teams, albeit two were ranked teams that both have shots at the CFP, whereas Stockton faced the eventual National Champs Alabama in 2020. Adjusted to include only SEC competition, here’s Stockton’s breakdown:
Passing: 51/74, 68.9%; 630 yards, 4 TD, 1 INT, 8.5 Y/A, 210 YPG
Rushing: 24 attempts, 108 yards, 4.5 Y/A, 3 TD
Not too shabby given the competition. What is notable, perhaps, is that it seems we weren’t fully utilizing Bennett’s full talents (his legs) as much in his first starts as was used in latter games. Perhaps there was a learning curve in Bennett’s time where allowing him loosen up in his running ability yielded a more efficient and effective quarterback, and the lessons learned there by Kirby paved the way for Stockton’s efficiency this year.
Yes, Stockton might not be seeing open receivers downfield, or missed some windows here and there, but the increased rushing output comparing the two QBs is by design, not by accident. And if you look at the interceptions and can imagine what the outcome of those games would be if Stockton were throwing more loosely, I can tell you we’re likely sitting at 3-2, getting our doors blown off by Alabama and Tennesse, and possibly just squeaking by a terrible Kentucky team, to boot. We likewise might be the ones out of the AP poll right now and not just Texas.
Let’s face it, Bennett was almost 23 when he took his first starting snap under center, and Stockton is 21. With a little extra seasoning (and some o-line development), who knows what the ceiling on Stockton might be.
Agree if we were 3-2 we would probably be out of the top 25. Funny thing is, Notre Dame is 3-2 and sitting at number 16. Amazing.
They’ll make the top ten if they win the next two in a row.
I hate them and the B1G paper tiger conference.
Stockton is a fine QB and can certainly lead this team as high as the rest of the team will go.
Oh, that list of top 25 QB, I didn’t see anyone else that won back to back championships.
After your “To be fair…” you’ve got Stockton when you mean Bennett. Otherwise good post, very similar to the type of research the Senator used to post. Stockton more polished at this point than Stetson who was thrown into the fire and was more wild. Gunner improving too and won’t have the D Stetson had to bail him out of any mistakes.
Oops. Correcting now…thanks for the catch.
I’m happy with Gunner so far. Hopefully his seeing the open man will get better with each start. I feel of any problems we have with this team Gunner would be on down the list.
Who the hell is that FSU QB at #25…lol?
It’s a race to see if the GT QB or Stockton get the first concussion. I hold my breath every time he takes off.
Just a reminder that we didn’t run Stet as much early on because we don’t have anyone good enough to run the offense behind him. One of the reasons Stockton is running more now is because Puglisi can operate the offense and is pretty good himself.