Conversely how long of a shelf life do these duel threat guys have? Most take one big hit and are never the same. I would say there are less prostyle guys coming out these days and therefor less to make it long term. Look at Russel Wilson, it almost seems like he is trying to transition in to a more prostyle player and only use his legs when he needs to. I think he knows if he doesn't he wont last as long.
Somebody better than me can come up w/a better list, but off the top of my head: "pro-style": PManning, palmer, brees, cousins, rodgers, stafford, EManning, Mett, Bradford, ASmith, Carr, Cutler, JWinston, mryan, nfoles, fitzpatrick, hoyer, mccown, romo, flacco, adalton, roethlesberger, luck, rivers, brady "dual-threat": newton, rwilson, tyrod taylor, kaepernick, mariota, manziel more pro-style than dual threat: rwilson, bridgewater, tannehill
The NFL is definitely reaching a transition period, but I don't feel like it is a transition to "dual threat". It is simply a transition to a new generation. Brees, Manning, Palmer, Roethlesberger, Brady, Rivers, other Manning... This group is on its way out. It is very similar to when the 80s/early 90s greats began to retire. There is no doubt that the new "elite" will be a more diverse group, but as long as there are 6'2" 230 lbs. safeties the dual threat QB centric offense will not work. Based on the rules for protection of the QB, a pass-first QB who can be an effective scrambler will be much more successful and have more longevity than a run-first dual threat. Even Cam Newton will wear down eventually. I think he will have a career path similar to Big Ben. Ben was a dangerous runner early on (though not nearly as good as Cam), but he got so beat up in the process that he rarely runs these days.
If I could design a QB in a lab, it would be Aaron Rodgers (or young John Elway, or Steve Young). Guys that primarily stay in the pocket, are accurate as hell, but if nothing is there - fast enough to gain 15 yards running and smart enough to avoid taking a big hit.
Elway was not often that accurate, and threw a shit ton of interceptions but he was athletic. Not nearly as great as he is often made out to be. But he does make for a great story. He can thank a great running game and a very good defense for those Super Bowls. To his credit he did make plays in that first super bowl win. Rodgers and Young, definitely. Elway...nah.
That's what I'm saying though, the prostyle QB in the college game and in high school is dying off. Now NFL teams may try and take a guy who was a runner in college and high school and do the ole Les and try to make them more of a pocket QB, but Wilson isn't Wilson without his legs, neither is Cam. If Defenses could just drop 8 in coverage without the threat of those guys taking off, neither would be very good. I really hope that out there there are high schools and colleges that refuse to go to the dual threat guys. I don't want to see a league with nothing but runners. How many of those guys in the first list have more than 5 or 6 seasons left in them? How many on the 2nd list do? Now take a look at the college game, what do you see? Do you see a bevy of pro style qb's or do you see a bunch of dual threat guys? Football is changing, and the prostyle quarterback is dying.
You're selling Elway short. Dude was a gamer. He reminds me of a better Roethlesberger. How many 4th quarter comeback drives did Elway lead his team too? A shit ton. He would manufacture drives.
I suppose you're right. Elway has an underwhelming completion percentage and a ton of INTs - which I did not realize or recall. I guess I just remember growing up and seeing him do amazing stuff, pull out late wins, and his team always making noise in the playoffs.
