The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1190316
90 ■ THE WOLFPACKER ■ PACK PROS in the league, and making NCSU the school with the two highest-ranked signal-callers in the countdown. "While everyone loves to draw a line in the sand to determine when an aging quar- terback has 'lost' it, the reality for Rivers is that last year was his best since 2010, and this season we see him playing more at his 2015-16 level," the website wrote. "That level is more of a middle-of-the-pack signal-caller who is more than capable of making plays down the field (11th in big-time throw percentage), but there have been far too many careless decisions. … This isn't an unfamiliar story in Rivers' career, and it's too early to write him off as 'washed up.'" PFF wasn't as kind to Brissett, noting: "Another quarterback whose stats look bet- ter than the on-field performance, Brissett ranks 15th in passer rating at 93.5 but just 29th in overall grade." It did not rank Finley after he was benched. Other metrics, such as NFL.com's QB index where four of its experts each ranked the starting quarterbacks from 1-32 and then the outlet takes all votes into account to come up with a power ranking of field generals, rank Brissett above Rivers. In that polling, done Nov. 27 prior to week 13, Wilson checked in at No. 2 — falling from No. 1 for the first time since week five, and in four of those weeks he was the consensus No. 1 — while Brissett tied for 16th and Rivers was listed 18th. NFL.com may have summed up Brissett the best, noting: "Competence is not going to garner buzz or hardware, but it shouldn't be underrated — plus, Brissett has shown before that he's capable of game-saving, dazzling moments from time to time, and that promise as a potential game-breaker gives him a little extra juice compared to your average game-manager." The only other schools with multiple QBs in the top 18 were Texas Tech (No. 3 Patrick Mahomes and No. 15 Baker Mayfield, who played in only eight games with five starts for the Red Raiders), Texas A&M (No. 14 Ryan Tannehill and No. 10 Kyler Murray, who played in just eight games with seven starts for the Aggies) and Oklahoma (May- field, who started there for three seasons, and Murray, who backed up Mayfield then started there for a year). NFL Player Updates Through Dec. 4 • C Garrett Bradbury (Played at NC State from 2015- 18), Minnesota Vikings: Has started all 12 games and played every snap so far for the 8-4 Vikings. • QB Jacoby Brissett (2014-15), Indianapolis Colts: Missed one game due to injury, but started the other 11 for 6-6 Indianapolis … Has completed 209 of 325 attempts (64.3 percent) for 2,245 yards with 16 scores and six interceptions … Has also rushed for 141 yards and three touchdowns … Is tied for 16th in the league for scoring passes, and among QBs that have attempted at least 200 throws he is tied for 14th in completion percentage and is ranked 12th in passer rating (93.2). • S Juston Burris (2012-15), Cleveland Browns: Played in 10 games with seven starts for the 5-7 Browns … Notched 21 tackles, two interceptions, two passes bro - ken up, one sack and one forced fumble. • LB Bradley Chubb (2014-17), Denver Broncos: His season came to an end after tearing his ACL in game four … Had 21 tackles, five tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble before going on injured reserve. • P A.J. Cole (2015-18), Oakland Raiders: Has punted 50 times for an average of 46.2 yards and a net of 38.9 yards for the 6-6 Raiders … His punting average checks in at 12th in the league … His 21 kicks that have landed inside the 20 are tied for 11th. • QB Ryan Finley (2016-18), Cincinnati Bengals: Started three games for his only appearances of the year, and went 41-of-87 passing (47.1 percent) for 474 yards with two scores and two interceptions for the 1-11 Bengals … Also rushed for 77 yards. • QB Mike Glennon (2009-12), Oakland Raiders: Has made two appearances for the 6-6 Raiders and com - pleted 6 of 10 passes for 56 yards with a touchdown. • WR Kelvin Harmon (2016-18), Washington Red- skins: Played in every game for 3-9 Washington with six starts … Notched 19 catches for 222 yards. • K Stephen Hauschka (2007), Buffalo Bills: Is 15 of 21 on field goals this year (71.4 percent) and has gone 26 of 28 on extra points (92.9 percent) for the 9-3 Bills … His 71 points scored rank 25th in the league. • DL B.J. Hill (2014-17), New York Giants: In 12 games played for the 2-10 Giants, he has made five starts and recorded 28 tackles. • RB Nyheim Hines (2015-17), Indianapolis Colts: Has seen action in every contest and made two starts for Minnesota Vikings rookie center Garrett Bradbury has played every offensive snap for his team this season, after being selected 18th overall in the NFL Draft. PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS