Dual-Threat Quarterback Era

Cause

The need for a multi-purposeful quarterback has risen because of the rise of technology and information. Athletes are becoming physical specimens that seemed like they were created in a lab. This is due to the help of modern technology. Athletes today have access to so much information and technology that players before did not have. Athletes know how train better and more efficiently. They are utilizing equipment like the Vertimax and recovery equipment like cryo-chambers. To go along with this, players now have access to technology like the Microsoft Surface that is used in the NFL.

All of these advancements have led to an increase in player performance as well as helping to analyze defenses. It is easier to watch film, get information, and analyze player tendencies which makes it much more difficult to be a quarterback. This is why the dual-threat quarterback is so sought out after.

Who Started It

It is difficult to pinpoint just who exactly started the craze of the dual-threat quarterback. Many people had an influence on it such as Randall Cunningham, Fran Tarkenton, and Steve Young. However, most people would agree that Michael Vick was the true originator of the modern dual-threat quarterback. The man was an absolute freak. Vick rushed for 6,109 yards and passed for 22,464 yards in his 13-year career. He averaged nearly 470 yards rushing per season. However, it is important to note that he started only two games in 2001, four games in 2003, one game in 2009, and less than 12 starts in his final three years. If you subtract the rushing yards from these six seasons and get his average from his other high-usage seasons he would average 701 yards rushing in his prime.

Vick was a pioneer for his position. He inspired many young athletes to play in a similar way as him or at the very least focus on training their speed to become more versatile. There are many current players who model their play after him or at the very least show flashes of Vick-like abilities.

Modern Dual-Threat Quarterbacks

The idea of a pocket passing is quickly fleeting. You do not see many Brady’s, Manning’s or Brees’ anymore. While these quarterbacks are hall-of-famers and legends no doubt, they were only known for their passing abilities. When they ran it was a rare and uneasy sight. Aaron Rodgers has been able to find an interesting middle ground. While he is best known for his passing, he does have an uncanny ability to escape the pocket and squirt out for a first down. Rodgers loves to utilize the entire pocket and even roll outside often. However, he is not quite a dual-threat quarterback as he lacks the blazing speed.

Modern dual-threat quarterbacks include Russell Wilson, Lamar Jackson, Cam Newton, and even Marcus Mariota. They excel in getting out of the pocket to get first downs. The Baltimore Ravens are a very unique example because in 2019 they flashed a triple-option look including Lamar Jackson, backup quarterback Robert Griffin III, and Mark Ingram. They combined the best example of a current dual-threat quarterback in Lamar Jackson with a former great dual-threat quarterback Robert Griffin III. This shows that the value of a solid dual-threat quarterback must not go unused.

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