Speaks volumes to how poor the MAC is. A conference who at one time had 4 QB’s in the League is reduced to this.

Of note, these ratings are adjusted based on opponents played.

Guadagni, and Jackson remain #1 and #2 all time in the MAC (since these ratings originated about 2004). Wassink is #4, and Rourke is #8 all time in the MAC. It will be interesting to see if these ratings rise or fall as the year progresses.

RK PLAYER RAW QBR TOTAL QBR
1 Mitchell Guadagni, TOL 83.6 85.4 (+1)
2 Tyree Jackson, BUFF 82.8 80.4 (-3)
3 Nathan Rourke, OHIO 78.5 76.6 (+2)
4 Jon Wassink, WMU 79.5 76.6 (-2)
5 Mike Glass, EMU 74.3 72.9
6 Riley Neal, BALL 61.8 64.7 (-3)
7 Gus Ragland, M-OH 56.9 56.6 (+7)
8 Woody Barrett, KENT 58.4 51.6 (-3)
9 Jarret Doege, BGSU 55.0 43.3 (-1)
10 Tyler Wiegers, EMU1 39.5 40.3 (-3)
11 Kato Nelson, AKRON 40.2 38.5 (-6)
12 Tommy Lazzaro, CMU 39.6 36.4 (-6)
13 Marcus Childers, NIU 26.0 30.9 (+1)

The more I look at QBR as a rating method, the more confused I get. For example, consider that Barrett, against Ohio, had a raw rating of 64.2, but an adjusted rating of only 38.6. I know Ohio's pass defense is not good, but that's a pretty large adjustment.

Or, compare the week's performances of Ragland and Rourke.
Rourke 18-20-1 284 yards and a TD, and had 15 carries for 49 yards and a TD.
Ragland was 24-33-1 214 yards and a TD, and had 6 carries for 22 yards, no TD.

When you look at the older rating, pass efficiency there is a huge difference in the ratings:
Rourke 215.8
Ragland 131.1

Looking at QBR the ratings are:
Rouke 74.0 raw, 73.8 adjusted
Ragland 74.4 raw, 77.6 adjusted

Nathan Rourke is now by far the top rated QB in the MAC in QBR at 82.4, more than 7 points better than Toledo's Mitchell Gaudagni. Rourke ranks fifth in the nation overall, and this is adjusted for quality of opponent. He's just behind Fresno State's McMaryion (fourth) and Ohio State's Dwayne Haskins (third). Rourke's QBR for the Bowling Green game was 98.5 (99.5 before being adjusted for playing against BG).

Getting like baseball. Stats for everything. Stats adjusted for level of competition, under pressure or not. Stats will be loved by those who agree with their indications, will be panned by those who do not. Really this reminds me there are things outside to better fill my time.

The article and your mention are arguing two separate things. Leach is arguing that the QER is the most useless stat, that's the one that can go through the roof. For example, Rourke had a QER (QB Efficiency Rating) of 311.8.

As for QBR, I believe that is out of 100. It's something more understandable than QER. It takes rushing, opponent, passing, everything into account. I think it's a bit more reliable than QER. That being said, I don't know the weight that coaches put on it.

Then that would be a decent amount, then. If you don't think PJ Fleck cared about the stars on football recruits, you're kidding yourself. He championed the talent of his recruiting classes annually, which was easily based on other offers and stars. I don't think it's the end-all, be-all, but I do think there are some coaches who do pay attention to the stars for some recruits. I don't think all do, and doubt that Frank does.

Fleck, 2008/9, recruited very good talent for NIU. Mostly two stars, some walk-ons, just a few three stars. Jordan Lynch chose NIU only because NIU was the only school willing to bring him in at QB. Fleck is ambitious, he is all about talent. So far he has never coached a recruit as a fifth year senior. Only one season has he coached his own recruits as fourth year seniors. I am sure he has passed on many three star recruits that did not measure up to his standards. Oh, Ohio is in his debt for letting three star Brett Kitrell slip through his fingers. Jan 27, 20016 Brett Kitrell decommits from Minn/Fleck, Jan 30, 2016 Brett Kitrell commits to Ohio. Brett Kitrell #61 on your Ohio roster. I sincerely believe coach Fleck and his staff do "all" of their own talent evaluation. His 3.5 mil salary depends upon it.

Thanks to an old message board friend, it was pointed out that Leach was referring to QER ... not QBR. So my apologies for sure.

But I think you are pretty accurate with your assessment that coaches might not put much stock into QBR either.

As with almost everything ESPN does ... it's a marketing ploy to further pat themselves on the back and bring the conversation back around to be centered on them. An ESPN-made statistic to help further drive their narrative.

Reason #3890247123908470123987409812374 that ESPN is THE. WORST.

After last night's monster performance, Rourke moves into the Top 10 nationally.

But I get blasted for suggesting the ball remain in Rourke's hands more a couple weeks ago.

The kid is a playmaker.

And his decision making is getting better each game. Made a really nice throwaway out of bounds last night instead of trying to force it.

Let's see how he holds up in three HUGE games the next three weeks.

Ohio controls their destiny ... it's all right in front of them if they win out.

But we've been down this road before ...