For years we have talked about the importance of keeping New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning clean in the pocket. The tweet below from Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus illustrates why.
QB rating when kept clean, when under pressure, and the change between the two. Interesting numbers: pic.twitter.com/HOV7PCRzPu
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) July 14, 2015
Look at the difference in performance when Manning is not pressured (101.9 quarterback rating) vs. when he is pressure (65.4 quarterback rating). That is a swing of 35.9 points.
The ratings actually put Manning in the middle of the pack (22nd of 40 QBs graded) in terms of performance drop off under pressure. It is, however, significant and illustrates the need to put quality pass protection in front of the stationary Manning.
Manning's passer rating with no pressure is slightly below many other top-tier quarterbacks. In his second year with Ben McAdoo, with Shane Vereen as an option out of the backfield, and hopefully with Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz for 16 games that number should go up. The presence of Vereen, in particular, should help Manning's rating against pressure go up. Manning did not have a player like that as a safety valve in 2014.
There are a couple of weird anomolies in these numbers. Look at Ben Roethlisberger, who uses his size and strength and actually gets better against pressure. Look at Tom Brady, who is 57.2 points worse vs. pressure, with only Blake Bortles and Charlie Whitehurst below him.
One other takeaway from these numbers, and it is a defensive one. Pressure is almost always better than no pressure.