Blake Sims' stats make case as best in SEC

Chris Graythen/Getty ImagesBlake Sims’ statistics put him in the company of Heisman Trophy winners.

Is Blake Sims the best quarterback in the SEC? The numbers say yes. Sims has posted an 87.0 Total QBR this season, second-best in the FBS behind Oregon’s Marcus Mariota. 

Since 2004, three SEC players have had a higher Total QBR in a season. Two (Johnny Manziel and Cam Newton) won the Heisman in those seasons, and one (Aaron Murray) is the conference’s all-time passing leader. 

Blake Sims, This Season

		FBS Rank
Total QBR	87.0	2nd
Yds per att	8.9	9th
3rd-down conv pct	52%	1st
*Among players qualified for QBR

Sims has been extremely efficient. He ranks in the top 10 of the FBS in yards per attempt and first downs per attempt. 

He has also been able to find the end zone. With at least two more games to play, he has been responsible for 25 touchdowns, third-most in a season in Alabama history behind AJ McCarron in 2012 (31) and 2013 (28). 

What has made Sims successful? 

Third-down play 
Sims has converted a first down on an FBS-high 52 percent of his third-down passing plays (passes and sacks). 

Best 3rd-down Conversion Percentage
On Passing Plays, Last 5 Seasons

2011	Russell Wilson	57.0%
2013	Jameis Winston	54.2%
2013	Zach Mettenberger	53.7%
2010	Colin Kaepernick	53.7%
2013	Teddy Bridgewater	53.7%
2010	Chandler Harnish	52.2%
2010	Andrew Luck	52.1%
2014	Blake Sims	51.9%

Since 2010, seven players have been better for a season, five of whom are current NFL starting quarterbacks. 

Another won the Heisman last season, and the seventh is currently on a practice squad backing up one of the five NFL starters.Sims’ ability to convert on third down starts with accuracy. He is completing 70.5 percent of his passes on third down, the highest for any SEC player in the last 10 seasons. 

He has not turned the ball over. Sims is one of two SEC players to attempt 75 third-down passes in a season since 2004 and not have an interception. The other was Tennessee’s Erick Ainge in 2006. 

Making plays with feet 
One thing that separates Sims is his ability to make plays with his feet. 

On passes thrown from outside the pocket, he leads the SEC in completions (36) and completions of 20 yards or more (seven) and ranks second in touchdown passes behind Missouri’s Maty Mauk. 

When the pass has not been there, Sims has shown he can tuck the ball and run. He has been sacked seven times this season, third-fewest for any Power 5 quarterback with at least 200 dropbacks. 

He has run most often on third down and leads the conference in rushing yards (113) and first downs (eight) on third-down scrambles. Two of his third-down scrambles have gone for 20 or more yards; the rest of the conference has a combined three. 

Sims and All-American wide receiver Amari Cooper have been a dangerous combination for opponents. 

Sims has targeted Cooper on 40 percent of his passes, and the junior has caught half of Sims’ touchdowns. When he is not passing to Cooper, Sims’ numbers are more in line with the FBS averages (completion percentage of 60.0 and yards per attempt of 7.3) than one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. 

A victory in the 79th Iron Bowl could go a long way toward Sims solidifying his Total QBR ranking as the SEC’s top QB.

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