2003 #7 overall pick QB Byron Leftwich Getty Images/Ezra Shaw
When one reads the career stats of Byron Leftwich the though NFL Draft bust immediately comes to mind. However, much of Leftwich’s struggles in the NFL are not the fault of his play, but terrible circumstances outside his control.
The biggest draw on him is that he has played in just 57 games since being the 7th overall pick in the 2003 draft. On top of that he lost his starting job in Tampa Bay this year to Rookie Josh Freeman, although we could effectively argue that Leftwich was not given a real chance at securing that job.
If we look at the bulk of his NFL start which came between 2003 and 2006 with the Jacksonville Jaguars we start to see some of the promise for why he was drafted so high by Jacksonville.
Through the first three years of his career he led the Jaguars to a winning record. He was 26-22 as a starter and struggled through the 2005 season as his favorite target, WR Jimmy Smith, retired before the 2005 season.
Of course another big drag on Leftwich is all the injuries. He broke his ankle in 2005, and missed the final five games of the regular season. He returned for the 200 AFC Wild Card game against the New England Patriots and failed to lead the offense to the end zone losing 28-3.
Leftwich injured his ankle against in game four of 2006, and by week six he decided to shut himself down and have season ending surgery. He entered the 2007 Jaguars Training Camp in a battle to keep his starters job with QB David Garrard. By the end of that camp, Garrard had one the job away, and Leftwich was cut.
He spent the 2007 season as back up to Joey Harrington with the Atlanta Falcons. He got to start a game in week seven, but again injured his ankle. He got another start in week 11, and although he played well, Harrington retained the starter’s job and Leftwich was again cut.
In 2008 Leftwich was signed to back up Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger when Charlie Batch was injured in the pre-season. Leftwich was a great backup QB who performed well in the five games he was called on. That year he earned a Super Bowl Ring.
After a 0-3 start to the 2009 season as the start with the Buccaneers, Leftwich was demoted to #3 QB, and after suffering an elbow ailment was placed on the Injured Reserve list.
Leftwich’s career stats are not great; 79.6 QB rating, 58.3 completion percentage, 10,218 passing yards, 58 career TD’s to 41 career INT’s. He adds 384 career rushing yards and nine rushing TD’s to that resume.
In 2003 the Jaguars were looking for a replacement for the aging Mark Brunell. Left which was certainly that, and while he was picked a little high, it seems we could give this pick a solid B grade. We cannot mark guys down for injuries, since injuries are so prevalent in the NFL.
We should also factor bad play on really bad teams, is not always the fault of the player but of the surrounding players as well.
More Jacksonville Jaguars News and Notes
Comments