Positive Impact Factor Top 10: November 25
Cam Newton Has Taken the Lead
There was a major shakeup at the top this week and we have a new leader in the Positive Impact Factor for the first time since October 21st.
If you're new to the PIF ratings, here's a quick primer (or, check out a podcast about the PIF): 100 point scale based on passing, rushing and receiving contribution (touches) to one's team. Total TD reflects passing+rushing+receiving (or maybe even fumble recovery) TD. Negative plays are defined as incompletions, fumbles and sacks taken. Extremely negative plays are interceptions and fumbles lost. Extremely positive plays are touchdowns. The PIF rating is calculated using the following formula:
Negative plays (incompletions, fumbles, sacks) divided by total touches (pass attempts, rush attempts, catches)=negative play percentage (Neg Play). Extremely negative plays (INTs/incompletions plus fumbles lost/rush attempts) multiplied times 2=extremely negative play factor (XNeg Play). Total TD divided by total touches=extremely positive play factor (XPos Play). 100-Neg Play+XNeg Play(total negative number)+XPos Play=PIF.
The complete PIF standings can be seen here: 1-36, 37-74, 75-112, 113-124. To see previous weeks, click the date: October 1, October 7, October 14, October 21, October 28, November 4, November 11, November 18. Top Ten Overview and Miscellany are after the table.
| Rank | QB | Team | Touches | Total TD | Neg Play | XNeg Play | XPos Play | PIF |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. ↑1 | Cam Newton | Auburn | 406 | 39 | 20 | 19 | 9.6 | 70.6 |
| 2. ↑3 | Ricky Dobbs | Navy | 346 | 23 | 22.8 | 16.3 | 6.6 | 67.5 |
| 3. — | Dan Persa | Northwestern | 466 | 24 | 25.3 | 12.4 | 5.2 | 67.4 |
| 4. ↓3 | Trent Steelman | Army | 274 | 16 | 21.5 | 17.3 | 5.8 | 67 |
| 5. ↑2 | Austin Davis | Southern Miss | 490 | 26 | 31 | 7.2 | 5.3 | 67 |
| 6. — | Ryan Tannehill | Texas A&M | 219 | 12 | 28.8 | 11.3 | 5.5 | 65.4 |
| 7. ↑1 | Colin Kaepernick | Nevada | 408 | 35 | 26 | 17.4 | 8.6 | 65.2 |
| 8. ↓4 | Chandler Harnish | Northern Illinois | 341 | 20 | 26.1 | 16.6 | 5.9 | 63.2 |
| 9. ↑2 | Ross Jenkins | La Tech | 262 | 13 | 33.2 | 10.4 | 5 | 61.4 |
| 10.↓1 | Robert Griffin III | Baylor | 547 | 29 | 29.6 | 14.5 | 5.3 | 61.2 |
Top Ten Overview
After leading the standings for a solid month, Trent Steelman had a nightmare game against Notre Dame at the new Yankee Stadium. Steelman was 2/7 passing for 39 yards and got only 24 yards rushing on 14 attempts. He also threw two picks, one of which was returned for a TD. Cam Newton's Auburn Tigers were off last week and Steelman's fall allowed Newton to move into the top spot. Ricky Dobbs has come out of nowhere in the second half of the year. He has moved up second place this week. Dobbs was 8/9 passing for 164 yards and a TD against Arkansas State. Dobbs also added 3 rushing TDs and 154 rush yards on 31 carries. Dan Persa was injured against Iowa and watched Northwestern lose to Illinois at Wrigley Field. Austin Davis picked up 404 total yards and six (6) total TDs for Southern Miss in a shootout win against Houston. Ryan Tannehill was an efficient 19/29 for 172 yards vs. Nebraska in a winning outing. He didn't have any TDs or turnovers and remained in the sixth spot in the Standings. Colin Kaepernick moved up one spot this week. In Nevada's blowout of New Mexico State, Kaepernick threw for 251 yards and 2 TDs and ran for 35 yards and scored 1 rushing TD. Northern Illinois had an easy time of it against Ball State. Their QB Chandler Harnish had 2 TD tosses but also 1 INT. With so many people turning in great performances, Harnish fell four spots. Louisiana Tech's Ross Jenkins was able to slide back into the Top Ten at the number 9 spot during a Bye week. Baylor's Robert Griffin III had 1 TD against Oklahoma in a loss but two costly INTs. He fell one spot to 10th in this week's Standings.
Dropped out: Riley Dodge, North Texas
Miscellany
#44 Greg McElroy (Alabama) had a PIF plus game of 107.1 against Georgia State. McElroy was 12/13 passing for 159 yards and 2 TDs. His single rushing attempt went for 2 yards.
#16 Stump Godfrey (New Mexico) had a bad start against BYU but has on the whole been very positive for the Lobos. Godfrey was the starter in the only game New Mexico has won (Wyoming). He has picked up seven TDs in the last four games.
#104 Kellen Moore (Boise State) produces a TD on 9.9% of his touches, which is the best in the nation. However, he also has lost 2 fumbles on 12 attempts which is the worst percentage (16.7) in the country.
#85 Jake Heaps has really started to figure things out at BYU. Heaps was the subject of negative attention a month ago because he produced a TD on 0.4% of his touches. Since that time, Heaps has scored 10 TDs and the Cougars have won four games in a row. Heaps now produces a TD on 3.2% of his touches.
