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          College Football Nation Blog

          Blake Sims' stats make case as best in SEC

          • Tobin Petitpas, ESPN Stats & Information
          Nov 25, 2014, 09:29 AM ET

          Chris Graythen/Getty Images

          Blake 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

          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

          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.