SEC Statcat's Top5 Play Action Passers for 2021

Passing off play action provides plenty of pluses for offenses. The tactic helps attack aggressive defenses honing in on the run, create more downfield opportunities for receivers, goad verticality out of passers, and generate an increased rate of return compared to one’s overall numbers. Even without a bulldozer of a back or much ground production, play action is proven to facilitate cushion for receivers and explosive gains. But, that doesn’t mean every QB can sling it accurately and find success. While scheme and a QB’s environment play just as an important roles as his throwing skill, here are the SEC’s top5 true play action passers returning for 2021. 

5. Max Johnson

Despite kicking off this list, Max Johnson presented a mixed bag as a play action passer during his debut season. Within the conference he finished 12th or worse in such Success Rate, First Down+TD Rate, Uncatchable Pass Rate, and Yards/Attempt. But Johnson’s serviceable ball placement relative to his contemporaries cements his inclusion on this list. Ahead of this fall, both his Depth Adjusted Accuracy percentage and Explosive Pass Rate sit inside the top5. Exactly a quarter of these throws resulted in a gain of at least 20 yards. Plus, only Bo Nix was less prone to interceptable attempts in this context. Yes, there is an undeniably drop-off amongst returners outside of the Top4, but the Tiger presents the best remaining resume within the SEC. 

4. JT Daniels

As hinted, play action can often help a passer focus further downfield with his targets. Already one to test secondaries deep, JT Daniels commanded the SEC’s highest average depth of target in this context last year. As a result, no one could challenge his mighty 35% Explosive Pass Rate. Plus his 15.6 Yards/Attempt finished as the conference’s runner-up. The results were truly fantastic, but the Bulldogs didn’t always display the best precision. Thanks to his dead duck of a deep ball, Daniels’ Depth Adjusted Accuracy enters this fall as the SEC’s floor and his Interceptable Pass Rate crossed the double-digits for the highest clip of anyone else on this list. While a top4 Success Rate and First Down+TD Rate justifies his hype, his process metrics hint he could regress if his accuracy doesn’t improve. 

3. TJ Finley

Though he might not start a game in 2021, no conference passer trumped TJ Finley’s 65.4% Success Rate off dropback play action last fall. His clip is roughly seven points higher than the next conference returner in line. Over half of his attempts resulted in either a first down or a score, and the Tiger rocks a top3 Depth Adjusted Accuracy clip amongst returners. Though perhaps less potent compared to his former teammates per a Explosive Pass Rate that falls outside the top5 for this fall, his Yards/Attempt, Interceptable, and Uncatchable Pass Rate still reach that threshold off the conference’s 4th-highest average depth of target.  

2. Matt Corral 

No SEC passer used total play action as much as Ole Miss’s Matt Corral. Over 40% of his attempts met that criteria with nearly 30% being categorized as true dropback play fakes. The heavy volume and inclusion of this tactic was rationalized thanks to the Rebel’s excellent execution. Though a lot goes into these completions and there’s no guarantee this level of success will continue, Corral enters 2021 with the conference’s 3rd-best Success Rate, Explosive Pass Rate, and Yards/Attempt. He’s also top5 in First Down+TD Rate   and average depth of target. Like his position on this list, Corral’s 53.1% Depth Adjusted Accuracy only looks up to the dude holding the No. 1 spot. 

1. Myles Brennan

The Blonde Bomber was his best self off dropback play action. In the mold of a typical pocket passer, Myles Brennan excelled when given a defined read and his man was schemed open by collapsing a safety. His 20.2 average depth of target only trailed JT Daniels within the SEC last year but no one bested his 17.9 yards/attempt. Entering this year, his 57.4% Depth Adjusted Accuracy holds the gold medal. Every single one of Brennan’s completions resulted in either a first down or a TD in this context. And to cap off this worthy profile, Brennan heads into 2021 with a top5 Interceptable and Uncatchable Pass Rate with the 2nd-best Success and Explosive Pass Rate.