Sports Forensics learning guide
Read passing volume and efficiency separately
By Lou · Sports Forensics editorial · October 21, 2026
Evergreen educational guide. All numerical examples below are hypothetical; they are not current player or team reports.
Start with the question
A large passing-yard total can reflect more opportunities, better production per attempt, or both. Before comparing quarterbacks, write down the attempts and the yards together. Then check whether the comparison covers one game or an entire season.
Worked example: invented numbers
Quarterback A throws for 280 yards on 40 attempts: 280 ÷ 40 = 7.0 yards per attempt. Quarterback B throws for 240 yards on 30 attempts: 240 ÷ 30 = 8.0. A has the larger yard total; B has more yards per attempt in this example. Neither number alone establishes who played better.
What the calculation leaves out
Our example omits sacks, interceptions, field position, opponent quality and game situation. A team protecting a late lead may use a different approach from a team trying to catch up. Keep those questions separate rather than assigning every difference to the quarterback.
A useful reading habit
Check the official box score, state the date range and count the attempts. Compare like situations when possible. If a player changes teams or loses a starting receiver, record the change as context; do not assume it explains the entire result.
What this can tell you
The arithmetic describes the sample shown. It does not establish a future score or a causal explanation. A useful follow-up is to ask whether the same pattern appears across several games with comparable conditions.
Official references
These references support statistical terminology and scoring conventions. The examples and interpretations are our own. League names identify the sport covered and do not imply affiliation or endorsement.
Questions or corrections? Contact Lou. Read our method for how evidence, interpretation and corrections are separated.