Here's the problem with showing up late and wanting to have a conversation. We've already gone over that chart, multiple times. You're not showing anything new. I hate to rehash what's already been said, but I broke down the chart once. You see the green? That's above average, and regardless of how far he's throwing it, those passes are still above average passes. The grey? That's average, that's run of the mill. The red shows areas one would hope he'd improve on.
The trick is once you break the passes down, what you come up with is that across the line of scrimmage Hurts was actually an fairly average passer according to that chart. If he throws 56 passes to one spot and they're well ahead of the average to that spot, then that isn't diminished by the fact that he was below average on 24 passes somewhere else on the field. So, is it fair to look at that chart and say he was an average passer? Yes. Is it fair to look at that chart and say he was a below average passer to some areas (like just about any quarterback would be)? Yes. It's not fair though to overlook the strengths he had as a passer, and that chart wouldn't have any green at all if he didn't have strengths.
But, there are a couple of things that the chart doesn't address. One is strength of schedule, he played the toughest schedule in the country. The problem is average, which is what the chart is going off of, is of course also going to be centered around average competition. The chart does nothing at all to account for the fact that he faced above average competition. Finally, there is the little fact that he was a true freshman. If they made up that chart but basing the stats off of true freshman, I can assure you there would be a lot more green.
So, my personal conclusion is that he was somewhere between an average and a good downfield passer. It's hard to tell for sure because he faced such adverse circumstances. Clearly though, he can and should improve (as most freshman do). But, none of that takes away from what he's done! That's my sticking point. Was he a great dual threat QB? That's an easy argument to make. They gave him SEC Offensive Player of the Year, and how could an average downfield passer win that? Well, by being one of the best rusher in the league as well. I guess that helps. Even if you concede he's an average passer, you are left with him being a spectacular rusher, and it's not hard to make the argument that still results in a great quarterback...
