Originally posted by tankle104:
ive never understood how fans don't realize this. In order for a skill player to get YAC, you need good timing and ball placement (usually). I think part of it is our system and the way it's designed but speaking in general. Sometimes a skill guy just makes a great play but overall, I've always felt like a qb should get credit if a team has a ton of YAC.
Yeah a large part of it is the system. For example, there are offenses that use curl routes, spread across the field in quiet areas, to beat zone coverage. While this works to beat zone, WRs are at a standstill when they make the catch. The 49ers do not usually do this. Their zone beating route combinations consist of routes with guys on the move so that if they make the catch, they are on the run and that promotes YAC.
Not all YAC is equal in terms of whether the major contributor on that play is the QB, the WR, or the scheme. And most plays it's a combination of all three. But to Aiyuk's point, yeah the QB definitely has a role.