Tag: PFF Grades

Texas football’s highest-graded returners on offense per PFF

According to PFF, these were the top five players on offense for Texas last season.

The once uncertain college football season is now rapidly approaching. Continue reading “Texas football’s highest-graded returners on offense per PFF”

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Jashon Cornell was one of PFF’s top-graded DTs in the draft class of 2020

Lions 7th-round pick Jashon Cornell was one of PFF’s top-graded DTs in the draft class of 2020

The Detroit Lions just might have found themselves a real value in the seventh round with rookie Jashon Cornell. The defensive lineman from Ohio State earned the 4th-highest grade from Pro Football Focus in 2019 among players who were in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Cornell finished just behind top-10 overall pick Derrick Brown from Auburn in PFF’s grading.

Context behind the grades certainly matters. Cornell didn’t play nearly as many snaps or as high of a percentage of reps as Brown or the others above him. And he did his damage often playing next to No. 2 overall pick Chase Young. But it’s still impressive that Cornell fared so well in PFF’s metrics while transitioning from playing primarily strong-side DE to DT in 2019.

The Lions quietly improved their pass rushing this offseason, per PFF

Through the draft and free agency, the Detroit Lions have one of more improved pass-rushing units in the league according to PFF

It seems like year after year, fans are begging the Detroit Lions to improve their pass rush. When you are letting quarterbacks like Mitchell Trubisky look like a Pro Bowler, you know there is some serious room for improvement. After this offseason, it looks the Lions might’ve quietly improved their pass rush.

Pro football focus’ Ben Linsey listed the five teams who most improved their pass rush this offseason and the Lions checked in at number three — just below the Miami Dolphins and Washington Redskins.

The Lions struggled to rush the passer in 2019, ranking at the bottom of the league with a dismal 29.2-percent pressure rate. The standout player was Trey Flowers, who “played well, generating a pass-rushing grade of 78.8 with 62 total pressures in a full season of action”.

Flowers can’t do this all himself, but fortunately, based on the moves made this offseason, he will have some help in 2020.

Devon Kennard registered seven sacks last season — tied for the team lead with Trey Flowers — but his ability to cause consistent pressure left something to be desired. The Lions released him this offseason and drafted his replacement in Julian Okwara.

In theory, Okwara should provide a boost to the Lions’ pass rush, after registering elite pass-rushing grades during his 2018 and 2019 college years. Expectations should be tempered for the rookie, but he has the length and athleticism to be a disruptor on the edge opposite of Flowers.

One of the biggest offseason moves the Lions made was signing former Patriot Jamie Collins to bolster a questionable linebacking corps. Collins has established a reputation in the league as one of the better pass-rushing linebackers, and last year was no exception as “his pass-rushing grade of 76.8 was a top-five mark at the position”. Even though it is expected that Collins will play multiple roles on the defense, he provides a pass-rushing repertoire the Lions have been sorely missing.

The Lions’ defensive line will almost be unrecognizable in 2020, having said goodbye to A’Shawn Robinson, Damon Harrison, and Mike Daniels this offseason. In turn, the Lions signed one of the better pass-rushing nose tackles in another former Patriot Danny Shelton.

Even though Shelton has made a career as a run stuffer, this past year, he was able to elevate his pass rush. His “73.3. pass-rushing grade in 2019 was the highest of his career” and ranked among the Top-15 pass-rushing defensive tackles. With a similar scheme in Detroit, the transition should be seamless for a potential repeat performance.

Pass rushing has been the Achilles heel for the Lions but this offseason the Lions were able to bring in players who should be able to contribute immediately. In theory, the Lions have upgraded their pass rush and if all the pieces click how they are supposed to, they should have a defense that will make them tough to play against.

Todd Gurley, Taylor Rapp among highest-graded Rams by PFF in Week 13

Check out the five highest-graded Rams from Week 13.

The Rams finally put it all together on Sunday against the Cardinals, blowing out their division rivals 34-7 at State Farm Stadium. It was a much-needed bounce back after getting crushed by the Ravens at home, keeping their playoff chances alive in the NFC.

The Rams were great on both offense and defense, which isn’t something that can be said about many of their performances this season. Todd Gurley had a productive day with 95 yards rushing, Jared Goff put up 424 yards in about three quarters of action and Robert Woods racked up 172 yards receiving on 13 catches.

Defensively, Aaron Donald was once again a menace, while Taylor Rapp broke out with a pick-six and another pass defensed. The rookie safety earned some high praise from Pro Football Focus, which gave him an 86.4 overall grade – second-best on the Rams defense this week.

Gurley had the highest offensive grade (90.6), followed by Tyler Higbee (85.8) and Woods (85.2).

The Rams can’t expect to win by 27 every week, but they are certainly capable of putting together performances like this one more regularly than they have. The offense had very little trouble moving the ball against Arizona’s underwhelming secondary, but the defense completely shut down Kyler Murray and a unit that was gaining momentum.

It’s good to see Goff and the offense back on track after an ugly November.

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