Tag: X-Factor

PFF reveals their ‘X-factor’ for the LSU Tigers in the 2021 preview magazine

Just who did PFF select for the LSU Tigers ‘x-factor’ for the 2021 season?

With the college football season approaching in just over six weeks, the LSU Tigers are gearing up for a bit of a revenge tour. The hope is that the Tigers will not suffer the same fate as they did one season ago. Year two of the post-Joe Burrow era is expected to be much better. The Tigers were top 15 in the composite power rankings.

Looking towards the upcoming season, Pro Football Focus made their selection for the Tigers’ x-factor for 2021.

Despite having an offensive line that was respectable in run-blocking with a grade in that facet that ranked 24th in the Power 5, LSU had a below-average rushing attack in 2020. They ranked 10th in the SEC in run play efficiency with -0.12 EPA per attempt, by far their worst of the PFF College era. It’ll be on Davis-Price to help fix that in 2021. – PFF preview magazine on X-Factor, Tyrion Davis-Price

Davis-Price returns the 10th-most production in the Southeastern Conference in 2021. Despite the fact that he only rushed for a total of 446 yards on 104 attempts last year. His touchdown production was cut in half from his freshman season, of course, that year they had Joe Burrow under center. With the revolving door at quarterback, he didn’t seem to get the same opportunities.

Along with Davis-Price in the backfield, fellow 2019 signee John Emery Jr looks to have a more productive season in 2021. However, the latter did finish with a slightly better yards per carry average than Davis-Price. The duo will need to help shoulder the load once again if the quarterback play doesn’t improve from 2020, but it should.

Derwin James is Chargers’ biggest X-Factor in 2021

When safety Derwin James is on the field, there’s a greater chance for success.

When referring to an X-factor, we’re not talking about a player who lines up in the “X” position as a wide receiver. Instead, we’re talking about a player who steps up for the team in a big way to make a difference.

There are going to be several players on the Chargers who make an impact on both sides of the ball, but safety Derwin James’ might be the most significant.

That is why James was listed as Los Angeles’ biggest X-factor entering the 2021 season by Bleacher Report’s Brad Gagnon.

If the Bolts are going to hang with Mahomes and the Chiefs and, if a trade happens, possibly even Rodgers and the Broncos in 2021, they’ll need more from that unit. That includes help for elite pass-rusher Joey Bosa up front (ideally from young first-round picks Jerry Tillery and Kenneth Murray as well as Melvin Ingram III replacement Uchenna Nwosu), but the key might be a bounce-back year from Derwin James in the secondary.

Football is a team sport, but James is a one-man wrecking crew that has dictated a large portion of the team’s success.

In 2018, which is the year James did play a complete season, he was an All-Pro and the Chargers were 12-4 and in the playoff. The past two seasons, in which he was hurt, they had a losing record and missed the playoffs both years.

Now fully healthy, James will have a chance to return to his original form and display his versatility in new head coach Brandon Staley’s defense, where he will be used in a variety of roles.

When James is on the field, opposing offenses are more prone to struggle due to his rare skillset against the pass, run, or as a blitzer.

In two seasons, James has 139 tackles, three interceptions, 3.5 sacks and 14 passes defensed.

At the end of the day, if James is on the field then there’s a greater chance of Los Angeles making a deeper run.