Originally posted by LifelongNiner:
Based on these PFF grades, I'm assuming one must earn points if you do anything that causes the QB to have to move from their initial position where they dropped back, or something, that must be a positive for that player. It's the only way you can possibly look at AA as a good pass rusher. I'm all in favor of looking at the big picture (tackles for loss, hits, hurries/pressures, balls batted down, etc) for a D-lineman. But when you are high on the hurries/pressures, but low on meaningful contact (TFLs, hits, balls batted down, and of course sacks), those hurries lose value. Does anyone know HOW the score is actually calculated?
I'm not sure the PFF guys know...
PFF stats are like any other stats/analytics...they can be useful but should not be taken as ultimate fact when their grades are based on a human defined formula and are graded by humans watching film without knowing what is being called by both teams.
I like PFF for what it is, but ever since someone posted something pretty outrageous from there a few years ago I've always used the eye test more so than PFF.
I don't recall who posted it but PFF posted a stat about Alex Boone(obviously a few years ago) how that year in the last X amount of games he did not surrender any pressures. The poster then showed a clip of one of our games(which was certainly within that window PFF was talking about)
The play showed Boone blocking air as the defender came in untouched to sack the QB. The thought process was that because Boone didn't engage the defender he wasn't beaten and apparently the sack/pressure wasn't attributed to him. Now that was the speculation around here but it's very possible PFF thinks just like that.
Now maybe it's just me but I'm not cool with our OL blocking air as defenders come in to bury our QBs.
I'm sure there is similar thoughts on grading DL.
And I get it...it's not easy grading every position when you don't know the plays. There are different types of pressures. There is the QB hangs out in the pocket for 5 minutes while the secondary blankets all the receivers and the DLman finally gets into the QBs face. And then there is the DLman buries his blocker then runs over the chipping RB on his way to get the pressure. I have no idea if PFF gives out the same grade for each pressure.
There is no question Arik had his best season of his career last year. Was he 7 points away from Frank Clark as a pass rusher? HELL no.