PFF Review Week 3

[grandy]

DEN-DET GRADES: BRONCOS DEFENSE LEADS THE WAY, STAFFORD STRUGGLES
BEN STOCKWELL
23 HOURS AGO

Here are the top takeaways from Sunday?s Denver-Detroit game, including the highest-graded players for each team

Detroit Lions
? Entering the weekend as our lowest graded quarterback, Matthew Stafford (-5.8) did nothing to lift himself from the bottom of our rankings last night. There were glimpses of what Stafford can do on throws down the middle of the field, but throwing to his left Stafford was extremely poor with Calvin Johnson (+2.5) bailing him out of an interception early in the game against Aqib Talib. Stafford wouldn?t be denied, failing to read David Bruton (-2.2) cutting under another throw to his left later in the game. In grading terms, this is the worst start to a season of Stafford?s career.

? After a slow start to his time in Detroit, we started to see the real Haloti Ngata (+1.7) for the Lions last night. A customary tipped pass reading Peyton Manning?s (+2.4) passing lane led to an interception for Glover Quin and while he didn?t really make his mark in the ground game, he left his mark on Manning with two hits to go with his batted pass.

? While his quarterback toiled, Calvin Johnson (+2.5) did his part in an entertaining back and forth battle with Aqib Talib (-0.5). Targeted nine times against the Broncos? number one corner, Johnson snagged seven receptions for 70 yards while also drawing a pass interference penalty in the end zone. Johnson?s highlight reel play came with five minutes left in the first half, adjusting to a throw behind him to snag the ball in front of Talib who surely thought he had an interception.

Top performers:

CB Rashean Mathis (+3.2)
LB Josh Bynes (+3.2)
WR Calvin Johnson (+2.5)
DT Haloti Ngata (+1.7)
DE Devin Taylor (+1.7)

Denver Broncos
? There are times in games, and even entire games, where Von Miller (+6.4) is simply unblockable and last night was one of those games, with LaAdrian Waddle (-9.5) serving as his unfortunate victim. Miller?s blend of physicality and athleticism were in full view, with his dip move particularly devastating, as he seemed to be able to get to and turn the corner on Waddle to pressure Stafford at will.

? Only Matthew Stafford entered this weekend?s games with a lower PFF grade among quarterbacks than Peyton Manning (+2.4). But, after recording his first positive grade since Week 17 last season Manning?s 2015 finally has some positive momentum. Manning was in control of his intermediate passing (6 of 8 for 73 yards, 1 TD, +3.2 PFF passing grade) and was the beneficiary of his receivers winning on jump balls against Darius Slay (-3.2) to boost his deep passing numbers (2 of 2 for 79 yards, 1 TD, -0.1 PFF passing grade).

? The Broncos defense limited the Lions to a yard and a half per carry on the ground and a big part of that success was the play of Brandon M. Marshall (+1.4) and T.J. Ward (+2.0). The pair combined for 11 stops (seven for Marshall) with seven of those coming against the run (three for Ward) cleaning up for some strong work by the defensive line with Lions? runners gaining only eight yards before contact in the entire game.

Top performers:

ED Von Miller (+6.4)
CB Bradley Roby (+3.7)
QB Peyton Manning (+2.4)
S T.J. Ward (+2.0)
RT Ryan Harris (+1.8)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/bl...cos-defense-leads-the-way-stafford-struggles/

 

[Mitchrapp]

Good ole Matt.

 

[brewer229]

Offense

Best Grades

Calvin Johnson: +2.5
Larry Warford: +1.3

Worst Grades

LaAdrian Waddle: -9.5 (not a typo)
Matthew Stafford: -5.8
Eric Ebron: -5.4
Laken Tomlinson: -2.9
Lance Moore: -1.9
Cornelius Lucas: -1.5
Riley Reiff: -1.2
Joique Bell: -1.2


Defense

Best Grades

Josh Bynes: +3.2
Rashean Mathis: +3.2
Haloti Ngata: +1.7
Devin Taylor: +1.7
Tahir Whitehead: +1.7
Glover Quin: +1.5

Worst Grades

Darius Slay: -3.2
Tyrunn Walker: -2.6
Quandre Diggs: -2.4
Jason Jones: -1.5
Josh Wilson: -1.3


http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/28/9409453/lions-broncos-pff-grades-same-old-offense

 

[tomdalton22]

I will break it down in a simple manner.

Lions - F

 

[zyxt9]

Damn...a -9.5 grade for Waddle. I'm sure it is a True +9.5 as we were promised that when he was healthy enough to play that the O would greatly improve. I guess if Waddle wasn't playing, someone else would have been around -50 or worse.

 

[grandy]

I see Bynes popping up on these reviews every week, does he currently have the highest grade for the Lions after 3 games?

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Damn...a -9.5 grade for Waddle. I'm sure it is a True +9.5 as we were promised that when he was healthy enough to play that the O would greatly improve. I guess if Waddle wasn't playing, someone else would have been around -50 or worse.

I've never seen a lower individual game grade than that. That grade is so low, we should have put Ebron on Miller!!!!

 

[boogerlovejoy]

I see Bynes popping up on these reviews every week, does he currently have the highest grade for the Lions after 3 games?

Not only that.....but good contributions from subs like Taylor and Whitehead.

Why, again, is Lewis starting over Whitehead????

Either way.....I guess if we do tank this season.....we can get some of these young guys a LOT more playing time. Taylor, Whitehead, Van Noy, Lawson, Fuller, Reid.....maybe even Gabe Wright and Robinson.

Can those guys be big contributors in '16......or do we need a COMPLETE roster overhaul?

 

[grandy]

I've never seen a lower individual game grade than that. That grade is so low, we should have put Ebron on Miller!!!!

Still doesn't beat Josh Freeman's grade when he debuted for the Vikings a couple years ago

http://www.twincities.com/sports/ci_24361471/vikings-josh-freeman-qb-grade-worst-ever-by

 

[brewer229]

I've never seen a lower individual game grade than that. That grade is so low, we should have put Ebron on Miller!!!!

Hey he wasn't the worst tackle this week:
Tackles: James Hurst, Ravens (-11.2) and LaAdrian Waddle, Lions (-9.5)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/28/worst-players-at-every-position-for-week-3/

 

[boogerlovejoy]

Hey he wasn't the worst tackle this week:
Tackles: James Hurst, Ravens (-11.2) and LaAdrian Waddle, Lions (-9.5)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/28/worst-players-at-every-position-for-week-3/

Ouch. Both terrible.

The two places we seemed to have some depth at coming into the season.....LB and OL.....have been two of the worst positions on the team. Granted, injuries have hurt but that supposed "depth" has played more like "death" the first three weeks.

Nowhere to go but up!!!!

 

[kdp1980]

Offense

Best Grades

Calvin Johnson: +2.5
Larry Warford: +1.3

Worst Grades

LaAdrian Waddle: -9.5 (not a typo)
Matthew Stafford: -5.8
Eric Ebron: -5.4
Laken Tomlinson: -2.9
Lance Moore: -1.9
Cornelius Lucas: -1.5
Riley Reiff: -1.2
Joique Bell: -1.2


Defense

Best Grades

Josh Bynes: +3.2
Rashean Mathis: +3.2
Haloti Ngata: +1.7
Devin Taylor: +1.7
Tahir Whitehead: +1.7
Glover Quin: +1.5

Worst Grades

Darius Slay: -3.2
Tyrunn Walker: -2.6
Quandre Diggs: -2.4
Jason Jones: -1.5
Josh Wilson: -1.3


http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/28/9409453/lions-broncos-pff-grades-same-old-offense

I still think Waddle is by far our best option at RT, given his injury filled past, he's gotta be a little rusty. At least there were fewer unblocked shots at Stafford last week

 

[dubbsco]

Just did a little research on Caldwell cause I was curious. Through out his entire career as a head coach, his teams have never, ever run well. He didn't have a 1000 yard rusher with the Colts, his teams at Wake couldn't run, and this team clearly can't.

 

[tbone413]

Offense

Best Grades

Calvin Johnson: +2.5
Larry Warford: +1.3

Worst Grades

LaAdrian Waddle: -9.5 (not a typo)
Matthew Stafford: -5.8
Eric Ebron: -5.4
Laken Tomlinson: -2.9
Lance Moore: -1.9
Cornelius Lucas: -1.5
Riley Reiff: -1.2
Joique Bell: -1.2


Defense

Best Grades

Josh Bynes: +3.2
Rashean Mathis: +3.2
Haloti Ngata: +1.7
Devin Taylor: +1.7
Tahir Whitehead: +1.7
Glover Quin: +1.5

Worst Grades

Darius Slay: -3.2
Tyrunn Walker: -2.6
Quandre Diggs: -2.4
Jason Jones: -1.5
Josh Wilson: -1.3


http://www.prideofdetroit.com/2015/9/28/9409453/lions-broncos-pff-grades-same-old-offense

Im surprised to see that rating for Waddle...I thought he did a pretty decent job against Von Miller when he was in there. I could have missed some of his gaffs, but compared to Lucas, he was much better IMO...

 

[kdp1980]

Im surprised to see that rating for Waddle...I thought he did a pretty decent job against Von Miller when he was in there. I could have missed some of his gaffs, but compared to Lucas, he was much better IMO...

That's what I was thinking as well

 

[tbone413]

Not only that.....but good contributions from subs like Taylor and Whitehead.

Why, again, is Lewis starting over Whitehead????

Either way.....I guess if we do tank this season.....we can get some of these young guys a LOT more playing time. Taylor, Whitehead, Van Noy, Lawson, Fuller, Reid.....maybe even Gabe Wright and Robinson.

Can those guys be big contributors in '16......or do we need a COMPLETE roster overhaul?

I also am wondering why Lewis is getting more PT than whitehead...Im convinced something happened during pre-season which put Whitehead in the doghouse. But, for the sake of the coaches job, they need to get over that shit and Start the most talented players ASAP!

As for the roster overhaul, I think they need two starters for each of their lines
O-line:
Draft a LT - move Reiff over to RT to 'salavage' that pick
Sign the best Vet C this offseason - I am not sold on Swanson yet, and apparently Stafford needs a vet capable of assisting in reading the defense and adjusting the call/blocking scheme...

D-Line:

Draft BPA at DT or DE
Sign mid range DE or DT

Thats the best we can do this offseason IMO...

we also need to find a replacement for Mathis, but I think a 'serviceable' corner can be had in free agency, and later in the draft...

Just my opinion tho

 

[kdp1980]

Whitehead gained 10 lbs of muscle during the offseason, let's bench him

 

[kdp1980]

we also need to find a replacement for Mathis, but I think a 'serviceable' corner can be had in free agency, and later in the draft...

Just my opinion tho

Wouldve been nice to grab one in last year's draft, instead we drafted a corner expected to make a move to safety. As we sit, we need 2 solid players added to each one of our lines. Landing a solid cb in FA seems like our best bet at this point.

 

[brewer229]

Here is a blurb they did on Waddle on one of the above links:

Waddle actually graded positively (+1.3) against the run. But when you allow a sack, a QB hit, and eight hurries, you make this team.
_______________________________________________________________________

Plus didn't he have two penalties?

 

[tomdalton22]

Wouldve been nice to grab one in last year's draft, instead we drafted a corner expected to make a move to safety. As we sit, we need 2 solid players added to each one of our lines. Landing a solid cb in FA seems like our best bet at this point.

A really good time to take a stud OL or DL would have been when they had the #10 pick but they took the "Matchup nightmare"

BTW...I really think LKP's prediction on your posts of Lions 42-10 over AZ might come up a little off!