Best and Worst So Far Through 9 Games Per PFF

[tynimiller]

Had someone message me if I could post whose been the best and worst of Offense and Defense so far through 9 games...so here you go.
Now I limited it to guys with minimum 125 snaps:

Best Offense
1. RB Josh Jacobs: 83.9
2. RT Zach Tom: 83.3
3. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.0
4. QB Malik Willis: 77.4 (limited use of course being backup)
5. WR Jayden Reed: 71.6

Worst Offense
C Josh Myers: 49.9
WR Dontayvion Wicks: 53.3
OL Jordan Morgan: 59.2
OL Elgton Jenkins 60.2
OL Sean Rhyan 61.5

*For the record the fact that three guys essentially are in the 60s or near are in the bottom five actually states how well the offense has done this year for the most part. Penalties have been our biggest issues...

Best Defense
S Xavier McKinney: 89.5
S Evan Williams: 87.4
LB Eric Wilson: 78.4
CB Jaire Alexander: 74.9
LB Edgerrin Cooper: 69.6
*Jamin Davis this year is at 71.2 but has only seen 86 snaps just for noteworthy sake.

Worst Defense
DL TJ Slaton: 42.7
DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.6
LB Quay Walker: 47.7
DL Kenny Clark: 50.7
CB Eric Stokes: 51.1


None of this surprised me really other than just how high of grades our bottom offensive guys are truly. I also think Jamin Davis will be elevated sooner rather than later as well given our play by our edges.

 

[El Guapo]

Elgton Jenkins being that low does surprise me a bit. I haven't been watching him closely but this certainly means that he hasn't been playing at his usual pro-bowl level.

All of the players listed under Worst Defense are no surprise. Slaton and Clark should be able to rebound. Van Ness is a maybe. Quay is the new AJ Hawk - a first round LB pick that doesn't make impact plays. At least he isn't getting ejected from games anymore.

 

[tynimiller]

Elgton Jenkins being that low does surprise me a bit. I haven't been watching him closely but this certainly means that he hasn't been playing at his usual pro-bowl level.

All of the players listed under Worst Defense are no surprise. Slaton and Clark should be able to rebound. Van Ness is a maybe. Quay is the new AJ Hawk - a first round LB pick that doesn't make impact plays. At least he isn't getting ejected from games anymore.

I am gonna push back har d the Quay is AJ Hawk, if he was that good I'd be VERY happy. Hawk only had physical limitations which limited him at times, but that dude was high football IQ type that even played into impacting games at times despite his limited athleticism. I would KILL for Quay to be as good as Hawk was.

 

[Schultz]

Elgton Jenkins being that low does surprise me a bit. I haven't been watching him closely but this certainly means that he hasn't been playing at his usual pro-bowl level.

All of the players listed under Worst Defense are no surprise. Slaton and Clark should be able to rebound. Van Ness is a maybe. Quay is the new AJ Hawk - a first round LB pick that doesn't make impact plays. At least he isn't getting ejected from games anymore.

I am not sure that is a good thing.

 

[OldSchool101]

Had someone message me if I could post whose been the best and worst of Offense and Defense so far through 9 games...so here you go.
Now I limited it to guys with minimum 125 snaps:

Best Offense
1. RB Josh Jacobs: 83.9
2. RT Zach Tom: 83.3
3. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.0
4. QB Malik Willis: 77.4 (limited use of course being backup)
5. WR Jayden Reed: 71.6

Worst Offense
C Josh Myers: 49.9
WR Dontayvion Wicks: 53.3
OL Jordan Morgan: 59.2
OL Elgton Jenkins 60.2
OL Sean Rhyan 61.5

*For the record the fact that three guys essentially are in the 60s or near are in the bottom five actually states how well the offense has done this year for the most part. Penalties have been our biggest issues...

Best Defense
S Xavier McKinney: 89.5
S Evan Williams: 87.4
LB Eric Wilson: 78.4
CB Jaire Alexander: 74.9
LB Edgerrin Cooper: 69.6
*Jamin Davis this year is at 71.2 but has only seen 86 snaps just for noteworthy sake.

Worst Defense
DL TJ Slaton: 42.7
DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.6
LB Quay Walker: 47.7
DL Kenny Clark: 50.7
CB Eric Stokes: 51.1


None of this surprised me really other than just how high of grades our bottom offensive guys are truly. I also think Jamin Davis will be elevated sooner rather than later as well given our play by our edges.

Not good having 3 regulars on our DL (Kenny,TJ,Lukas) in the bottom 4

 

[tynimiller]

Not good having 3 regulars on our DL (Kenny,TJ,Lukas) in the bottom 4

LVN is the only one I give a halfway pass card cuz he is still a baby, both in age and experience. Three systems in three years and barely able to drink a beer lol

 

[shockerx]

Tyin if you took Willis out who would be the next guy at number 5 on best of offense?

 

[tynimiller]

Tyin if you took Willis out who would be the next guy at number 5 on best of offense?

Solid question give me a sec. On phone and not desktop.

 

[tynimiller]

Tyin if you took Willis out who would be the next guy at number 5 on best of offense?

Love 71.3

 

[Sunshinepacker]

Elgton Jenkins being that low does surprise me a bit. I haven't been watching him closely but this certainly means that he hasn't been playing at his usual pro-bowl level.

All of the players listed under Worst Defense are no surprise. Slaton and Clark should be able to rebound. Van Ness is a maybe. Quay is the new AJ Hawk - a first round LB pick that doesn't make impact plays. At least he isn't getting ejected from games anymore.

At this point I've seen nothing to imply that Van Ness is a maybe. He's still just a huge, fast guy that relies solely on the power rush and has yet to demonstrate even the beginnings of any other pass rush move and let's not even discuss his inability to use his hands to fight off linemen...he might as well be out there wearing mittens.

AJ Hawk was a far better player than Quay. Hawk was never elite but he wasn't truly BAD until he got older. Quay is a certified first round bust.

 

[shockerx]

Four first round pick's at the bottom 5 of the defense, boy does that hurt. I dont think any of them will turn it around the back half of season...but maaaybe clark.

 

[El Guapo]

I always liked AJ Hawk, so I wasn't downing on him except to say that he wasn't an impact player. He rarely caused turnovers but he did his base job well.

Many of us are not happy with Quay Walker's play, but some of the comments above are pretty dour. He's still quick and seems good on stretch/outside plays. IMO he struggles to assess and stop the plays that come right at him. He may be a better weak side LB.

 

[Half Empty]

IIRC, the whole problem with Hawk was were he was drafted, no fault of his. If he'd have been a 3rd round choice, few would have had anything bad to say about his performance.

 

[tynimiller]

IIRC, the whole problem with Hawk was were he was drafted, no fault of his. If he'd have been a 3rd round choice, few would have had anything bad to say about his performance.

I agree absolutely - but alas that is due to the messed up thought process many have of expectations for draft positions.

 

[OldSchool101]

LVN is the only one I give a halfway pass card cuz he is still a baby, both in age and experience. Three systems in three years and barely able to drink a beer lol

Yes. I also don’t want you to think I’m being too harsh on these guys because there IS credence to switching our DC and system. This is likely even a more significant change when you have multiple veterans who have only played in a 3-4 their entire professional career. Ala Preston, Gary, Kenny, TJ.

Notice how the players we purposely added for this scheme are the higher graded players even as Rookies of first year on the team. I’d argue it’s probably harder for a veteran to switch schemes/roles because it’s such a big change. One more FA period and draft and we would logically start to see buds all over the D tree.

I’m not suggesting a total negating of early success. Just offering that it would logically take a bit longer to really get juiced up than if we had 4-3 players or had we been in year 2 under Hafley (or both)

 

[OldSchool101]

Also in relation to Preston and not meant in a disrespectful way at all. There is a chance he is correct, that his talent isn’t best suited for this Defense. If that’s true then logically we’re getting 84% or 90% Preston etc.. For myself that means if we can get another player to buy in and get a 91% or 96% fit, then disparity in play is negligible. Not to mention it opens the door wide to add another DL in the next FA or Draft both from a needs AND available Cap perspective.
To be blunt. While it’s not ideal very short term until we get comfortable with a new plan, Preston may have done us a favor in the medium-long term.

 

[tynimiller]

Yes. I also don’t want you to think I’m being too harsh on these guys because there IS credence to switching our DC and system. This is likely even a more significant change when you have multiple veterans who have only played in a 3-4 their entire professional career. Ala Preston, Gary, Kenny, TJ.

Notice how the players we purposely added for this scheme are the higher graded players even as Rookies of first year on the team. I’d argue it’s probably harder for a veteran to switch schemes/roles because it’s such a big change. One more FA period and draft and we would logically start to see buds all over the D tree.

I’m not suggesting a total negating of early success. Just offering that it would logically take a bit longer to really get juiced up than if we had 4-3 players or had we been in year 2 under Hafley (or both)

I sadly think Kenny could be the biggest casualty of this scheme change...he is struggling not playing that normal nose role he had learned to dominate in.

 

[tynimiller]

Also in relation to Preston and not meant in a disrespectful way at all. There is a chance he is correct, that his talent isn’t best suited for this Defense. If that’s true then logically we’re getting 84% or 90% Preston etc.. For myself that means if we can get another player to buy in and get a 91% or 96% fit, then disparity in play is negligible. Not to mention it opens the door wide to add another DL in the next FA or Draft both from a needs AND available Cap perspective.
To be blunt. While it’s not ideal very short term until we get comfortable with a new plan, Preston may have done us a favor in the medium-long term.

Preston 100% knew in his heart this wasn't the fit for him and he knew if he was going to continue to be a value to a team it needed to be in the system he knew. From the guys I know in house, it seems Preston truly was a pro of all pros and kept any displeasure between his ears and behind doors when it finally came out.

 

[RicFlairoftheNFL]

Had someone message me if I could post whose been the best and worst of Offense and Defense so far through 9 games...so here you go.
Now I limited it to guys with minimum 125 snaps:

Best Offense
1. RB Josh Jacobs: 83.9
2. RT Zach Tom: 83.3
3. RB Emanuel Wilson: 80.0
4. QB Malik Willis: 77.4 (limited use of course being backup)
5. WR Jayden Reed: 71.6

Worst Offense
C Josh Myers: 49.9
WR Dontayvion Wicks: 53.3
OL Jordan Morgan: 59.2
OL Elgton Jenkins 60.2
OL Sean Rhyan 61.5

*For the record the fact that three guys essentially are in the 60s or near are in the bottom five actually states how well the offense has done this year for the most part. Penalties have been our biggest issues...

Best Defense
S Xavier McKinney: 89.5
S Evan Williams: 87.4
LB Eric Wilson: 78.4
CB Jaire Alexander: 74.9
LB Edgerrin Cooper: 69.6
*Jamin Davis this year is at 71.2 but has only seen 86 snaps just for noteworthy sake.

Worst Defense
DL TJ Slaton: 42.7
DE Lukas Van Ness: 47.6
LB Quay Walker: 47.7
DL Kenny Clark: 50.7
CB Eric Stokes: 51.1


None of this surprised me really other than just how high of grades our bottom offensive guys are truly. I also think Jamin Davis will be elevated sooner rather than later as well given our play by our edges.

Tyni,

It's 4 out of our 5 OL...3 starters and one contributor. Remembering the other 3 guys are probably covering Myers' f***ups I'm not surprised at this, though it does concern me. I would love to see Jenkins, Morgan and Rhyan's numbers from last game without Myers in.

 

[OldSchool101]

Tyni,

It's 4 out of our 5 OL...3 starters and one contributor. Remembering the other 3 guys are probably covering Myers' f***ups I'm not surprised at this, though it does concern me. I would love to see Jenkins, Morgan and Rhyan's numbers from last game without Myers in.

I see where you are going, but I really don’t think you want to see Jenkins numbers at C last week. THAT game was not a good one to judge Jenkins on imo. We played an unusually high number of shotgun for those conditions. It resulted in multiple fumbles and while we didn’t lose any of them… they were 100% drive killers and regardless that it’s a 2-man exchange .. he’s partly to blame.
Not close to a good game, but again understandable excuses because it’s not his natural spot and weather was terrible.

The reason I’d personally be ok with Myers getting pushed out? I do desperately want to get Morgan going. I think he’s going to be really good Guard and fairly quickly if he gets experience early on. Not to mention the confidence of just starting if he ever moves over to Tackle. For myself anyway it’s about getting the best 5 out there and I believe Morgan is right there in that mix.

In addition I think 75% chance Myers is not in our plans next season. This move would give us a good excuse to shift now. Get a good look at our projected best 5 now. Plus we’ve got a pretty good Center in the wings in Monk and Myers , for lack of better words, is in my way. Lol

 

[tynimiller]

Tyni,

It's 4 out of our 5 OL...3 starters and one contributor. Remembering the other 3 guys are probably covering Myers' f***ups I'm not surprised at this, though it does concern me. I would love to see Jenkins, Morgan and Rhyan's numbers from last game without Myers in.

Seeing as how the offense is 11 guys typically at a time and 5 of those (6 if you include morgan) have seen a lot of time, I'd fully assume two minimum will be your "worst" graded guys.

I'll try to look at our division and then some of the better teams and count how many have OL in their bottom 5...I'd suspect a lot.

Bears - 100 snaps they have one, but two if you allow Bates with 98 snaps...they've had a lot of guys in and out for various reasons too.
Vikings - 2 in their worst
Lions - 3 on their worst 5
Chiefs - 2 in their worst 5
Ravens - 2 in their worst 5
Eagles - 2 in their worst 5
Commanders - 1 in their worst 5
Pittsburgh - 3 in worst 5 (4 in worst 6)


So I will say it was slightly less than I expected amongst the better teams (granted I didn't grab them all). The one thing we have to also remember is penalties I'm pretty sure is part of their grades by PFF (I'll try to find that for sure) and this group has kept Love/Willis very clean but also TONS of penalties.