Alright, football fans, we need to talk about Pro Football Focus. What was once an invaluable tool for breaking down individual player performance, even with its understandable subjectivity, now feels like it’s drifting further and further from reality. We’re seeing glaring inconsistencies, and honestly, it’s getting frustrating when their own data tells a totally different story than the grades they dish out.
What Happened to PFF? The Old Days vs. Now
Look, PFF’s original mission was awesome. It’s incredibly tough to isolate individual efforts in football; a running back is only as good as his line, and even elite corners can look bad without a pass rush. PFF tried to cut through all that noise, using time-tested scouting methods to rank players on their own merits. Yeah, I know, some of you are already yelling that PFF was always garbage, but that’s just not true. People like Ben Baldwin, who helped build a ton of the analytics we use today like EPA and CPOE, actually ran studies comparing PFF’s quarterback grades to more objective stats. Guess what? PFF often came out on top for predictive value, or at least super close. And for positions like offensive line, where traditional stats are practically non-existent, PFF grades were always better than nothing. But something shifted a few years back. PFF’s focus moved away from the fans, from us, and it feels like their grades just got less tied to what we’re actually seeing on the field. It’s one thing for me to disagree with a grade, I’m just a fan. But when PFF’s own internal stats are screaming one thing and their grades say another? That’s a problem.
Dani Dennis-Sutton’s Jaw-Dropping Production vs. Head-Scratching Grade
The most obvious example of this PFF grade disconnect has to be Dani Dennis-Sutton. This kid, a fourth-rounder no less, is having an absolutely sensational rookie campaign. Seriously, it’s wild. He’s already racked up 20 total pressures on just 143 pass-rushing snaps. Think about that for a second. That raw total ties him at 24th overall among 150 qualified players! The only guys who have put up more pressures in *fewer* snaps are Trey Hendrickson and Green Bay’s Brenton Cox. Not only that, DDS ranks super high in hurries, and he’s one of only thirteen edge rushers in the entire league with a pass broken up this season. You’d expect that kind of production to translate into a fantastic grade, right? Nope. His pass-rushing grade sits at a measly 60.4, putting him way down at 87th. His overall grade is barely any better! Sure, maybe he gives up some value in run defense, I can buy that. But to have him ranked in the middle of the pack for pass rush when he’s producing like that? That’s not just wrong, it’s insanity. This kind of discrepancy makes you wonder if they’re even watching the same game we are.
The Stakes: Can We Trust the Data?
This isn’t just about one player’s grade, though it’s certainly frustrating for fans of guys like Dennis-Sutton. There was also a bizarre grade for linebacker Ty’Ron Hopper from a recent Panthers game, where he’s stepping in for injured Zaire Franklin and/or Edgerrin Cooper. These aren’t isolated incidents. When the biggest analytics outfit in football can’t align its own statistical tracking with its grading system, what does that mean for us, the fans, who rely on this stuff to understand the game better? What does it mean for teams who potentially use this data? We need to know that what we’re seeing on the field, and what the numbers are telling us, is reflected accurately. Otherwise, it just becomes noise. Moving forward, I hope PFF takes a hard look at these internal disconnects. We need that reliable, insightful analysis back. It’s too important for helping us appreciate the nuances of this incredible game.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Acme Packing Company.
Leave a Reply