Detroit Lions Week 7 PFF Grades: Reiff Deserves Praise

If you are not aware by now, Pro Football Focus is a website dedicated to grading NFL players’ individual performances based on in depth review of every snap of every game. If you’re interested, here is a look at their grading system.

Let’s take a quick look at what PFF had to say about the Detroit Lions and their victory over the New Orleans Saints, shall we?

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With the First Pick

Offense

Best Grades:

Riley Reiff: +4.5
Golden Tate: +1.8
Rob Sims: +1.4
Reggie Bush: +0.9
Corey Fuller: +0.8

Worst Grades:

Matthew Stafford: -3.2
Larry Warford: -2.6
Joique Bell: -2.0
Jordan Thompson: -1.1
Brandon Pettigrew: -0.9

Analysis:

This marks the second week in a row in which Riley Reiff earns this week’s top grade, and Matthew Stafford earns the worst grade via PFF. Reiff has the highest overall grade of any player on offense all year, and is the only starter on the offensive line with an overall positive grade.

Stafford continues to struggle whether he’s been under pressure or not, and I think I’m getting to the point where I just don’t think Stafford will ever be able to show that he can consistently handle pressure. I’d like to see the offense get into their no huddle offense earlier in the game rather than just the fourth quarter when they’re behind two scores, because it seems like Stafford is always at his best when he’s going full speed.

As a unit, the offensive line actually didn’t have too rough of a time yesterday, and combined for a total grade of +3.7 between the five of them.

Jordan Thompson only played 11 snaps, but still managed to find himself on the top five worst grades. That probably has a lot to do with tipping a pass into the lap of a defender in the redzone.

Reggie Bush received a positive grade on his 18 snaps, and I have no clue why. Someone needs to teach that man how to run north/south rather than east/west.

Defense

Best Grades:

DeAndre Levy: +3.6
Nick Fairley: +3.0
James Ihedigbo: +1.5
C.J. Mosley: +1.1
Ashlee Palmer: +0.6

Worst Grades:

Danny Gorrer: -1.9
Ezekiel Ansah: -1.4
Darryl Tapp: -1.3
Jason Jones: -1.1
Rashean Mathis/George Johnson: -1.0

Analysis:

Raise your hand if you didn’t expect to see DeAndre Levy have yet another solid performance. Didn’t think so.

The Lions struggled to get pressure on Drew Brees early in the game, especially from their exterior rushers. Four of their worst five grades came from defensive ends, and the only player on the offensive line that performed well was Nick Fairley.

I’m actually quite surprised that James Ihedigbo didn’t receive an even higher grade than a +1.5, because I felt like he was all over the place against the Saints.

Gorrer struggled early in yesterday’s game and was later benched and replaced by Don Carey at nickelback. On the year, Gorrer has been targeted 13 times and has given up 10 catches for 119 yards. Quarterbacks have a combined 104.3 QB rating while throwing his way.