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 closer look at what PFF had to say about the Detroit Lions and their tight victory over the Minnesota Vikings, shall we?
With the First Pick
Offense
Best Grades:
Larry Warford: +2.0
Joique Bell: +0.8
Cornelius Lucas: +0.6
Golden Tate: +0.4
LaAdrian Waddle/Calvin Johnson: +0.4
Worst Grades:
Jeremy Ross: -2.6
Dominic Raiola: -1.1
Rob Sims: -1.0
Eric Ebron: -0.6
Matthew Stafford: -0.6
Analysis:
Welcome back Larry Warford. We’ve all missed you.
I think PFF really hit the nail on the head with their grades on offense. Maybe they could’ve given Joique Bell a higher grade for having 102 of Detroit’s 233 total yards, but I’m sure he’ll settle for the second highest grade.
The right tackle position combined for a +1.0 grade between LaAdrian Waddle and Cornelius Lucas. I give a ton of credit to Lucas for stepping in and shutting down Brian Robison, who’s having a pretty nice year at defensive end for the Vikings.
I think we can all agree that Jeremy Ross is not having himself a productive year as a kick/punt returner or a receiver. It feels like the Lions can never have a solid return specialist for more than one year. Once they find someone who really steps it up one year, they immediately slump the next (e.g., Stefan Logan, Reggie Swinton).
Aside from Larry Warford, the interior line has continued to struggle all year. It appears that the offensive line will be Detroit’s biggest area of concern this offseason. They’re going to need to address both sides of the trenches early and often during next year’s draft.
Defense
Best Grades:
Glover Quin: +3.1
Jason Jones: +1.5
Darryl Tapp: +1.2
Tahir Whitehead: +1.1
Andre Fluellen: +1.1
Worst Grades:
Ezekiel Ansah: -2.2
Cassius Vaughn: -2.1
Ndamukong Suh: -1.6
CJ Mosley: -1.3
George Johnson: -1.1
Analysis:
The safety duo of Glover Quin and James Ihedigbo is looking like one of the better units in the league. Quin has been carrying most of the load while Ihedigbo has had a roller coaster type season, but they’ve worked well together. Quin may be Martin Mayhew’s best acquisition as the general manager for the Detroit Lions.
Jason Jones came into yesterday’s game with the lowest overall defensive grade for the Lions this year. You wouldn’t have recognized him if it wasn’t for the number on the back of his jersey. The two biggest plays of the game may have been his sack on third down preceding his blocked field goal late in the game.
Ezekiel Ansah had arguably his best performance of the year going up against left tackle Matt Kalil in their first meeting earlier this year. Yesterday’s meeting may have been the polar opposite.
Either the defensive gameplan was built on stopping Ansah, or he just didn’t have it yesterday. The latter is likely true as the rest of the defensive line couldn’t create a whole lot of pressure either.
Ndamukong Suh earned his lowest grade of the season and just his second negative grade. Bridgewater had all the time in the world and completed 75.6 percent of his throws against the top defense in the NFL.