PFF 2012 Year End Rankings: Cowboys LBs

[perrykemp]

Standard Disclaimer -- These are PFF rankings. PFF data is hotly contested from being insightful / useful all the way to the other extreme of being trash. Mileage will vary:

2012 Year End Position Rankings for Cowboys Linebackers

3-4 Outside Linebackers

1/34 - Anthony Spencer - PFF "Blue Chip" Player
7/34 - Victor Butler
12/34 - Demarcus Ware

3-4 Inside Linebackers

6/53 - Sean Lee - PFF "Blue Chip" Player
15/53 - Bruce Carter
32/53 - Dan Connor
40/53 - Ernie Sims

[Aven8]

Wow! Spence as the #1 OLB. Awesome.

Lee and Carter will be a force if they can stay healthy.

[burmafrd]

Victor Butler the 7th best OLB in the NFL?

if anything more was needed to show PFF for the garbage it is that should do it

[perrykemp]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Victor Butler the 7th best OLB in the NFL?

if anything more was needed to show PFF for the garbage it is that should do it

I don't think they are saying he is the 7th best OLB in the NFL -- I think they are saying snap for snap, he is the 7th most productive 3-4 OLB in the NFL.

Big difference.

[burmafrd]

Originally Posted by perrykemp

I don't think they are saying he is the 7th best OLB in the NFL -- I think they are saying snap for snap, he is the 7th most productive 3-4 OLB in the NFL.

Big difference.

that is their ranking of OLBs. You can try and split hairs on that but the bottom line is that there is no way that Victor Butler was the 7th most productive OLB in the NFL.

[GloryDaysRBack]

How did Willis and bowman stack up vs our inside backers?

[CowboysYanksLakers]

Spencer had an outstanding year no doubt about it... I don't put much into these rankings honestly.

[Nation]

I have questions about locking him up to a long term deal, but it is laughable that people were concerned about a one year 8.8M commitment to him in the offseason.

[Risen Star]

Originally Posted by burmafrd

Victor Butler the 7th best OLB in the NFL?

if anything more was needed to show PFF for the garbage it is that should do it

Yep.

He's better than DeMarcus Ware. File that one away as a reminder when you watch the games.

[Cajuncowboy]

We have 3 of the top 15 LBers in the game today?

Really?

[RS12]

If Butler's agent tries to use that to get a new contract it wont be in Dallas.

[robert70x7]

That's their grades. Here's what the signature stats say. Only include players who played in 25% of snaps. Butler shouldn't qualify in my opinion.

Pass Rush Productivity - Formula that takes into account sacks, hits and hurries.
Ware - 4/32
Spencer - 5/32
Butler - N/A

Run Stop - Tackles that constitute a defensive stop
Spencer - 1/34
Butler - 10/34
Ware - 17/34

Tackling - Attempted Tackles / Missed Tackles
Spencer - 16/34
Butler - 22/34
Ware - 25/34

Coverage - Cover Snaps / Reception
Spencer - 17/28
Ware - 27/28
Butler - N/A

Also, these stats are solely 3-4 OLB, doesn't include 4-3 OLB.

[Joshmil53]

Like stated above, Victor just produced the 7th most in the amount of snaps he played.

People still hate on Spencer.

[AbeBeta]

Silly to put a situational player like Butler in that mix. For the most part, he gets played only in packages that he can do well in. His statistics are irrelevant as it ignores all the times you don't play him b/c he would suck in that role.