PFF 2012 Year End Rankings: Cowboys Defensive Backs

[fatboygixxer]

Originally Posted by kirkjrk

Mo hurts himself, can't cover or tackle. It's said often that Dallas fans and coaches over value many of their players, well Mo is a perfect example of that. Based on his play this year, if that continues, then he is trending toward a bust.

[gimmesix]

Originally Posted by 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 Defensive Backs

Cornerbacks

56/113 - Orlando Scandrick
57/113 - Brandon Carr
82/113 - Morris Claiborne
90/113 - Mike Jenkins

Safeties

73/88 - Gerald Sensabaugh
77/88 - Danny McCray

Scandrick being ranked the highest tells me that these rankings are not worth much. Not sure what criteria they use, but it seems like being on the field less works to Scandrick's advantage.

[Future]

Originally Posted by hra8700

PFF defensive back grades are definitely the most useless part of the site.

And that's saying something...

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by perrykemp

Bro, I think you might be wrong. Sensabaugh played a ton more than Mccray yet only managed the following:

0 Interceptions
0 Sacks
0 Fumble Recoveries
3 Passes Defensed

Has there ever been a worse state line for a NFL starting safety in NFL history? You'd be hard pressed to find one.

3 Passes Defensed!!! Say it again. 3 Passes Defensed!!! Now say it louder -- 3 Passes Defensed!!!

How is that even possible?

I'm surprised, frankly, that Sensabaugh isn't dead last.

That has a considerable amount to do with the fact they aren't throwing to his area very often.

[perrykemp]

Originally Posted by jterrell

That has a considerable amount to do with the fact they aren't throwing to his area very often.

Your rationale for why Sensabaugh had 0 Interceptions, 0 Sacks, 0 Fumble Recoveries, and only 3 Passes Defensed is that they don't throw to his area very often?

Ok. So based on what I keep hearing here on CZ the corners aren't the reason for the opposing 97 QB rating. According to you they aren't going after Sensabaugh. Is the entire poor performance of the Cowboys secondary in 2012 entirely attributable to McCray?

It sounds like the same reasoning I've heard in past years that all the woes of the secondary were due to Alan Ball.

[robert70x7]

Once again here are the premium stats...

Corners

Run Stop %
Claiborne - 75/94
Carr - 84/94

Tackling Efficiency
Claiborne - 60/114
Carr - 87/114
Scandrick - 88/114
Jenkins - 113/114

Coverage
Jenkins - 9/116
Carr - 46/116
Scandrick - 50/116
Claiborne - 66/116

Slot Coverage
Jenkins - 15/40
Scandrick - 32/40

Pass Rush
N/A

Safeties

Run Stop %
McCray - 32/78
Sensabaugh - 74/78

Tackling Efficiency
Sensabaugh - 68/87
McCray - 73/87

Coverage
Sensabaugh - 28/91
McCray - 90/91

Pass Rush
N/A

[perrykemp]

Originally Posted by robert70x7

Once again here are the premium stats...

Corners

Run Stop %
Claiborne - 75/94
Carr - 84/94

Tackling Efficiency
Claiborne - 60/114
Carr - 87/114
Scandrick - 88/114
Jenkins - 113/114

Coverage
Jenkins - 9/116
Carr - 46/116
Scandrick - 50/116
Claiborne - 66/116

Slot Coverage
Jenkins - 15/40
Scandrick - 32/40

Pass Rush
N/A

Safeties

Run Stop
McCray - 32/78
Sensabaugh - 74/78

Tackling
Sensabaugh - 68/87
McCray - 73/87

Coverage
Sensabaugh - 28/91
McCray - 90/91

Pass Rush
N/A

Thanks.

It helps to understand why Carr and Claiborne were ranked overall in the bottom half of the league despite the fact it <seemed> like they were holding up ok in the passing game -- they both ranked terribly in "Run Stop" and Carr is ranked extremely badly is "Tacking Efficiency" as well.

All in all - I'd rather them have poor tacking abilities than coverage abilities.. although obviously utopia is they are equally good at both.

[robert70x7]

These are from FootballOutsiders, in terms of DVOA

VS #1 WR - 7.5 Pa/G, 68.1 Yd/G 12/32

VS #2 WR - 6.6 Pa/G, 51.5 Yd/G 29/32

VS Other WR - 4.8 Pa/G, 38.7 Yd/G 28/32

VS TE - 7.3 Pa/G, 49 Yd/G 32/32

VS RB - 5.2 Pa/G, 33.7 Yd/G 18/32

[Doomsay]

Originally Posted by 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 Defensive Backs

Cornerbacks

56/113 - Orlando Scandrick
57/113 - Brandon Carr
82/113 - Morris Claiborne
90/113 - Mike Jenkins

Safeties

73/88 - Gerald Sensabaugh
77/88 - Danny McCray

Thanks PK, doe you have any breakouts of the grading components? Fuzzy's point regarding zone coverage is a good one, but it would still be interesting to see the individual metrics.

[Woods]

Originally Posted by 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 Defensive Backs

Cornerbacks

56/113 - Orlando Scandrick
57/113 - Brandon Carr
82/113 - Morris Claiborne
90/113 - Mike Jenkins

Safeties

73/88 - Gerald Sensabaugh
77/88 - Danny McCray

Someone graded out worse than McCray?

[robert70x7]

Cornerbacks

56/113 - Orlando Scandrick - 0.3
57/113 - Brandon Carr - 0.1
82/113 - Morris Claiborne - -4.5
90/113 - Mike Jenkins - -7.0

Safeties

73/88 - Gerald Sensabaugh - -4.7
77/88 - Danny McCray - -5.9

[robert70x7]

Originally Posted by Woods

Someone graded out worse than McCray?

Craig Dahl
Chris Prosinski
Atari Bigby
Kendrick Lewis
Charles Godfrey
Mistral Raymond
Nate Allen
Kurt Coleman
Michael Griffin
Roman Harper
Malcolm Jenkins

[jterrell]

Originally Posted by perrykemp

Your rationale for why Sensabaugh had 0 Interceptions, 0 Sacks, 0 Fumble Recoveries, and only 3 Passes Defensed is that they don't throw to his area very often?

Ok. So based on what I keep hearing here on CZ the corners aren't the reason for the opposing 97 QB rating. According to you they aren't going after Sensabaugh. Is the entire poor performance of the Cowboys secondary in 2012 entirely attributable to McCray?

It sounds like the same reasoning I've heard in past years that all the woes of the secondary were due to Alan Ball.

For anyone that watched the games this isn't all that complicated.

Dallas was torched in the flats and underneath ALL year.

Mo struggled with slants, Carr struggled with elite speed.
Sensy struggled to make any plays but was often playign 20 yards off the ball as a last line of defense.
Scandrick was terrible outside when tried there but solid in the slot.
Jenkins was solid but not spectacular. Could use him back but can't afford him.

Connor, McCray and the other 5 Safeties we tried to play were fairly terrible.

I'd love to replace Sensy but only the blind could watch McCray and Sensy play this year and say they are rated similarly. McCray was absolutely terrible in coverage. That's why street free agents were playing over him so often in coverage situations.

Going into 2013 we expect Carr and Mo to form a very solid 1/2. Mo is young and rookies who can survive on the edge are rare. Mo wasn't great but he did survive. He wasn't out-athleted or abused. He simply wasn't quite good enough to make plays. Carr struggled a bit but by the end of the year he was shutting guys down. He gives you a strong CB to lean on that can stop the run and play the pass. Hopefully OS is back and ready in the slot.

But Safety has to be better. FAR better. Not sure if that is Barry Church, Matt Johnson, both. A rookie. No idea but the team knows it can NOT start McCray at safety next year. McCray is a special teamer and nickel LB.

[jterrell]

the largest issue with the PFF ratings are the compiled scores and rankings

they are giving equal weights to things that do not deserve equal weight IMO.