Minnesota Sports Forum

PFF has long been a lightening rod for controversy. On one hand, sports fans are stat-oriented, and long for an objective way to evaluate players other than QBs, RBs and WRs. On the other hand, the weekly ratings are sometimes so bizarre, one might wonder if the editors watched the same game we did.

Take for instance the grades through 2 games for our CBs. My eye test tells me that Rhodes and Waynes are our best CBs, and that Alexander seems to struggle and is often in the wrong place. But PFF has it just the opposite. Alexander ranks as our best CB, ranking as the 29th best CB of the 106 rated, while Waynes and Rhodes rank near the bottom of the 106 ranked with absolutely dreadful ratings.

A couple questions:

1) Do you guys agree with the PFF CB ratings through the first two games?

2) Is PFF so distorted that it's a waste of our time to even look at the grades ( I know there are analysts, and certainly some coaches, who subscribe to this belief).

Your thoughts?

I think Alexander has been better than he has been given credit for by fans in general. Note he is way higher than the guy he replaced in Captain as well. :) I have no idea how Rhodes could be so low but I'm sure he will rise up as time goes on.

As for PPF grades like I said in another post I think they are generally worth considering. I think over a multiple game stretch that's probably worth looking at even more. If a guy really sucks in their grade over a chunk of games he probably isn't good. If they grade a guy out high he is probably above average at least. Supposedly they have someone watching guys every play and making some sort of grade and most of us aren't watching a guy like Easton more than a handful of plays. It's a good thing to look at sometimes worth a laugh and if over a chunk of games you see that some guy you haven't heard before is graded out really high it's worth looking into if he is good.

I think Rhodes' grade is just wrong. He's been solid the first two games against two good WR's. I definitely think Waynes and Newman have played poorly so far. Father time seems to have finally hit Newman and Waynes just isn't mentally in it every play. He's getting burned down the field too much because he loses focus and slows down a bit and the receiver just breaks away from him. I haven't heard or seen much from Alexander which is probably a good thing and a sign he's getting the job done. I also think it hurts that their back end support is Sendejo who just hasn't been good this year. Honestly I'd be more interested in seeing how Newman could do in zone coverage at that safety spot as a centerfielder type to help out in coverage. Sendejo just is doing nothing to help out those guys when they get beat so I wonder what putting a more cover based option at that spot would do for us.

Alexander has looked good today

thedoper wrote:Alexander has looked good today

PFF had Waynes as the Vikings top rated CB in the Bucs game. *shrug*

There are some interesting numbers here.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-rookie-rbs-hunt-cook-stand-out-through-week-3

I think PFF takes into account interceptions and penalty yards against. Also, if Alexander/Newman don't get a throw their way because they're on a lesser receiver, it doesn't take that into account.

That being said: Taking PFF stats too seriously after 2 games would be similar to being concerned about a Wolf or Wild(?) after 10 games or a Twin after 20. There's still time.