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PFF Depth Chart

deljzc

deljzc

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Pro Football Focus updated their depth charts and ratings based on last year's film log.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/06/01/2015-depth-chart-updates/


I link it because I thought it was interesting our defense currently has only FOUR good or better ranked players. No other team up yet has that few Good+ ranked players on either side of the ball except the New York Jets Offense.

While there are a lot of "Not Enough Info" that could definitely help those totals (Shazier and S. Thomas), it is still a pretty bleak picture of the talent on the defensive side of the ball and where it's all gone despite the draft investment we've made over the Tomlin era (remember 9 of their 17 round 2 or higher picks have been on the defensive FRONT-7). Despite all those picks we have only Timmons and Heyward ranking as "good or better". Gay and Harrison are the others that offer limited "upside" from their 2014 production as well.

It's an interesting look at our roster through the eyes of PFF rankings (which I do agree are not the be-all, end-all).
 
Just more evidence that Tomlin has por talent evaluation prowess.
 
Meh, it's a young defense. I have a feeling PFF didn't rate the Seahawks defense very highly back in 2011...
 
We are not our defense from last year. Our players are young and raw. A year under their belts should dictate improvement across the board this season.
 
In a passing league you need DBs that can cover and pass rushers that can disrupt the QB. How are we doing there?
 
fogdoctor said:
In a passing league you need DBs that can cover and pass rushers that can disrupt the QB. How are we doing there?
Click to expand...
I don't know. I haven't seen this years team play yet-have you?
 
So from that chart:

8 out of our 11 offensive players are ≥ Good, and the other 3 starters are average. Damn

On the defensive side of the ball, save for Cortez, everyone is either unproven or at least average.

Didn't we know this already?


PS- it appears that (according to PFF) we have one of the best O-lines in the league after several high draft picks. Let's give the young players on defense the same opportunity to perform.
 
Though the metrics can be nitpicked, I don't think anyone can argue who the poor players graded out to be.
 
With just glancing Bryant should have been good and Wheaton below average.
 
29 of those players are either not enough info or rookies. That is not a bad thing. If half of them turn out to be good that will add up to a very good defense. This is one of those anomaly years as I see it. The steelers are rebuilding so much on defense that it is really hard to tell what they have this year. We could finish the season thinking we are on the track to greatness again or be in the WTF were they thinking camp we will see what the new guys are able to deliver.
 
10 games 500 yards 8 TDS

say he played all 16

approximately 800 yards 12 TDS

so for the time he played I would say that was good

it wasn't below average and damn sure wasn't just average

and you mentioned his low reception total

wasn't his average per catch the highest out of the rookies? (if I remember right)

I would say that is pretty good
 
Wingman said:
29 of those players are either not enough info or rookies. That is not a bad thing. If half of them turn out to be good that will add up to a very good defense. This is one of those anomaly years as I see it. The steelers are rebuilding so much on defense that it is really hard to tell what they have this year. We could finish the season thinking we are on the track to greatness again or be in the WTF were they thinking camp we will see what the new guys are able to deliver.
Click to expand...

In about 2-3 years I think the D will be OK again but there will be some serious growing pains until then.
 
fogdoctor said:
Do you really need to taste burnt toast to know it tastes bad?
Click to expand...

No, you need to see it to know its burnt.

There's no arguing there's reason for concern, but there's no basis for final conclusion.
 
fogdoctor said:
In about 2-3 years I think the D will be OK again but there will be some serious growing pains until then.
Click to expand...

You sound like it's still pre-free agency NFL. Who knows what our defense even looks like in 3 years?
 
I don't need to taste it or see it cause I can smell burnt toast before I see or taste it!
 
Troglodyte said:
You sound like it's still pre-free agency NFL. Who knows what our defense even looks like in 3 years?
Click to expand...

The money we are going to shell out on offense to keep it at its current level means no free agency for us - except second tier depth players or players off injury (obviously).
 
Troglodyte said:
No, you need to see it to know its burnt.

There's no arguing there's reason for concern, but there's no basis for final conclusion.
Click to expand...

I'm actually not concerned. I know they are going to be bad (in a relative sense). They could get better though and that is what I would like to see.
 
The nice thing about how bad they were last year is when you are that bad it is easy to get better, it is harder to improve what is already real good.
 
Wingman said:
The nice thing about how bad they were last year is when you are that bad it is easy to get better, it is harder to improve what is already real good.
Click to expand...

So the offense is taking a step back while the defense gets a tick better?

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Tougher schedule, better quarterback/coach combos faced. This has a Tomlin setback 9-7 or 8-8 season written all over it.
 
deljzc said:
So the offense is taking a step back while the defense gets a tick better?

That wouldn't surprise me at all. Tougher schedule, better quarterback/coach combos faced. This has a Tomlin setback 9-7 or 8-8 season written all over it.
Click to expand...

the level of the competition does not mean the offense takes a step back. there were additions and no losses to speak of, some younger players may be better this year than last. the offense may be even better this year than last year.
 
deljzc said:
This has a Tomlin setback 9-7 or 8-8 season written all over it.
Click to expand...
I love it! It's the first week of June and you've already got your head wrapped around what a disappointment the upcoming season will be. Enjoy the summer, man, but make sure to bring a poncho & umbrella, cause it's gonna be pouring rain non-stop the next few months, for sure. ;)
 
xjx said:
Just more evidence that Tomlin has por talent evaluation prowess.
Click to expand...

Yeah, never mind the fact that every STARTER on the offensive side of the ball is rated no lower than average AND that 9 of those 11 are "Tomlin" draft choices. Hell, 6 of those 9 are rated good or better with 2 of them being elite.
 
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chipped ham said:
Yeah, never mind the fact that every STARTER on the offensive side of the ball is rated no lower than average AND that 9 of those 11 are "Tomlin" draft choices. Hell, 6 of those 9 are rated good or better with 2 of them being elite.
Click to expand...

I do not believe that 6 good players on the offensive side of the ball would validate the draft process used by Tomlin and company. I do not believe it is meaningful in any way with regards to how they have done. There are also 2 of the eleven that are not Tomlin choices and they are still better than anything he has come up with for that position. Again it does not show one way or the other the value or lack of value with the process because many other variables are involved.

I am not sure the number of choices made by the process that you refer to but suspect that having only six that are starters and considered good out of how many possible picks there were available would not result in a number or percentage to be proud of. I do know there were a couple of years where the draft produced nearly nothing to benefit the team and we are still recovering from that.

In years gone by similar things happened but the team was filled with hall of fame players and the players drafted were not good enough to make the steelers team but did well on others. Not taking a for or against stand on MT here but just saying I don't think the point you raised has merit one way or the other because of so many other variables.
 
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