On one hand, it's definitely cool to have access to this data, and more data points could never hurt (especially when they confirm my biases - that's night and day with Strong's clean pocket vs. pressure numbers, for example), but I agree with one of the drawbacks being that the person grading doesn't always know player responsibility. A number of NFL defensive backs absolutely hate PFF, and it's because the person grading can't always tell whose assignment is whose -- so they ding the nearest player to someone making a catch, or they're just making a guess at an OL's pass-blocking assignment, etc.
Suffice to say, there's definitely some subjectivity involved in the grades, and maybe even among graders. However, I still think there's some value there, in that you can compare a player against himself from game-to-game, or maybe teammates playing the same position. Definitely interested to see more detailed stats, though (especially since I've only ever seen the "free" stats or player rankings they publish).
So how does PFF collect this data? Do they have a dozen or so peeps at each game watching every play and player and grade them per play? That seems exhausting and not a job I would sign up for. Or, do they review tape post-game and have 22 graders watching all the players at once?
On one hand, it's definitely cool to have access to this data, and more data points could never hurt (especially when they confirm my biases - that's night and day with Strong's clean pocket vs. pressure numbers, for example), but I agree with one of the drawbacks being that the person grading doesn't always know player responsibility. A number of NFL defensive backs absolutely hate PFF, and it's because the person grading can't always tell whose assignment is whose -- so they ding the nearest player to someone making a catch, or they're just making a guess at an OL's pass-blocking assignment, etc.
I remember being incensed that they snubbed Evan Weaver in 2019, the FBS leader in tackles (3rd highest single season number of tackles all-time, #1 and #2 being Luke Kuechly in 2010-11) the Pac-12's only Butkus Award finalist (https://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/cal-football-2019-season/2019/12/3/20993175/bears-named-to-2019-pff-all-pac-12-team#520323193), not to mention relegating Ashtyn Davis to 3rd Team safety and snubbing Jaylinn Hawkins entirely.
Suffice to say, there's definitely some subjectivity involved in the grades, and maybe even among graders. However, I still think there's some value there, in that you can compare a player against himself from game-to-game, or maybe teammates playing the same position. Definitely interested to see more detailed stats, though (especially since I've only ever seen the "free" stats or player rankings they publish).
Thanks...intrigued and really looking forward to seeing how this plays out over the season.
Go Bears!
So how does PFF collect this data? Do they have a dozen or so peeps at each game watching every play and player and grade them per play? That seems exhausting and not a job I would sign up for. Or, do they review tape post-game and have 22 graders watching all the players at once?