Pitt GameFilm: Defensive Line Grades

JonDMiller

Publisher/Founder
From HawkeyeGameFilm:

This was the best performance this unit has had thus far this season. The shake ups with the personnel looked to be a big part of it and the players just played their responsibilities an controlled their gaps a lot better. They played much more as a unit this week as well. Binns continually set the table to for his teammates to make plays, and Daniels and Nardo played off each other well on the inside. Still a couple of times where the DL was so focused on staying in their pass rush lanes and containing the pocket that they let Sunseri have all day and make plays. However when it mattered they got it done and made plays.

This was the best game Binns has played since Penn St in ‘09. He was in great position all day and also contributed to big plays by his teammates up front in this game. He was in passing lanes often and consistently compressed the pocket from his side of the field. Really like the way he uses the bull-rush so far this year. Made a lot of big plays for his defense and helped get them off the field on 3rd down numerous times.

Mike Daniels and Thomas Nardo put in solid days on the interior and both made some plays. Daniels had the big sack in the fourth quarter and Nardo got pretty good pressure at times. Both guys fought hard on the inside and took on double teams well. Neither guy is real big but did a solid job locking down the inside when it was needed. By taking away the interior they forced Pitt to go outside and run more lateral run plays which Iowa defended fairly well.

Dom Alvis looked much better at DE this week than he did at DT in the previous two. He showed a great motor coming off the edge, but at this point doesn’t have many pass rush moves. He had a very nice sack and forced fumble early as he hustled after getting cut. Bent the edge a few times late in the game as well and forced Sunseri to move his feet. Looks like a work in progress but looks pretty good for the sophomore who was going to be a grey shirt once upon a time.

Carl Davis saw some significant snaps in this one. He was able to get some penetration but wasn’t able to make plays in the backfield. A couple of times he played too high he got pushed around. He’s a big guy with some quickness who looks like he can develop into a solid player for this unit. He’s a work in progress though and needs to focus on staying lower at his size. Lebron Daniel saw some spot duty in this one and looks better suited for that role. He wasn't’ able to come up with a sack or big play but he put some solid snaps in. Forgy also briefly got on the field in this one and he appears to have earned that playing time with a few nice plays the last couple of weeks.

Alvis
+1 Great job not giving up on the play after the cut block on the edge and forces the fumble. Credit Broderick Binns with recognizing the cut block, stopping short, and taking away the slant. Sunseri held the ball because of Binns. S1
+1 Good pressure off the edge here as he doesn't let Sunseri set his feet and forces him to dump it off underneath S14

Overall: +2

Daniels
+1 Great job stacking up the A gap here and clogs where Graham wanted to go on 3rd and short. S8
+1 Great job finish the play this time around. Binns held the edge and Daniels flew over to finish Sunseri. S14

Overall: +2

Nardo
+1 Excellent pressure as he twists around and forces the errant pass underneath and gets Iowa off the field. S9
+1 Great bull rush here as he plows over his G and forces the check down throw. S15

Overall: +2

Binns
+1 Nice awareness here as he falls on the loose football after making a very smart play and taking away the slant lane. S1
+1 Great job reading the mesh point here as he sees the ball, jumps down inside, and sticks the back. S2
+1 Great job getting the hands up and reading the QB's eyes, bats it down. S2
+1 Great play as he feels his way down the LOS after the tackle blocks down and hides from the puller. The finds the ball after the mesh and makes a great play on Graham for a loss on 3rd and short to stop the drive S4
+1 Great job playing the roll out here as he gets the sack after getting his hands up and getting in Sunseri's line of sight. S9
+1 Another disciplined play here as he shuts down the zone keeper. Read this well and forced Sunseri down on the short gain. S13

Overall: +6

Davis
-1 Davis got driven off the ball and pancaked on this play S3

Overall: -1
 
Can I ask the process by which a play is chosen for grading? For instance, why are some players graded on one play and other on six?

Also, where does one get game film for such a process?

Interesting read and information, just curious...
 
I think he looks at the coaches film as an NFL scout.
I also think he grades every play, and only notes the negative or positive plays. The rest are neutral.
 
If player does what is expected, no score is given or a 'Neutral" type grade. It is when player does something more positive or a negative that scores are given.
The scores are also based on wht he sees. It is possible the player had a different assignment but only coach would know it was mistake and not a scout watching game.
 
If player does what is expected, no score is given or a 'Neutral" type grade. It is when player does something more positive or a negative that scores are given.
The scores are also based on wht he sees. It is possible the player had a different assignment but only coach would know it was mistake and not a scout watching game.


This is the correct interpretation. It definitely isn't an exact science without knowing the exact assignment on each play. I'm able to decipher what the coverage is, and figure out assignments the majority of the time, but it definitely isn't perfect.

Many teams have switched to a % grading system as it's a little more revealing about how a player did. Basically you just take the total number of plays a guy did his job divided by total plays. I could start posting in that format as well. Might actually be easier. I also generally stick to POA blockers most of the team.

Example:

Reiff had probably 3-4 plays where you'd could reasonably say he didn't do his job. Other lineman had significantly more, especially if you get picky about technique etc.

Total Plays: 85
Calculation: (85-4)/85 = 95.3%

95% is a very, very good grade using the % system. 85% is usually most teams target for a OL grade.

A good article about grading film from a coach: UPDATE: Grading Your Offensive Linemen Football Coach Daily
 

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