We are over a week into free agency, and most of the quality free agents are already off the market. Each fan base should have at least a little reason to be excited about the free agents they have added. Today’s 32 Observations would like to add to the excitement with some piece of information about 32 free agent additions to give fans even more reason for optimism.
AFC East
Buffalo Bills: Inside linebacker Brandon Spikes has had his Run Stop Percentage increase from 2011 to 2012 and again from 2012 to 2013. Last year his Run Stop Percentage of 12.2% was second best for all middle/inside linebackers with at least 250 run snaps.
Miami Dolphins: Even though guard Shelly Smith only saw 371 snaps on the season, his +12.3 Run Block grade was fourth best for all guards in the 2013 season.
New England Patriots: Cornerback Brandon Browner was the only player in the league with nine or more passes defended while playing in 500 or fewer snaps.
New York Jets: Over Right Tackle Breno Giacomini’s first four games of the season which consisted of the first three games of the season and his return from injury in Week 11, Giacomini allowed three sacks, one hit, and had a Pass Blocking Efficiency of 93.3. Over the course of the rest of the season and post-season, Giacomini only allowed one sack, no hits, and had a Pass Blocking Efficiency of 94.4.
AFC North
Baltimore Ravens: Wide receiver Steve Smith had 15 players miss tackles on him in 2013, which was tied for the fourth best among all wide receivers.
Cincinnati Bengals: Although it’s on a very small sample size of 12 pass rushes, Dontay Moch had a Pass Rushing Productivity of 27.1 when rushing from the defense's right side of the field. That was the best for all 3-4 outside linebackers with at least ten pass rushes from the right.
Cleveland Browns: Safety Donte Whitner had a Tackling Efficiency of 29.0 in the run game, which was fifth best for all safeties with 20 or more attempted tackles against the run.
Pittsburgh Steelers: When quarterbacks threw at a receiver that safety Michael Mitchell was covering, they had a passer rating of 50.6. This was the third lowest for all safeties with at least 700 snaps.
AFC South
Houston Texans: Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe rarely had a chance to play in 201, but when he did he was a successful pass rusher. In his 20 pass rushing snaps he has a Pass Rushing Productivity of 16.5. That was the best for all defensive or nose tackles with 20 or more pass rushes.
Indianapolis Colts: Defensive Linemen Arthur Jones played in fewer run snaps in 2013 compared to 2012, but he had significantly more run stops. He was in on 260 run snaps (down from 269) and had 26 run stop (up from 16). His Run Stop Percentage of 10.0% was fourth best for all 3-4 defensive ends with at least 140 run snaps.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Running back Toby Gerhart had an Elusive Rating of 123.4 in 2013, which was the best for all running backs with more than 15 touches.
Tennessee Titans: While Al Woods didn’t add much in terms of his pass rushing, he did have two batted passes in 2013. He was one of just 24 defensive tackles to do so, and only one of two defensive tackles to have two batted passes with less than 300 snaps.
AFC West
Denver Broncos: Although 2013 was a down year for DeMarcus Ware, he still had a Run Stop Percentage of 9.5% which was sixth best for 4-3 defensive ends.
Kansas City Chiefs: Vance Walker was one of the few defensive tackles to record at least one pressure in all 16 games this season. While he only had three sacks, his 41 pressures was tied for eighth most among all defensive/nose tackles.
Oakland Raiders: Although Tarell Brown did not have a single interception in 2013, he had 11 passes defended which was tied for 16th most among cornerbacks, and second most for a cornerback without an interception.
San Diego Chargers: Running back Donald Brown averaged 3.28 yards after contact per carry, which was the best for all backs with at least 40 carries.
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys: In 2012 Henry Melton led the league in Run Stop Percentage for all defensive tackles at 11.6%. That was a full percentage over all other defensive tackles.
New York Giants: Cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie allowed a catch rate of just 44.1% in 2013. That was second best only behind his new teammate Trumaine McBride.
Philadelphia Eagles: Running back Darren Sproles has led the league in Yards Per Route Run in each of the last two years. This past year he had 2.28 YPRR.
Washington Redskins: Inside linebacker Akeem Jordan has a Tackling Efficiency of 19.5 which was fourth best for all inside/middle linebackers. He didn’t miss a single tackle in the pass game while missing four in the run game.
NFC North
Chicago Bears: Chicago is now the home of two of the top five defensive ends in terms of Run Stop Percentage. Lamarr Houston was fourth best at 10.3% while Willie Young was fifth best at 9.9%. All four defensive ends on the Bears in 2013 had Run Stop Percentages below 5.2%.
Detroit Lions: In terms of Yards Per Route Run, Golden Tate was a top 20 receiver in 2013 at 2.01 YPRR. The Broncos and Bears are the only two teams with two players in the top 20.
Green Bay Packers: Prior to the Bears Week 8 bye week, Julius Peppers had one sack, one hit, and a Pass Rushing Productivity of 5.2. After the bye week he had six sacks, five hits, and a PRP of 8.2.
Minnesota Vikings: Last year Marcus Sherels had the worst Yards Per Coverage Snap for all slot cornerbacks at 2.49, while Josh Robinson had the second worst at 2.06. Next year the slot cornerback will likely be Captain Munnerlyn who had an above average 1.22 Yards Per Coverage Snap.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons: Guard Jon Asamoah had a Pass Blocking Efficiency of 97.4 which was seventh best among all guards in the league.
Carolina Panthers: Safety Roman Harper was one of just two safeties with 15 or more tackles in the run game without a missed tackle.
New Orleans Saints: Safety Jairus Byrd had a Yards Per Coverage Snap of 0.23 which was third best for all safeties.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: One area the Buccaneers improved is pass protection. Anthony Collins led all offensive tackles in Pass Blocking Efficiency at 97.2 while Evan Dietrich-Smith has a PBE of 98.1 which was tied for eighth best among centers. As a team the Buccaneers offensive line was eighth worst with a PBE of 75.4.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals: Tight end John Carlson had a Drop Rate of 3.03 last year which was fourth best amongst all tight ends.
St. Louis Rams: The St. Louis Rams are currently the only team who has not signed a single player from a different team since the start of free agency.
San Francisco 49ers: Safety Antoine Bethea allowed just 60 yards after the catch. He was the only safety to be targeted more than 30 times and allow that few yards.
Seattle Seahawks: The only free agent the Seahawks have signed is Taylor Price. He last had an offensive snap in 2011. In his four year career he has five career catches.
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