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32 Observations, Week 14

32 obs wk14We have reached the point in the season where we see playoff clinching scenarios for some teams. On the flip side there are scenarios for the list of teams mathematically eliminated from the playoffs to increase.

This week's 32 Observations will also look ahead to 32 players who could potentially be free agents in this upcoming offseason, along with some interesting tidbit about them.

 

AFC East

Buffalo Bills: Receiving tight end Scott Chandler has a Yards Per Route Run of 1.23, which is the lowest among tight ends with at least 400 routes run.

Miami Dolphins: Defensive tackle Randy Starks is the only tackle to rank in the Top 6 in both Run Stop Percentage and Pass Rushing Productivity. His Run Stop Percentage is at 10.4% which ranks fifth best, while his Pass Rushing Productivity of 9.0 ranks sixth.

New England Patriots:  Prior to his injury, cornerback Aqib Talib was allowing a catch rate of 39.4% and had four interceptions and five passes defensed. In his four games since returning he’s allowed a catch rate of 76%, is without an interception, and has two passes defended.

New York Jets: Tackle Austin Howard is tied for the fewest sacks allowed among right tackles at two.

AFC North

Baltimore Ravens: Inside linebacker Daryl Smith has six passes defended which is tied for the second most for all linebackers.

Cincinnati Bengals: Left tackle Anthony Collins has yet to allow a sack or hit this season. His Pass Blocking Efficiency of 98.4 is by far the best for left tackles although he has only played in 193 pass blocking snaps.

Cleveland Browns: Center Alex Mack is one of just two centers to rank in the Top 5 in both our Pass Block Rating and Run Block Rating.

Pittsburgh Steelers: When outside linebacker Jason Worilds lines up on the left, he has a Pass Rushing Productivity of 12.7 which is fourth best for all 3-4 outside linebackers with at least 100 pass rushes from the left. When lining up on the right his Pass Rushing Productivity is a below average 8.6.

AFC South

Houston Texans: Running back Ben Tate has had an average of 0.25 defenders miss a tackle on him per carry, which is the second best for all backs with at least 50 carries.

Indianapolis Colts: Cornerback Vontae Davis is the only player to have eight or more passes defended at nine as well as eight touchdowns allowed.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Although Sen’Derrick Marks only has three sacks, his 34 total pressures is tied for ninth most among defensive/nose tackles.

Tennessee Titans: Over his first ten games of the season, cornerback Alterraun Verner allowed 30.2 passing yards, no touchdowns, 0.5 interceptions and 1 pass defense per game. Over the last three he has allowed 66.3 yards, 0.3 touchdowns, no interceptions and 0.3 passes defended per game.

AFC West

Denver Broncos: Wide receiver Eric Decker has 433 receiving yards on deep passes which is fourth most in the league. He has done this on 12 catches, and four have gone for touchdowns.

Kansas City Chiefs: Tackle Branden Albert ranks fifth in Pass Blocking Efficiency among left tackles at 96.2. He has allowed four sacks, six hits and 13 hurries on 475 pass blocks this year.

Oakland Raiders: Defensive End Lamarr Houston has a Run Stop Percentage of 10.4%, which is second best among 4-3 defensive ends with at least 200 run defense snaps.

San Diego Chargers:  Inside Linebacker Donald Butler has a Run Stop Percentage of 6.1%, which is fourth lowest among inside/middle linebackers.

NFC East

Dallas Cowboys: In seven of defensive tackle Jason Hatcher’s first eight games, he had at least one sack or hit. In his last four games, he has only one game with a sack or hit.

New York Giants: Hakeem Nicks has the most snaps for a wide receiver without a touchdown at 433. The next closest player has 50 fewer pass routes than Nicks.

Philadelphia Eagles: Over the first five games of the season, Riley Cooper had 0.50 Yards Per Route Run. Had he kept that rate up the whole season he would be worst among 94 qualifying receivers. Since then, he’s had a Yards Per Route Run of 2.33, which had he had that rate to start the season as well, he would currently be ranked 11th.

Washington Redskins: In each of the last four years Santana Moss has had a below average Drop Rate. This might be the first year he ranks in the Bottom 10. He is currently tied for 10th-worst at a drop rate of 14.29.

NFC North

Chicago Bears: Quarterback Josh McCown has an Accuracy Percentage of 77.5% which is tied for fourth best among quarterbacks just behind Aaron Rodgers, Philip Rivers and Peyton Manning.

Detroit Lions: In eight of his first nine games, defensive end Willie Young had two or more pressures. He has two or more pressures in just one of his last four despite similar playing time.

Green Bay Packers: Over the first three games of the season, center Evan Dietrich-Smith allowed three sacks, no hits and two hurries. In the 10 games since then, he has allowed two sacks, one hit and three hurries.

Minnesota Vikings: Although it’s on a small sample size of 36 carries, Toby Gerhart leads the league in yards per carry at 7.9, yards after contact per carry at 3.8 and Elusive Rating at 115.6 for all backs with at least 30 carries.

NFC South

Atlanta Falcons: The Falcons are the only team where two of the Top 3 outright team leaders in stops are defensive linemen. They are Jonathan Babineaux at 29 and Corey Peters at 27, and both are scheduled to be free agents.

Carolina Panthers: Guard Travelle Wharton is the only left guard to have started every game this season and not allow a sack.

New Orleans Saints: From 2008-2013, the most yards per route run by a tight end with at least 250 pass routes is Antonio Gates in 2009 at 2.47. This year Jimmy Graham is currently tying that mark.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Defensive End Daniel Te’o-Nesheim is the only 4-3 defensive end with over 200 pass rushes and only one sack. He has 288 pass rushes on the season.

NFC West

Arizona Cardinals: Matt Schaughnessy has just one missed tackle compared to 24 made for a tackling efficiency of 26.0, which is second best among 3-4 outside linebackers.

St. Louis Rams: After allowing 11 sacks in nine games in 2011, offensive linemen Rodger Saffold has yet to allow a sack in his last 13 games dating back to last season.

San Francisco 49ers: In over half of safety Donte Whitner’s 13 games, he has allowed 8 or fewer receiving yards.

Seattle Seahawks: Defensive end Michael Bennett has a Pass Rushing Productivity of 13.2 which is third best among 4-3 defensive ends even though 55.2% of his pass rushes have come with him lined up as an interior pass rusher.

 

Follow Nathan on Twitter: @PFF_NateJahnke

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