Page of Fame: 4-3 Outside Linebackers

The next stop on the Page of Fame express is the 4-3 Outside Linebackers season long performance reviews.

Khaled Elsayed | 3 years ago

Page of Fame: 4-3 Outside Linebackers

Khaled Elsayed 3 years ago

Welcome to the Pro Football Focus Page of Fame for 4-3 outside linebackers, where only the best overall regular season performances during our time grading (2007 to Present) are mentioned.

If this is your first visit to a “PFF PoF” then the rules are pretty simple. The highest grades from the regular season make the list, and at the end of every year we update.

Disclaimer: After some thought it was decided that players like Von Miller and Kamerion Wimbley would better fit into an edge rusher (4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB) category given how different their role is to that of the traditional 4-3 outside linebacker and thus how they benefit from the extra pass rushing they do.

Best Overall Grade

Rank	Player	Team	Year	Grade	PR	COV	RB	PEN
1	Daryl Smith	JAX	2009	33.4	6.2	8.8	17.9	0.5
2	Michael Boley	ATL	2007	29.8	4.4	12.2	14.7	-1.5
3	Bart Scott	BAL	2008	28.4	2.5	4.2	22.1	-0.4
4	Lavonte David	TB	2013	28.2	4.6	12.8	10.7	0.1
5	Daryl Smith	JAX	2011	27.8	6	10.7	10.7	0.4
6	Leroy Hill	SEA	2007	27.2	4.7	5.7	17.4	-0.6
7	Derrick Johnson	KC	2007	21.9	9.1	1.6	13.6	-2.4
8	Erin Henderson	MIN	2011	21	0.4	3.4	16.5	0.7
9	Jarrett Johnson	BAL	2008	20.8	0.8	7.2	13.3	-0.5
10	Lance Briggs	CHI	2008	19.9	2.3	9.8	6.2	1.6
11	Lance Briggs	CHI	2007	19.8	-1.9	-0.8	23.2	-0.7
12	Chad Greenway	MIN	2008	18.7	5.3	-4.3	16.2	1.5
13	Sean Weatherspoon	ATL	2011	18.6	4.9	-0.9	15	-0.4
13	Jerod Mayo	NE	2012	18.6	6	0.5	12.5	-0.4
15	Brian Cushing	HOU	2009	18.4	7.4	6.1	6.3	-1.4

Best Run Defense Grade

Rank	Player	Team	Year	Grade
1	Lance Briggs	CHI	2007	23.2
2	Bart Scott	BAL	2008	22.1
3	Jarret Johnson	BAL	2009	19.9
4	Jarret Johnson	BAL	2011	19.5
5	Leroy Hill	SEA	2007	17.4
6	Bryan Thomas	NYJ	2009	17
7	Erin Henderson	MIN	2011	16.5
8	Chad Greenway	MIN	2008	16.2
9	Jarret Johnson	BAL	2010	15
9	Sean Weatherspoon	ATL	2011	15
11	Justin Durant	JAX	2010	14.8
12	Michael Boley	ATL	2007	14.7
12	Kevin Burnett	OAK	2013	14.7
14	Mathias Kiwanuka	NYG	2011	14.5
15	David Hawthorne	SEA	2010	14.4

Best Coverage Grade

Rank	Player	Team	Year	Grade
1	Thomas Davis	CAR	2013	13.2
2	Lavonte David	TB	2013	12.8
3	Michael Boley	NYG	2007	12.2
4	Thomas Howard	OAK	2008	11.8
5	Daryl Smith	JAX	2011	10.7
6	Keith Bulluck	TEN	2007	10.5
7	Lance Briggs	CHI	2008	9.8
7	DeAndre Levy	DET	2013	9.8
9	Vontaze Burfict	CIN	2013	9.6
10	K.J. Wright	SEA	2013	9.4
11	Wesley Woodyard	DEN	2012	8.6
12	Brandon Chillar	GB	2008	8.5
13	Thomas Davis	CAR	2008	8.3
14	Ben Leber	MIN	2009	8.1
14	Bryan Scott	BUF	2009	8.1

Best Pass Rush Grade

Rank	Player	Team	Year	Grade
1	Derrick Johnson	KC	2007	9.1
1	Philip Wheeler	OAK	2012	9.1
3	Kawika Mitchell	BUF	2008	8.7
3	Brian Cushing	HOU	2010	8.7
5	Akeem Ayers	TEN	2012	7.9
6	Akeem Ayers	TEN	2013	7.8
7	Aaron Curry	SEA	2009	7.4
7	Brian Cushing	HOU	2009	7.4
9	James Anderson	CAR	2010	6.5
10	Geno Hayes	TB	2009	6
10	Daryl Smith	JAX	2011	6
10	Jerod Mayo	NE	2012	6

Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled

Root

“some stellar performances that saw him finish second overall in our 4-3 outside linebacker rankings for 2012.” No 2012 OLB is listed higher than Mayo (or lower, for that matter) on this page of fame. Editing oops?
- Addison
  
  Von Miller finished higher, but for the Page of Fame he’s being put in a different category
twnick2014

Based on your math, Jerod Mayo should be graded as +17.1, not +17.0
NoSoup4U

I’m surprised, you never gave any love to 3-4 outside backers with their own Page of Fame. I’m shocked you left out this whole category of outside rushers! And no category to give props to Von Miller.
http://www.economyofeffort.com *Legion*

Much like I complained about Greg Jones’s lack of accolades, Daryl Smith never once going to a Pro Bowl is ridiculous.

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