It was just about a month ago that the Pro Bowl teams were announced, and the theme of the 32 teams 32 observations was players who made the Pro Bowl. Now that the game is upon us we're offering a second edition of the 32/32 with a Pro Bowl theme.
Some teams will not be represented at the Pro Bowl for various reasons–selected players missing due to injury, out because of the Super Bowl, none selected in the first place, etc.. In order to keep with the 32 observations theme, some teams here will have two players discussed, essentially bringing us to our first ever 26 teams, 32 observations.
Here are 32 of the players that will be playing on Sunday and an interesting data bit about them.
AFC EAST
Miami Dolphins: Wide receiver Brandon Marshall has seen more targets than any other player in the AFC over the past four years with 609.
New York Jets: Right guard Brandon Moore has blocked for 2443 pass plays in the last four years, and has allowed just three sacks.
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens: In the 63 games Ed Reed has played in over the past four years, he didn’t allow a catch in 33 of them.
Baltimore Ravens: Middle linebacker Ray Lewis had five or more stops in half of his games this year.
Cincinnati Bengals: Tight end Jermaine Gresham has shown consistent improvement in catching the ball since being drafted in the first round of 2010. In his first 10 games he had a PFF pass rating of -7.6. In his middle 10, he’s had a pass rating of +0.7, and in his last 10 it’s been +4.6.
Cleveland Browns: It’s hard to find a player as consistent as left tackle Joe Thomas. Over the last four years, he has had 55 games with a positive pass block rating, and just nine games with a negative rating.
Pittsburgh Steelers: Over the first eight weeks of the season, receiver Mike Wallace averaged exactly 100 yards per game. Over the rest of the season, Wallace averaged just 46.6 yards per game.
Pittsburgh Steelers: While James Harrison is known for his pass rushing ability, he also has led all 3-4 outside linebackers in Run Stop Percentage in each of the last three years.
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans: Defensive end Antonio Smith had a combined 22 sacks and hits, which was the most by a 3-4 defensive end in 2011, and ties for the most by a 3-4 end in the past four years.
Indianapolis Colts: Defensive end Dwight Freeney had by far the lowest Run Stop Percentage for players in the front seven at 1.3%.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Six of Montell Owens’ eight special teams tackles came within the last five weeks of the season.
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos: Brian Dawkins is one of four safeties to have five or more stops in two or more games.
Denver Broncos: Champ Bailey ended the season with seven passes defended over the last four games. That is the most Bailey has had in a four game span in our four years of grading.
Kansas City Chiefs: While Derrick Johnson had an average beginning and end to the season, the middle was very strong. From Week 4 to Week 14 he averaged 5.4 stops per game, and had at least a +0.6 run defense rating in each of those games.
Oakland Raiders: Punter Shane Lechler had a punt resulting in the opponent starting within their own 20 yard line in all but two games this year.
San Diego Chargers: Running back Ryan Matthews averaged over 5.1 yards per run in eight of his 14 games.
NFC EAST
Dallas Cowboys: Outside linebacker DeMarcus Ware had at least one pressure in every game, and at least five pressures in half of his games.
Philadelphia Eagles: In nine of his 16 games, Jason Babin had two or more combined sacks/hits.
Washington Redskins: London Fletcher had 59 stops on the year, which was third highest for 4-3 middle linebackers.
NFC NORTH
Chicago Bears: Running back Matt Forte averaged 100.4 yards per game rushing on the road, and 70.7 yards per game rushing in Chicago.
Green Bay Packers: Over the first 14 games of the season, Scott Wells allowed just six combined pressures. He allowed the same amount of pressure in his last three games.
Green Bay Packers: Wide Receiver Greg Jennings averaged 96.7 yards per game over the first seven games of the season, but just 44.6 yards per game in the games he played in from Week 9 on.
Minnesota Vikings: Chad Greenway’s Week 11 game against the Raiders where he had eight stops was tied for the most stops in a game this season by an outside linebacker.
NFC SOUTH
Atlanta Falcons: Wide receiver Roddy White has seen more targets over the last four years than any other player with 636.
Carolina Panthers: Ryan Kalil had the highest screen blocking rating for all centers at +3.5.
New Orleans Saints: Drew Brees had 28 touchdown passes when throwing to the middle of the field. Only six quarterbacks had more total touchdowns.
New Orleans Saints: The duo of Jahri Evans and Carl Nicks allowed just four sacks and four hits in the regular season this year. 17 individual guards allowed as many or more combined sacks/hits this year.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Right guard Davin Joseph had a negative run block rating in 11 of his 16 games this season.
NFC WEST
Arizona Cardinals: Safety Adrian Wilson allowed the third-lowest yards per play in coverage for safeties at 0.32.
San Francisco 49ers: Left tackle Joe Staley allowed nine combined sacks and hits over his first nine games this season, but cut that down to just two over the last nine games.
San Francisco 49ers: Patrick Willis had the third-highest tackling efficiency on run plays for middle/inside linebackers at 36.0 and the highest for pass plays at 37.0. This results in by far the highest tackling efficiency for middle/inside linebackers with 36.5 overall.
Seattle Seahawks: Safety Kam Chancellor was the only safety in the NFC with a PFF rating of +1.5 or higher in pass rush, run defense and coverage.
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