Daily Short #71, September 30th, 2017: Deep Dig - Updated Defensive Rankings (Week 4)
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TIER ONE
1. CB Holton Hill - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 1)1313
SEASON: 15.72% market share of defensive productivity; 5.19 snaps per production caused (4th)
2. S Deshon Elliott - 59 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 3)
SEASON: 15.24% market share of defensive productivity; 5.46 snaps per production caused (5th)
3. LB Malik Jefferson - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 2)
SEASON: 14.61% market share of defensive productivity; 5.65 snaps per production caused (6th)
What a monster couple of weeks for Deshon Elliott - he's coming on as one of the best players on the entire Texas roster. Holton Hill is still hanging on to a small market-share lead of the total productivity of the 2017 Texas defense, but unless he scores more touchdowns, he's very likely to be overtaken by Elliott and Jefferson who are generating productivity at a much more sustainable clip lately. While most of Elliott's interceptions have seemed to be of the "right place at the right time"-variety, there is something to be said for the guy who's always in the right place at the right time. The guy at the right place at the right time also makes big-time end-zone blowups on would-be touchdown scorers as we saw versus ISU.
Malik Jefferson is getting it done for this defense in basically every way possible. His development and growth in Todd Orlando's system is beyond apparent, and it's due much more to scheme than it is to position-specific coaching. That is to say that Todd Orlando isn't the linebacker whisperer, but what he is is a DC that employs a system that masks Malik Jefferson's greatest flaws (trouble getting off blocks and engaging defenders with play-side leverage in space) and accentuates his greatest attributes (cannon-like acceleration to the football and generally elite athleticism). The result is a Malik Jefferson at the rover position who's allowed to run sideline to sideline and come downhill freely and without much interference from linemen or other blockers being held up in the trenches by two-gapping and slanting linemen.
TIER TWO
4. NT Poona Ford - 43 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 4)
SEASON: 8.66% market share of defensive productivity; 7.23 snaps per production caused (9th)
Speaking of two-gapping and slanting linemen, Poona Ford is in a tier all his own, and it's surprising because he -- in the complete opposite manner of Malik Jefferson -- is being put in terrible positions to succeed in any sort of stat column. The job of an interior defensive lineman in most 3-4 schemes is, as mentioned, to hold up blockers, fit up gaps and keep the linebackers clean. The Deep Dig does take statistics for run-stuffs which make note of players' abilities to fit up gaps in the run game and force opposing runners to divert course, which is a stat that Ford leads the team in. He's budding into a surefire NFL prospect and a player I hope can continue this level of play as I think he'd have a good shot at Senior Bowl consideration if so.
TIER THREE
5. DE Malcolm Roach - 30 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 8)
SEASON: 4.81% market share of defensive productivity; 8.15 snaps per production caused (10th)
6. LB Anthony Wheeler - 54 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 5)
SEASON: 4.72% market share of defensive productivity; 16.3 snaps per production caused (15th)
7. CB Kris Boyd - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 17)
SEASON: 4.5% market share of defensive productivity; 16.5 snaps per production caused (16th)
T8. DE Charles Omenihu - 28 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T6)
SEASON: 4.37% market share of defensive productivity; 9.36 snaps per production caused (13th)
T8. LB Gary Johnson - 8 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T6)
SEASON: 4.37% market share of defensive productivity; 3.92 snaps per production caused (2nd)
10. NCB PJ Locke - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 10)
SEASON: 3.76% market share of defensive productivity; 20.63 snaps per production caused (18th)
11. S Brandon Jones - 58 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T12)
SEASON: 3.63% market share of defensive productivity; 22.64 snaps per production caused (19th)
12. DB John Bonney - 19 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 9)
SEASON: 3.24% market share of defensive productivity; 5.73 snaps per production caused (7th)
There's hardly any difference in the overall productivity of this tier of player which is interesting considering the massive difference in overall snap share between some players and others. For example, Anthony Wheeler has only generated .4% more of the total defensive productivity than Gary Johnson, but Anthony Wheeler has played 220 snaps to Johnson's 49.
Johnson is generating production over four times more often if we're examining the data on a per-snap basis. There's zero reason for Johnson to not become more involved as a player who can contribute outside of specialty sub-packages moving forward. I know Orlando doesn't like to substitute linebackers in and out, but if that's the case, he'd be wise to at least consider the idea of replacing Wheeler with Johnson.
Kris Boyd played his best game of 2017 and maybe his career in an effort that shot him up the rankings ten spots from 17 to 7. Boyd was thrown at 12 times versus ISU and only allowed four completions on his watch. He was credited with three pass break up and one separate blow up along with hauling in a pick.
It's crazy that the strength of this team is clearly the defense, and if we're measuring from a pure production standpoint, the strength of the defense is clearly currently the defensive backfield. A unit that fans viewed as nothing more than an embarrassing and leaky sieve for the last three seasons.
BACKUP-LEVEL PRODUCTION
13. DE Chris Nelson - 21 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T12)
SEASON: 2.97% market share of defensive productivity; 18.24 snaps per production caused (17th)
14. LB Naashon Hughes - 48 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 11)
SEASON: 2.45% market share of defensive productivity; 28.29 snaps per production caused (21st)
15. DE/LB Breckyn Hager - 17 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 14)
SEASON: 2.1% market share of defensive productivity; 9 snaps per production caused (12th)
16. LB Jeffrey McCulloch - 14 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 20)
SEASON: 1.22% market share of defensive productivity; 15.14 snaps per production caused (14th)
17. NT Gerald Wilbon - 4 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 15)
SEASON: 1.05% market share of defensive productivity; 8.67 snaps per production caused (11th)
18. S Jason Hall - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 16)
SEASON: 1.03% market share of defensive productivity; 3.73 snaps per production caused (1st)
19. LB Edwin Freeman - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 18)
SEASON: .7% market share of defensive productivity; 5 snaps per production caused (3rd)
20. CB Josh Thompson - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 19)
SEASON: .56% market share of defensive productivity; 6.2 snaps per production caused (8th)
21. DE Taquon Graham - 8 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 21)
SEASON: .35% market share of defensive productivity; 26 snaps per production caused (20th)
22. DE Jamari Chisolm - 1 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 22)
SEASON: .17% market share of defensive productivity; 30 snaps per production caused (22nd)
No production
T23. DB Antwuan Davis - 1 snap vs. ISU
T23. DB Chris Brown - 1 snap vs. ISU
T23. D'Andre Christmas - 0 snaps vs. ISU
Negative Production
Davante Davis - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: Negative Production)
SEASON: NEGATIVE production
presented by the Dental Offices of Wendy Swantkowski, DDS
The Absolute BEST in family and cosmetic dentistry for the Houston-Memorial Area
Now Accepting New Patients --- 281-293-9140
TIER ONE
1. CB Holton Hill - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 1)1313
SEASON: 15.72% market share of defensive productivity; 5.19 snaps per production caused (4th)
2. S Deshon Elliott - 59 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 3)
SEASON: 15.24% market share of defensive productivity; 5.46 snaps per production caused (5th)
3. LB Malik Jefferson - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 2)
SEASON: 14.61% market share of defensive productivity; 5.65 snaps per production caused (6th)
What a monster couple of weeks for Deshon Elliott - he's coming on as one of the best players on the entire Texas roster. Holton Hill is still hanging on to a small market-share lead of the total productivity of the 2017 Texas defense, but unless he scores more touchdowns, he's very likely to be overtaken by Elliott and Jefferson who are generating productivity at a much more sustainable clip lately. While most of Elliott's interceptions have seemed to be of the "right place at the right time"-variety, there is something to be said for the guy who's always in the right place at the right time. The guy at the right place at the right time also makes big-time end-zone blowups on would-be touchdown scorers as we saw versus ISU.
Malik Jefferson is getting it done for this defense in basically every way possible. His development and growth in Todd Orlando's system is beyond apparent, and it's due much more to scheme than it is to position-specific coaching. That is to say that Todd Orlando isn't the linebacker whisperer, but what he is is a DC that employs a system that masks Malik Jefferson's greatest flaws (trouble getting off blocks and engaging defenders with play-side leverage in space) and accentuates his greatest attributes (cannon-like acceleration to the football and generally elite athleticism). The result is a Malik Jefferson at the rover position who's allowed to run sideline to sideline and come downhill freely and without much interference from linemen or other blockers being held up in the trenches by two-gapping and slanting linemen.
TIER TWO
4. NT Poona Ford - 43 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 4)
SEASON: 8.66% market share of defensive productivity; 7.23 snaps per production caused (9th)
Speaking of two-gapping and slanting linemen, Poona Ford is in a tier all his own, and it's surprising because he -- in the complete opposite manner of Malik Jefferson -- is being put in terrible positions to succeed in any sort of stat column. The job of an interior defensive lineman in most 3-4 schemes is, as mentioned, to hold up blockers, fit up gaps and keep the linebackers clean. The Deep Dig does take statistics for run-stuffs which make note of players' abilities to fit up gaps in the run game and force opposing runners to divert course, which is a stat that Ford leads the team in. He's budding into a surefire NFL prospect and a player I hope can continue this level of play as I think he'd have a good shot at Senior Bowl consideration if so.
TIER THREE
5. DE Malcolm Roach - 30 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 8)
SEASON: 4.81% market share of defensive productivity; 8.15 snaps per production caused (10th)
6. LB Anthony Wheeler - 54 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 5)
SEASON: 4.72% market share of defensive productivity; 16.3 snaps per production caused (15th)
7. CB Kris Boyd - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 17)
SEASON: 4.5% market share of defensive productivity; 16.5 snaps per production caused (16th)
T8. DE Charles Omenihu - 28 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T6)
SEASON: 4.37% market share of defensive productivity; 9.36 snaps per production caused (13th)
T8. LB Gary Johnson - 8 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T6)
SEASON: 4.37% market share of defensive productivity; 3.92 snaps per production caused (2nd)
10. NCB PJ Locke - 62 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 10)
SEASON: 3.76% market share of defensive productivity; 20.63 snaps per production caused (18th)
11. S Brandon Jones - 58 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T12)
SEASON: 3.63% market share of defensive productivity; 22.64 snaps per production caused (19th)
12. DB John Bonney - 19 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 9)
SEASON: 3.24% market share of defensive productivity; 5.73 snaps per production caused (7th)
There's hardly any difference in the overall productivity of this tier of player which is interesting considering the massive difference in overall snap share between some players and others. For example, Anthony Wheeler has only generated .4% more of the total defensive productivity than Gary Johnson, but Anthony Wheeler has played 220 snaps to Johnson's 49.
Johnson is generating production over four times more often if we're examining the data on a per-snap basis. There's zero reason for Johnson to not become more involved as a player who can contribute outside of specialty sub-packages moving forward. I know Orlando doesn't like to substitute linebackers in and out, but if that's the case, he'd be wise to at least consider the idea of replacing Wheeler with Johnson.
Kris Boyd played his best game of 2017 and maybe his career in an effort that shot him up the rankings ten spots from 17 to 7. Boyd was thrown at 12 times versus ISU and only allowed four completions on his watch. He was credited with three pass break up and one separate blow up along with hauling in a pick.
It's crazy that the strength of this team is clearly the defense, and if we're measuring from a pure production standpoint, the strength of the defense is clearly currently the defensive backfield. A unit that fans viewed as nothing more than an embarrassing and leaky sieve for the last three seasons.
BACKUP-LEVEL PRODUCTION
13. DE Chris Nelson - 21 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: T12)
SEASON: 2.97% market share of defensive productivity; 18.24 snaps per production caused (17th)
14. LB Naashon Hughes - 48 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 11)
SEASON: 2.45% market share of defensive productivity; 28.29 snaps per production caused (21st)
15. DE/LB Breckyn Hager - 17 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 14)
SEASON: 2.1% market share of defensive productivity; 9 snaps per production caused (12th)
16. LB Jeffrey McCulloch - 14 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 20)
SEASON: 1.22% market share of defensive productivity; 15.14 snaps per production caused (14th)
17. NT Gerald Wilbon - 4 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 15)
SEASON: 1.05% market share of defensive productivity; 8.67 snaps per production caused (11th)
18. S Jason Hall - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 16)
SEASON: 1.03% market share of defensive productivity; 3.73 snaps per production caused (1st)
19. LB Edwin Freeman - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 18)
SEASON: .7% market share of defensive productivity; 5 snaps per production caused (3rd)
20. CB Josh Thompson - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 19)
SEASON: .56% market share of defensive productivity; 6.2 snaps per production caused (8th)
21. DE Taquon Graham - 8 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 21)
SEASON: .35% market share of defensive productivity; 26 snaps per production caused (20th)
22. DE Jamari Chisolm - 1 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: 22)
SEASON: .17% market share of defensive productivity; 30 snaps per production caused (22nd)
No production
T23. DB Antwuan Davis - 1 snap vs. ISU
T23. DB Chris Brown - 1 snap vs. ISU
T23. D'Andre Christmas - 0 snaps vs. ISU
Negative Production
Davante Davis - 0 snaps vs. ISU (Previous Rank: Negative Production)
SEASON: NEGATIVE production
