Pro Football Focus: Nuggets from the Bengals Game

by Chris Pokorny on Dec 2, 2011 9:52 PM EST

Each week, Pro Football Focus takes a quick look back at each of the game's that took place in the previous week and analyzes them. Their review of the Browns vs. Bengals game is now live. After the jump is a recap of some of the interesting things had to say, along with my own commentary.

We don't need to have a super-long discussion about wide receiver Greg Little's drops again, but PFF provided a good season-long statistic. This year, Little has dropped 12 passes, which PFF calls "an astonishing 20.3% of all catchable balls throw his way." Obviously, a receiver can't let that many opportunities get away.
The praise at PFF on the defensive line has shifted to defensive tackle Ahtyba Rubin, who they say had his best game of the season by far. He got the overall game ball, even though the Browns lost.
There’s no real surprise the former Iowa State Cyclone had his way with the poor Nate Livings, but it was the ease at which he got the better of Bobbie Williams that really stood out. The hit he picked up on Williams with 1:08 to go in the game was overshadowed by the catch and run of A.J. Green, but is the perfect example of what Rubin was doing all game.
Besides having an effective game as a receiver, tight end Jermaine Gresham was praised for his blocking against Jabaal Sheard and Brian Schafering.
Some more neat little statistics. First, the Browns only missed three tackles all game, with two of those coming via linebacker Chris Gocong. Also, the Browns blitzed on 36.8% of passing plays, which was more often than the Bengals blitzed.

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I remember seeing/hearing Rubin a lot, but man I didn’t realize he was THAT dominant. Glad we got him an extension and hopefully his relentlessness rubs off on Taylor. If Taylor can become a consistent force with Rubin team will be scared to face this browns D (well if we get someone opposite of Sheard and some more speed through the back 7).

by -bobby- on Dec 2, 2011 10:59 PM EST reply actions

Depends on what they call a “blitz” but when we go to that 3DL package you can all but guarantee one LB is coming, and it’s probably going to be 2 of them rushing the passer. Which is part of the reason why it would be great to get a guy like Von Miller.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Dec 3, 2011 12:43 AM EST reply actions

It feels like they missed way more tackles than that.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Dec 3, 2011 7:51 AM EST reply actions

It probably feels like that because the ones they missed went for long runs by Cedric Benson.

by chitown browns fan on Dec 3, 2011 9:11 AM EST up reply actions

Ding ding.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Dec 3, 2011 9:24 AM EST up reply actions

Funny;

For a football purist there is often nothing better than a tough-nosed blocking fullback. I get that it’s a passing league now but when you hit December and January and you want to run the ball more it must be fantastic to be able to do so behind someone like Vonta Leach (+4.3). Leach has been solid as a pass blocker where he has allowed just one sack and one pressure in 40 opportunities. But it’s as a run blocker where he really excels, and that was no more evident than in the Thanksgiving Day game against San Francisco. On 2nd-and-9 with 11:53 left in the first quarter, Leach floored Patrick Willis with a block that allowed Ray Rice to scamper for a first down. Look for the Ravens to run the ball right behind Leach more than a few times on Sunday.

by HenryDawg on Dec 3, 2011 2:09 PM EST reply actions

The idea that one style of offense is more “pure” than another is ridiculous. Move the ball. Score.

"Statistics are like bikinis. What they reveal is suggestive, but what they conceal is vital." - Aaron Levenstein

by rufio on Dec 3, 2011 6:54 PM EST up reply actions

Yea, purity is all based on your opinion. I have a style that I think is pure but it by no means means (nice) that it is the most pure way to play offense.

With or Without the H

by johnf34 on Dec 3, 2011 9:14 PM EST up reply actions