‘Pro Football Focus’ tracked the performance of Alabama football players in the regular season. Grades of the best 10 on offense and best 10 on defense may surprise Tide fans.
Alabama football fans may be surprised by some of the regular-season player grades by Pro Football Focus (PFF). The PFF group of evaluators grades every player on every play.
Grading players in an age of increasing analytics precision is imperfect more than imprecise. The PFF graders are tasked with a minimum assurance of 95 percent for each player on each play. Less assurance means the play is not counted. The inherent subjectivity in the process is minimized but not removed.
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Additionally, the grades are not weighted based on strength of opponents. The Alabama football offensive line, for example, is graded the same way against Auburn or Mercer. Comparing players at the same position on different teams cannot be done in this grading system.
We neither endorse or deride the PFF grading system. If nothing more, it presents a framework for discussion about the strengths and weaknesses of the 2017 Alabama football team.
The PFF Crimson Tide Top 20 Players
Compliments of 247Sports the PFF results are shown below. The top 10 players on offense and the top 10 players on defense are listed.
ALABAMA’S OFFENSE
1. C Bradley Bozeman — 713 snaps — 86.5 (5th nationally)
2. OT Jonah Williams — 723 snaps — 85.4 (28th)
3. QB Jalen Hurts — 646 snaps — 85.0 (24th)
4. WR Calvin Ridley — 604 snaps — 83.1 (41st)
5. RB Damien Harris — 283 snaps — 82.8 (23rd)
6. OG Ross Pierschbacher — 62- snaps — 82.1 (46th)
7. OT Matt Womack — 704 — 81.0 (82nd)
8. OG Lester Cotton — 711 snaps — 80.6 (76th)
9. RB Josh Jacobs — 131 snaps — 77.8
10. TE Hale Hentges — 373 snaps — 77.7
ALABAMA’S DEFENSE
1. DL Da’Ron Payne — 584 snaps — 85.3 (18th)
2. S Ronnie Harrison — 705 snaps — 84.1 (28th)
3. DB Minkah Fitzpatrick — 587 snaps — 83.4 (62)
4. LB Rashaan Evans — 501 snaps — 83.0 (75th)
5. CB Levi Wallace — 652 snaps — 82.9 (69th)
6. DL Raekwon Davis — 419 snaps — 82.7 (38th)
7. LB Shaun Dion Hamilton — 334 snaps — 82.6 (81st)
8. LB Anfernee Jennings — 418 snaps — 82.6 (35th)
9. DL Isaiah Buggs — 436 snaps — 82.0 (47th)
10. DL Johnny Dwight — 53 snaps — 81.8
PFF measures against NFL standards
According to PFF, a grade of 85-or-above correlates to an NFL-capable player.
The list of 20 players has few surprises for Alabama football fans. The only real surprises are how the starting O-Line was graded and how well Johnny Dwight rated on the Tide defense. Dwight’s grade suggests he has been under-utilized this season.
The most often maligned Alabama football player, offensive lineman, Ross Piersbacher’s grade of 82.1 may surprise some Tide fans. Ross is the least physical of the Tide’s starting O-linemen but some former SEC players have pointed out his excellent technique and assignment proficiency.
A grade of near NFL- ready for the entire starting offensive line reinforces the old claim the Tide should run more. What clearly jumps out is Calvin Ridley as the only high performing receiver. It also begs the question, given all the Tide talent at receiver, why is no other receiver on the list?
With no lack of wide receiver talent, are Jalen Hurt’s passing skills or Brian Daboll’s passing schemes the problem? The PFF player grades cannot provide those answers.
There is one more interesting point in the player grades. Some Alabama football fans believe Da’Ron Payne might return for his senior season in 2018. They cite his numbers being down compared to last season. If the PFF player grades are valid, Payne is more than NFL-ready and likely to be an NFL first-round pick.
Next: The Tide O-Line and the Clemson Front Seven
How much do player grades matter? They matter greatly when compiled by the Alabama football staff. What matters more is how player units perform together. Team stats are the best source for assessing the performance of team units.