Atlanta Falcons: Where do they rank on Pro Football Focus?
Dec 21, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Atlanta Falcons running back Devonta Freeman (24) carries the ball as New Orleans Saints strong safety Kenny Vaccaro (32) and inside linebacker David Hawthorne (57) defend during the second quater at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Statistics don’t tell the full story, but they can help us tell which players contributed and who didn’t. Pro Football Focus is a great place to look for grades and stats for individual players after each game, and at the end of the season. How did the Atlanta Falcons’ players rank against the rest of the NFL?
The defense struggled in 2014, but did every player have a poor season? Or were they let down by their teammates? Looking at these grades won’t tell us the full story, but it can give us an idea.
Let’s take a look at the Pro Football Focus grades for the Atlanta Falcons.
Matt Ryan — 5th of 39 (+20.3 grade)
It was another strong season for Matt Ryan, who ranked behind Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger and Tom Brady. Ryan’s is graded higher than Tony Romo, Andrew Luck and Peyton Manning. With more balance expected on offense with the run game next season, can Ryan finish as high again? He’s entering the prime of his career, and will have every chance of doing just that.
Julio Jones — 6th of 110 (+17 grade)
Again, this one is hardly surprising. It was a great season for Julio Jones, who caught 104 passes for 1,593 yards and six touchdowns. For the Falcons, their priority is to extend his contract, as he is set to hit free agency after the 2015 season. He will once again be the standout receiver for the Falcons, and he will be looking for another superstar season.
Dec 8, 2014; Green Bay, WI, USA; Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) carries the football as Green Bay Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix (21) defends during the first quarter at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Devin Hester ranked 77th with a minus-4.3 grade. Roddy White was tied for 107th with a minus-10.4 grade.
Jacob Tamme — 27th of 67 (-0.6 grade)
Tamme was a member of the Denver Broncos last year, and could find himself with a bigger role in Atlanta. He only had 14 receptions, which went for 109 yards and two touchdowns. He graded minus-2.5 in the pass game, but earned a plus-1.1 in pass blocking.
Levine Toilolo ranked 64th of 67 with a minus-23 grade.
Jon Asamoah — 24th of 78 (+4.4 grade)
Jon Asamoah ranks 24th, which is decent. He allowed just two sacks in 2014 and his pass blocking received a plus-4.3 grade. His run blocking earned a plus-0.8 grade, but his screen blocking was graded minus-0.5.
Ryan Schraeder — 22nd of 84 (+7.1 grade)
The offensive line as a whole disappointed in 2014, but Ryan Schraeder did a decent job, allowing just three sacks, two quarterback hits and 13 hurries. He graded a plus-8.2 in pass blocking as well as a plus-2.0 in screen blocking, but his run blocking let him down with a minus-2.7 grade.
Jake Matthews — 84th of 84 (-36.8 grade)
Jake Matthews finished dead last with a minus-36.8 grade, after being tied for sixth in most sacks allowed (seven). New Falcon Tyler Polumbus ranked 62nd with a minus-12.6 grade.
Let’s take a look at defense.
Next: Defensive grades