Signature Stats: First Downs Allowed – Cornerbacks For five seasons Pro Football Focus has been dedicated to breaking down the NFL on a play-by-play basis like no other. Speaking for the rest of the staff that has meant long hours and an inability to make full use of all the data we create. Only now the 2012 season is coming to a close, and with PFF more developed, are we starting to really delve into some revealing numbers. The upshot? Shiny, brand new Signature Stats available for discussion before they even hit the premium website — Signature Stats like this one: First Downs Allowed in Coverage It’s a relatively simple concept. We wanted to see which cornerbacks not only gave up the most first downs or touchdowns, but also who gave up the most relative to how often they’re in coverage. After all, someone in coverage for 500 snaps is infinitely more likely to give up results to the offense than a player in coverage for 300. Now to the data. Chain Movers Where better to start than the raw numbers showing who gave up the most first downs? In that respect, the first walk of shame belongs to Sean Smith, who was beaten for 40 first downs and six touchdowns in 2012. Those 46 combined first downs and touchdowns were one more than Cary Williams and Patrick Robinson, both of whom had 45 as their magical number. How about that, two of the three are about to be free agents. Interesting. Code: [B] [u]Name[/u] [u]1st Downs[/u] [u]Touchdowns[/u] [u]1st Downs & TDs[/u][/b] Sean Smith 40 6 46 Cary Williams 39 6 45 Patrick Robinson 36 9 45 DeAngelo Hall 41 3 44 Corey Webster 35 8 43 Antoine Cason 38 5 43 Dunta Robinson 38 4 42 Quentin Jammer 34 8 42 Josh Norman 38 2 40 Cassius Vaughn 35 5 40 Tramon Williams 38 2 40 Per Snap Struggles However, as I said earlier, how can we really judge those guys given their opportunity to give up first downs are widely different to others? So instead of looking at who gave up the most, let’s look at who gave up the highest percentage relative to their coverage snaps (with a minimum of 300 snaps in coverage). Well, that man would be the Carolina Panthers’ Josh Norman. Life is rarely easy in the NFL, and when you’re a fifth-round rookie thrust into a starting lineup things can go wrong. Norman gave up a first down or touchdown on 8.95% of his coverage snaps, earning his -7.4 coverage grade for the year. Still, rookies will be rookies, and his career won’t be defined by this season. The man with the second-highest rating is a far more interesting case. With his numbers added up for the two teams he played for Aqib Talib, often tasked with manning up with a team’s best receiver, allowed a first down or touchdown on 8.75% of plays. He may be incredibly talented, but don’t be thinking he’s a shutdown cornerback when you go to pay him. Code: [B][U]Name[/U] [U]Snaps[/U] [U]1st Downs & TDs[/U] [U]1st Downs & TDs by Snap[/U][/B] Josh Norman 447 40 8.95% Aqib Talib 343 30 8.75% Cassius Vaughn 472 40 8.47% Joselio Hanson 332 27 8.13% Nolan Carroll 415 33 7.95% Cortez Allen 340 27 7.94% Cary Williams 578 45 7.79% Dunta Robinson 540 42 7.78% Buster Skrine 451 35 7.76% Josh Robinson 451 34 7.54% Derek Cox 399 30 7.52% Corey Webster 574 43 7.49% Eric Wright 310 23 7.42% Sean Smith 624 46 7.37% A.J. Jefferson 357 26 7.28% Patrick Robinson 619 45 7.27% Jimmy Wilson 346 25 7.23% Quentin Jammer 589 42 7.13% DeAngelo Hall 625 44 7.04% Keenan Lewis 531 37 6.97% The Shutdown Crew Still, it’s not all bad. While some guys disappointed, others impressed, and none more so than the 49ers’ left cornerback in their nickel package, Chris Culliver. He gave up a first down or touchdown on only 3.45% of his snaps in coverage, a staggeringly low amount when you consider that the next lowest score is that of Leon Hall, with 3.75%. Code: [B][U]Name[/U] [U]Snaps[/U] [U]1st Downs & TDs[/U] [U]1st Downs & TDs by Snap[/U][/B] Chris Culliver 493 17 3.45% Leon Hall 507 19 3.75% Sam Shields 342 14 4.09% Prince Amukamara 434 18 4.15% Casey Hayward 433 18 4.16% Champ Bailey 586 25 4.27% Adam Jones 414 18 4.35% [COLOR="SeaGreen"][B]Antonio Cromartie 527 23 4.36%[/B][/COLOR] Kareem Jackson 635 28 4.41% Alterraun Verner 579 26 4.49% Robert McClain 379 18 4.75% Chris Houston 541 26 4.81% Richard Sherman 590 29 4.92% Brandon Browner 446 22 4.93% Josh Wilson 658 33 5.02% Brandon Flowers 436 22 5.05% Chris Harris Jr. 493 25 5.07% Antoine Winfield 609 31 5.09% [COLOR="SeaGreen"][B]Kyle Wilson 511 27 5.28%[/B][/COLOR] Asante Samuel 472 25 5.30% Sometimes it’s not just about the yards you give up, but the impact of those yards. Do they move the chains or don’t they? There’s a big difference between allowing a 9-yard completion on 3rd-and-10, or giving up a 3-yard completion on 4th-and-2. So looking into who’s giving up touchdowns and first downs is a real indicator of which cornerbacks are truly shutdown. Stay tuned for more stats like this as the PFF Signature Stat area continues to grow.---------- I just found it interesting that both Cromartie & Wilson were in the top-20 in the league based on this metric; especially for how much hate Wilson gets (on this board) Also found it interesting that Patrick Peterson wasn't on the "shutdown list" Obviously no stat is perfect, just thought this article could create some good discussion about the state of the CBs on the Jets with all the Revis speculation out there (please don't turn this into another Revis thread)
Michael Crabtree used to rip Patrick Peterson a new one each time they played. Kyle Wilson lucked out a lot. I remember times where he should of been beat for TDs, but the QB didn't connect with the WR. Still shocked to see Wilson there though. Maybe he's not as bad as we think?
I think that a better stat would be how many times they were targeted and completed in those targets. Also QBR when throwing their way. Looks good though, I always knew that Kyle wasn't as bad as people made him out to be, but I didn't know he did that bad. To the guy who said that Kyle got lucky, I only remember that in the SF game where Manningham beat him 2 or 3 times, don't really remember any other time that he got lucky.
I contend if the Jets had LB's that could cover the middle of the field and KW became the target of offensive game planning he would've been torched on a regular basis. My dream as a FA he goes to an AFC East team...
My favorite was when Kyle Wilson would be absolutely torched but the QB would overthrow the ball and he'd celebrate like he did something good. Dunce.
Only problem with that is how can you take into account a DB blanketing a WR, the QB noticing and doesn't throw his way because the DB has great coverage? Finding statistics to judge a DBs real impact on a game is no easy task.......but Pro Football Focus does as good a job as anyone IMO. Sent from my LG-P999
I know 25 other teams would love to have kyle wilson. He is truly not half as bad as some think. I believe he is a much better nickel corner than anything, but a very solid corner none the less. I really hope aaron berry can live up to his talent and takeover the outside spot so wilson can move back inside. Very us much more natural outside corner. Of course, this us if revis is traded.
I actually believe if we wanted we could play Kyle Wilson at FS.. Won't be a hard hitter but he plays zone pretty well compared to most CB's
Teams ran the ball far more often against the Jets then passing it. If the stat was targeted you would get a much more accurate depiction. Sean Smith sits at the top not only because of his inconsistent coverage but teams threw the ball much more against Miami then running it.
To the casual observer he got torched but he's bumping the receiver and throwing off the timing of the route. If he was only a little bit faster he'd be truly great.
Teams ran the ball a lot, but Jets still allowed the second best completion ratio on throws. So they did do pretty good. And when your bad in your coverages teams are gonna throw on you, no matter how good your run D is. If teams just didn't want to run on the Phins, why only throw on Sean Smith? Why not on Nolan Carroll.
I wonder how the stat analysis in question here would score a play like that. Do they credit the Cb when the opposing Qb makes an unforced error on his throw, or not? And like you I found Wilson's behavior in such circumstances embarrassing as a Jet fan.
Nonsense. The Chiefs last year had a woeful 8 ypa against them, yet their pass D was targeted less than any other team's. Why? Because they were almost always behind and their run D was bad.
