Rivals has continued its partnership with Pro Football Focus (PFF) which grants me access to their comprehensive analytics and statistical tools.
After each game, two separate analysts grade every player on each play of the game and the two totals are averaged out. Obviously no subjective ranking system is perfect, but I am finding that my real world impressions of a player in a certain game usually reflects the PFF grade.
PFF Grading Scale
90 and above - Elite
80 to 89 - Great
70 to 79 - Good
60 to 69 - Average to Above Average
50 - 59 - Below Average
49 and below - Poor
Season Defensive Grades (by game)
Boise State - 74.4
Bethune-Cookman - 73.9
Louisville - 68.3
Navy - 67.6
ECU - 83.0
Cincinnati - 54.0
Memphis - 75.5
Temple - 73.0
Tulane - 77.2
SMU - 62.2
UConn - 79.0
usf - 72.2
Overall Defensive Grades
S William Wells (19) - 84.3
DE Josh Celiscar (30) - 76.1
LB Tatum Bethune (78) - 75.2
S Divaad Wilson (78) - 74.5
DE Tre'Mon Morris-Brash (48) - 71.5
CB Corey Thornton (65) - 69.5
DT Keenan Hester (50) - 69.3
CB Brandon Adams (21) - 66.6
S Quadric Bullard (59) - 66.4
DT Ricky Barber (54) - 66.1
DE Landon Woodson (3) - 60.8
CB Davonte Brown (70) - 58.2
SCB Justin Hodges (78) - 58.1
DT Cam Goode (28) - 54.2
LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste (78) - 53.9
DE Big Kat Bryant (75) - 53.9
DT Anthony Montalvo (24) - 49.9
William Wells stepped in when Quadric Bullard went down and made some big plays, including two pressures (one sack, one hurry). He was graded at an elite level on run defense.
Here's the breakdown by position:
Defensive End (4):
DE Josh Celiscar (30) - 76.1
DE Tre'Mon Morris-Brash (48) - 71.5
DE Landon Woodson (3) - 60.8
DE Big Kat Bryant (75) - 53.9
Defensive Tackle (4):
DT Keenan Hester (50) - 69.3
DT Ricky Barber (54) - 66.1
DT Cam Goode (28) - 54.2
DT Anthony Montalvo (24) - 49.9
Linebacker (2):
LB Tatum Bethune (78) - 75.2
LB Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste (78) - 53.9
Safety (3):
S William Wells (19) - 84.3
S Divaad Wilson (78) - 74.5
S Quadric Bullard (59) - 66.4
Corner (4):
CB Corey Thornton (65) - 69.5
CB Brandon Adams (21) - 66.6
CB Davonte Brown (70) - 58.2
SCB Justin Hodges (78) - 58.1
Pressure Tracker (combination of sacks, hits and hurries):
5 - Ricky Barber
4 - Jeremiah Jean-Baptiste, Big Kat Bryant
2 - William Wells, Tatum Bethune
1 - Corey Thornton, Justin Hodges, Josh Celiscar, Quadric Bullard, Davonte Brown, Tre'Mon Morris-Brash, Cam Good, Divaad Wilson