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Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham to the Jacksonville Jaguars has been an extremely popular selection in mock drafts, and it's easy to see why.
In short, the Jaguars have a major need along the defensive line, and in a very good defensive tackle draft class, Graham is widely considered the best.
Individually last season, Graham would tally 34 pressures and five sacks, according to PFF, but his greatest impact came in the run game, where he ranked first among defensive tackles in run defense grade and second in run-stop rate.
However, at the defensive tackle position specifically, a defender's impact often goes beyond their own stat sheet. When an interior lineman is steadily generating push, eating up space, and taking on blockers, the other 10 defenders on the field all benefit.
So, perhaps to truly measure Graham's impact on the Michigan defense last season, we have to look at how that unit fared when he was on the field vs. when he was off.
ESPN's Field Yates has those metrics.
Last season, the Jaguars' defensive front ranked 32nd in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric and 27th in run stop rate. As NFL insider Albert Breer said recently when asked about Graham to the Jaguars, "it all adds up."
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars NFL draft: 3 Stats highlight Mason Graham's impact on defense
Continue reading...
In short, the Jaguars have a major need along the defensive line, and in a very good defensive tackle draft class, Graham is widely considered the best.
Individually last season, Graham would tally 34 pressures and five sacks, according to PFF, but his greatest impact came in the run game, where he ranked first among defensive tackles in run defense grade and second in run-stop rate.
However, at the defensive tackle position specifically, a defender's impact often goes beyond their own stat sheet. When an interior lineman is steadily generating push, eating up space, and taking on blockers, the other 10 defenders on the field all benefit.
So, perhaps to truly measure Graham's impact on the Michigan defense last season, we have to look at how that unit fared when he was on the field vs. when he was off.
ESPN's Field Yates has those metrics.
Mason Graham on the field
- Yards per play: 4.6
- Yards per rush: 2.6
- Yards before contact per rush: 0.2
Mason Graham off the field
- Yards per play: 5.4
- Yards per rush: 3.9
- Yards before contact per rush: 1.5
Last season, the Jaguars' defensive front ranked 32nd in ESPN's pass rush win rate metric and 27th in run stop rate. As NFL insider Albert Breer said recently when asked about Graham to the Jaguars, "it all adds up."
This article originally appeared on Jaguars Wire: Jaguars NFL draft: 3 Stats highlight Mason Graham's impact on defense
Continue reading...
