PFF grades: Colts best and worst performers vs. Falcons in preseason
· Yahoo Sports
Following the Indianapolis Colts' performance in Week 2 of the preseason against the Atlanta Falcons, which players received the highest grades from Pro Football Focus, and which received the lowest?
Now, before we dive into all that, I do want to mention that while PFF's grading system is certainly helpful at quantifying a player's performance, it is not the be-all and end-all when it comes to evaluations. It is one tool out of many that are out there and should be treated as such.
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For some context around these grades, below is the grading scale.
- 90.0+: Elite
- 80-89.9: High quality
- 70-79.9: Good
- 60-69.9: Above average
- 50-59.9: Average
- 40-49.9: Below average
- 39.9 or less: Poor
Colts' 5 highest-graded players on offense
- G Geno VanDeMark: 85.7
- C Jimmy Morrissey: 81.1
- WR Deion Burks: 69.5
- OT Josh Sills: 65.2
- WR Raylen Sharpe: 62.3
Over 10 pass-blocking snaps, VanDenMark did not surrender a pressure. He also earned a run-blocking grade of 81.2. Sills and Morrissey each surrendered two pressures, but their run-blocking grades elevated their overall grades.
Burks was a steady target, catching 4-of-6 passes for 19 yards. Sharpe had one target and no receptions. His grades across the board were around the 60.0 mark -- or average-- which also highlights how much the Colts struggled overall in this game.
Colts' 5 highest-graded players on defense
- CB Jaylon Jones: 90.5
- CB Mekhi Rodgers: 86.0
- DE Durell Nchami: 84.7
- LB Bryce Boettcher: 80.8
- DE Micheal Clemons: 78.6
Jones and Rodgers were targeted three times combined and didn't surrender a reception. Each had a pass breakup as well.
Nchami had a quarterback pressure, while he and Clemons both graded out well against the run, boosting their overall grades.
Boettcher had three tackles, two of which were run stops, and he allowed only six yards in coverage.
Colts' 5 lowest-graded players overall
- CB Mekhi Blackmon: 29.8
- WR Sahmir Hagans: 39.3
- TE Pharaoh Brown: 41.4
- DE George Gumbs: 43.5
- QB Anthony Richardson: 43.7
Blackmon has struggled this preseason. He was again penalized twice and allowed four completions on four targets for 50 yards. For Gumbs, he generated just one pressure over 22 pass-rush snaps. He received a run defense grade of 56.5.
Hagans had one target and was credited with a drop, significantly lowering his grade. Brown had two receptions for eight yards with a run-blocking grade of 58.4.
Richardson completed just 3-of-9 passes, although there was a lot of chaos around him.
This article originally appeared on Colts Wire: PFF grades: Colts best and worst performers vs. Falcons in preseason