This week’s grades from Pro Football Focus have been released and to no surprise Justin Jefferson is near the top while Kirk Cousins and rookie receiver Jordan Addison were near the bottom.
Let’s start with the top 10 PFF scores…
- Josh Oliver, TE – 91.0
- Justin Jefferson, WR – 88.9
- Christian Darrisaw, LT – 88.3
- D.J. Wonnum, OLB – 81.5
- Cam Akers, RB – 78.7
- Harrison Smith, S – 78.3
- Brian O’Neill, RT, 77.6
- Jonathan Bullard, DL – 73.7
- Marcus Davenport, OLB – 73.4
- Josh Metellus, S – 72.9
Oliver got the top score despite a holding penalty that cost the Vikings a touchdown on the opening drive. His 91.0 grade is thanks to elite run blocking.
Darrisaw allowed just one pressure on 25 snaps where Cousins dropped back to pass. In fact, PFF only found four pressures on Cousins all game, including a sack that was charged to Darrisaw.
The other key pressure on Cousins was charged to right guard Ed Ingram, who was beaten on the play that saw Cousins get hit as he threw, causing the ball to float into the air for an interception.
The guy everyone will notice in the top 10, however, is Harrison Smith, who finished the game with nine tackles, three sacks and a forced fumble. How did he not get a near perfect score for that effort? Honestly, we have no idea.
Matthew Coller, whose new book “Football Is a Numbers Game: Pro Football Focus and How a Data-Driven Approach Shook Up the Sport,” has a theory for why Smith’s grade wasn’t elite.
“When you break down Harry’s grade, he scored extremely high in pass rushing, as you might expect. There were a few completions into his coverage that he might have been dinged for but overall his grade said what we knew: He was a big-time player who made game-changing plays,” Coller explained. “The most notable stat to me was him lining up 27 times in the box and 18 on the defensive line. Brian Flores had him playing in his rightful spot and it paid off.”
Smith led the defense in quarterback pressures (4) but PFF gave him an average coverage grade of 66.9, which is shocking in and of itself because PFF only charged him for three receptions and nine yards allowed on six targets into his coverage.
Harrison Smith, hat trick. A career-high three sacks today for the 34-year-old safety, who looks rejuvenated in Brian Flores' scheme. pic.twitter.com/ajASgJALnE
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) October 1, 2023
Meanwhile, Marcus Davenport was second on the team with three QB pressures and one sack. He played 31 snaps after an ankle injury limited him to four snaps through the first three weeks of the season.
D.J. Wonnum jumped off the page with a sack, a QB hit, a batted pass and of course a fumble recovery that returned 51 yards for a touchdown. Of course, it was Smith who forced the fumble…
Harrison Smith forces the fumble.
DJ Wonnum takes it to the house.#SKOL pic.twitter.com/weA51sWsaG— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) October 1, 2023
