Antwon Blake has been the Pittsburgh Steelers’ whipping boy for his play this year. But Bud Dupree? That’s what the love-them-or-hate-them folks at Pro Football Focus said, grading Dupree out as the second-worst edge rusher in the NFL with a 49.8 grade.
The only player ranked lower is the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ Chris Clemons at five points lower.
On Dupree, the site wrote:
“Dupree has a very even mix of reasons for being on this team. Pass rushing, he’s been below-average, with only 14 total pressures in 162 pass rush snaps, with five of those being unblocked pressures.”
They also noted he’s made just two run stops and “isn’t getting involved” versus the run.
While Dupree has been inconsistent as a pass rusher, and has earned his sacks/pressures through hustle and chase than winning immediately, it seems unfair to have such a negative grade on him. Even putting his rookie status aside, these grades are rightfully not done on a curve, Dupree has done well setting the edge against the run this season. He’s certainly not been a liability as PFF seems to suggest.
Blake was given honorable mention status as the 4th worst CB in their grading system. Only Brandon Browner has graded out worst than Blake’s 31.8 rating.
Lawrence Timmons was ranked as the second-worst off-ball linebacker, only ahead of the Washington Redskins’ Perry Riley. Placed on their honorable mention list, no explanation was given for the low rating, though our own Jon Ledyard has credited him with 16 missed tackles in 2015.
