Pro Football Focus' 5 worst free agent signings: One of them is Buster Skrine

Elias

Elias

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Big Fish
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Jets Global
The highly cited football analytics website examines every player on every play of every game and grades them either positively or negatively based on the result of the play they were involved in. As a result, they know a thing or two about whether a given free agent signing will provide the kind of value their new employer is looking for.

Evidently, they didn't think very highly of some of the players the Eagles, Giants, and Jets signed this offseason. Four of PFF"s five worst free agent signings come from those respective teams: the Jets' Buster Skrine, the Giants' J.T. Thomas and Dwayne Harris, and the Eagles' Byron Maxwell.

PFF's Michael Renner, who penned the article, gives an evaluation that predictably hews closely to their own metrics, comparing the players' statistical performance to the money that they received.

On Skrine, Renner takes issue with the amount of guaranteed money ($13 million) the Jets gave a player who profiles as a nickel cornerback, suggesting that adding Skrine made even less sense after signing Antonio Cromartie "an even more lucrative deal just days later." Never mind the fact that only $7 million of Cromartie's four-year, $32 million contract is guaranteed, and Skrine is also six years younger.

But Renner is far more critical of Skrine's performance on the field:

The fifth-year cornerback was the weak link in the Browns' secondary ever since he was thrust into the nickelback role in 2012. Skrine was promoted to starter in 2013 and turned in overall grades of -12.1 and -6.3 in the two subsequent seasons. He's simply been a below average player over the course of his career, and even though he has played slot corner, he's never stood out. His lowest passer rating against from the slot over the past three seasons is 95.5 and that came last year.

One thing to remember with PFF's figures as it pertains to cornerbacks: Their coverage grades do not take assignments into account, and they base their ratings on which player was closest to a play when a pass is completed or incomplete. So while Skrine's overall numbers don't look great, he only allowed a 56.9 percent completion percentage in 2014.

Jets coach Todd Bowles also told reporters on Tuesday that he likes to use a lot of nickel formations on defense, and given the myriad spread-type offenses proliferating throughout the league, $13 million guaranteed for a nickel cornerback seems to be a wise investment.
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http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/philadelphia-eagles/index.ssf/2015/03/pro_football_focus_5_worst_fre.html
 
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sg3

Guest
With all due respect, if PFF and all their mind numbing metrics had any actual value, they'd be getting paid big bucks by NFL teams, not churning out percentages for zilch on the interwebz.
 
NYJETSDAN16

NYJETSDAN16

Repeat Offender Pro Bowler
Jet Fanatics
Had he signed with thye pats....

BRILLIANT MOVE YET AGAIN BY BILL BELICHICK.

I just feel this adds extra motivation for Buster.
 
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Lakerfan80

Guest
Good point made by Bowles in regards to Skrines salary..nickel back is a premium need and Skrine has very good skills for the spot. Also Revis just makes the entire secondary better.
 
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sg3

Guest
Lakerfan80 said:
Good point made by Bowles in regards to Skrines salary..nickel back is a premium need and Skrine has very good skills for the spot. Also Revis just makes the entire secondary better.
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One of the biggest benefits is probably never having to see Kyle Wilson thumping his chest after committing another pass interference penalty by not looking for the ball
 
Football51

Football51

Franchise Tagged
Jet Fanatics
sg3 said:
One of the biggest benefits is probably never having to see Kyle Wilson thumping his chest after committing another pass interference penalty by not looking for the ball
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PFF actually rated Kyle Wilson as the #1 slot cb in the league which is all you really need to know about how their grading system works.
 
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flgreen

Guest
Elias said:
Thanks. Wow. I always heard how their stats suck but this now puts things in perspective.
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PFF is used as a tool by NFL teams. Their stats are very accurate, the interpretation of those stats is what gets them in trouble. They are not NFL qualified observers.

NFL teams use the stats, and use good NFL scouts to interpret them. In tandem with the eye test.

Just like PFF slammed the Cro signing because of the big bottom line of the contract. It is only a big contract if Cro plays well enough to earn another years pay. IMO great contract. If he plays lights out, he gets paid like a top CB. If he plays mediocre, he's one and done.

I wish all contracts were structured like that. You get paid if you play
 
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