Defensive Linemen
Calculating DL
Depth Analytics Scores
Each team’s starting Interior Defensive Linemen (DTs) account for 20% of a Team’s Defense Score when calculating the roster grade.
So let’s break down how we create the Analytics score.
Athleticism (Up to 25 Total Points)
A Defensive Lineman’s athleticism and flexibility is crucial for the position to help them win with speed and pursue ball carriers in the open field. This is calculated based off a player’s RAS score.
23-25 Elite Athleticism
20-22.99 Great Athleticism
15-19.99 Good Athleticism
10-14.99 Average Athleticism
5-9.99 Below Average Athleticism
4.99- Poor Athleticism
Measurables (Up to 10 Total Points)
Not every successful Defensive Lineman has to be made in a lab, but having more height and weight can help win their 1v1s against offensive linemen and reduce potential injury. This score is calculated based on the average of a player’s Height/Weight RAS composite.
9+ Elite Measurables
8 Great Measurables
7 Good Measurables
6 Average Measurables
5- Below Average Measurables
Pass Rush (Up to 10 Total Points)
This encompasses a Defensive Lineman’s overall pass rush win rate and other various analytical tools that demonstrate how consistently they impact the Quarterback.
9+ Elite Pass Rusher
8 Good Pass Rusher
7 Average Pass Rusher
6 Below Pass Rusher
5- Poor Pass Rusher
Power Moves (Up to 10 Total Points)
This encompasses a Defensive Lineman’s ability to generate pressure and provide run support by utilizing power moves such as Forklifts and Bull Rushes by utilizing data such as average separation from a Quarterback.
9+ Elite Power Moves
8 Good Power Moves
7 Average Power Moves
6 Below Average Power Moves
5- Poor Power Moves
Speed Moves (Up to 10 Total Points)
This encompasses a Defensive Lineman’s ability to generate pressure and provide run support by utilizing finesse/speed moves such as Rip/Swims, Cross Chops, Spin Moves. This is calculated by measuring win rate vs. single-teams and fastest sack data.
9+ Elite Speed Moves
8 Good Speed Moves
7 Average Speed Moves
6 Below Average Speed Moves
5- Poor Speed Moves
Pressure % (Up to 10 Total Points)
A Defensive Lineman’s Pressure Rate is essential to wreaking havoc and creating dirty pockets for Quarterbacks. This grade is calculated purely off of Pressure Rate, but has a lower ceiling expectation than Edge Rushers.
10 Elite Pressure Rate (13.5+%)
9-9.99 Great Pressure Rate (12.0% - 13.4%)
8-8.99 Good Pressure Rate (10.6% - 11.9%)
7-7.99 Average Pressure Rate (9.3% - 10.5%)
6-6.99 Below Average Pressure Rate (8.0% - 9.2%)
5.99- Poor Pressure Rate (7.99%-)
Run Defense (Up to 5 Total Points)
More so than Edge Defenders, Defensive Linemen are heavily relied on for providing support in the run game and setting the edge is still a vital necessity to becoming a complete player. Calculated based on run stuff percentage, key stops, and other advanced metrics.
4.5+ Elite Run Defender
4.0-4.49 Good Run Defender
3.5-3.99 Average Run Defender
3.4- Poor Run Defender
Tackling (Up to 5 Total Points)
Putting yourself in constant position to make plays if a great trait as a Defensive Linemen, but it doesn’t factor much if you can’t finish the play. Calculated based off a player’s missed tackle percentage.
5 Elite Tackler (0.0% Missed Tackle)
4-4.99 Good Tackler
3-3.99 Average Tackler
2.9- Poor Tackler
Turnover (Up to 5 Total Points)
Good things happen to players that attack the ball. Grade is based on how much chaos a Defensive Linemen causes in creating strip sack fumbles, fumble recoveries, or even the rare big man interception. Batted passes are also incrementally accounted for here.
4.5+ Elite Turnover Demon
3.5-4.49 Great Turnover Machine
2.5-3.49 Average Turnover Artist
2.49- Poor Turnover Player
Durability (Up to 5 Total Points)
Based off a player’s injury score and availability.
4.0+ Elite Durability
3.0-3.99 Great Durability
2.0-2.99 Average Durability
1.99- Poor Durability
Production (Up to 5 Total Points)
Forget everything else - what kind of numbers is the Defensive Linemen putting up? To keep this simple and straight-forward, this is based off sack numbers. In some rare cases, you will see this number surpass the 5.00 cap (10.0 Sacks) if they had a record-breaking season.
4.0+ Elite Production (8.0-10.0+ Sacks)
3.0-3.99 Great Production (6.0 - 7.5 Sacks)
2.0-2.99 Average Production (4.0 - 5.5 Sacks)
1.99- Poor Production (2.0- Sacks)
0.00- Rookie (No Production Yet Registered)