The EDGE Radar Chart

What is a radar chart?

A radar chart is a way to quickly and effectively present information, especially when showing how a player compares across multiple statistics and their percentiles in those statistics. It has become one of the default ways of showing player stats in the other football (soccer) for how easily it conveys data, and was popularized by Ted Knutson and the team at Statsbomb.

Why use them?

Radar charts give a quick and easy look at the kind of player you are looking for. The statistics represent different EDGE archetypes. Do you have a pure pass rusher, an edge setter, or an all-rounder? Does the EDGE play a high or low variance game?

However, there are a few things to remember when looking at these charts. All this represents is statistical output, and if you had players on other teams or in different situations, it would most likely affect all the numbers.

This is only a tool to help evaluate players and add extra context to a holistic evaluation.

The Stats and the Data Set

The data is all sourced from PFF and includes all EDGEs who played FBS football from 2015 to the present with at least 50 pass rush snaps, and compares the EDGE against their draft year, unless otherwise specified. These stats were chosen because I believe they best exemplify what type of EDGE a prospect is.

1. PFF Defense Grade – A proprietary PFF rating capturing an edge rusher's overall defensive contribution.
2. PFF Pass Rush Grade – A proprietary PFF rating evaluating effectiveness as a pass rusher.
3. Pass Rush Win Rate – The percentage of individual pass rush reps where the edge rusher beat their blocker within 2.5 seconds of the snap.
4. Total Pressures – The total number of quarterback pressures generated (sacks + hits + hurries).
5. Pressure Rate % (PRP) – The percentage of pass rush snaps that result in a quarterback pressure.
6. PFF Run Defense Grade – A proprietary PFF rating measuring an edge rusher's effectiveness against the run.
7. Stop Percentage – The percentage of run plays an edge rusher was involved in that were stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage.
8. Tackles for Loss – Total tackles made behind the line of scrimmage.
9. Missed Tackle Rate – The percentage of tackle attempts that were missed, as graded by PFF. Lower is better.

Now fun charts!