The LB 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 LB archetypes. Do you have a run stuffer, a pass rusher, a coverage player, or an all-rounder?
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 LBs who played FBS football from 2015 to the present with at least 100 snaps, and compares the LB against their draft year, unless otherwise specified. These stats were chosen because I believe they best exemplify what type of LB a prospect is.
- PFF Defense Grade – A proprietary PFF rating capturing a linebacker's overall contribution.
- Man Coverage Grade – A proprietary PFF rating evaluating a linebacker's effectiveness in man coverage.
- Zone Coverage Grade – A proprietary PFF rating evaluating a linebacker's effectiveness in zone coverage.
- QB Rating Against – The passer rating allowed by a linebacker when they are the primary coverage defender on a targeted pass. Lower is better.
- Tackle Grade – A proprietary PFF rating measuring tackling technique and effectiveness.
- Pressure Rate % (PRP) – The percentage of pass rush snaps that result in a quarterback pressure.
- Pass Rush Grade – A proprietary PFF rating evaluating a linebacker's effectiveness when rushing the passer on a blitz.
- Run Defense Grade – A proprietary PFF rating measuring effectiveness against the run.
- Stop Percentage – The percentage of run plays a linebacker was involved in that were stopped at or behind the line of scrimmage.
- Missed Tackle Rate – The percentage of tackle attempts that were missed, as graded by PFF. Lower is better.
Now some charts!
