Why Patrick Peterson isn't one of our top-ranked CBs

[DVontel]

I thought this was an interesting read:

Arizona Cardinals’ cornerback Patrick Peterson has the reputation of being one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL, but as you may have noticed, he does not appear in our list of the top 10 cornerbacks by PFF rating that frequently rotates on the front page of our website.

In fact, in our system, he ranks outside the top 50 entering the 2015 season, with a PFF rating of just 74.6.

How is it that he ranks so low, and why does it contradict so significantly the reputation he has for being one of the NFL’s best corners?

He certainly has a flair for the dramatic, amassing 15 INTs since entering the league in 2011. That’s an impressive number. And after an understandably slow start in his rookie season in 2011, grading at -9.5, he made a huge leap up to +10.5 in 2012, good for 16th in the league among CBs.

However, since then it’s been a steady drop down to +9.6 in 2013 and then -3.6 last season, which placed him 69th of 108 CBs. Quarterbacks have consistently looked his way as well — his 393 targets over his four-year career ranks fourth-most during that stretch, and he has allowed 219 receptions on those targets. His 55.7 percent catch rate against is respectable, but it’s nowhere near the elite level of Richard Sherman or Darrelle Revis, both of whom are sub-50 percent.

Of CBs who have played at least 1,000 snaps in last four seasons, his 1.21 yards per coverage snap allowed ranks 40th of 84. His 6.21 coverage snaps per target isn’t terrible, but is again in the middle of the pack. And aside from his rookie year when he only gave up three TDs, Peterson has allowed more than six every subsequent year.

Peterson is certainly a physically gifted player capable of making game-changing plays for his team with a timely interception — the issue is that he’s too often on the wrong end of big plays produced by the Cardinals’ opponents. We know he is capable of being one of the better corners in the league, because he showed us that with his 2012 performance — but for now, to call him one of the top CBs in the NFL isn’t accurate.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2015/09/09/151255/






How do you guys feel about Patrick Peterson?

 

[Phrazbit]

He struggled last year but in 2013 he was clearly the best player in one of the best secondaries in the NFL. And he was always covering the other team's best player, which accounts for his high rate of targets. These guy's who get credit for low completion rates are undoubtedly great players but teams avoid lining up their best guy's against them, while Peterson, outside of 2014, did the opposite. He followed around the other team's biggest passing threat.

I know his stats last year were not as good, but I'd like to see if any of those sites have stats that adjust for who the guy is covering on a given play and what his assignment typically does vs what happens when Peterson is on them.

 

[BigRedRage]

He struggled last year but in 2013 he was clearly the best player in one of the best secondaries in the NFL. And he was always covering the other team's best player, which accounts for his high rate of targets. These guy's who get credit for low completion rates are undoubtedly great players but teams avoid lining up their best guy's against them, while Peterson, outside of 2014, did the opposite. He followed around the other team's biggest passing threat.

I know his stats last year were not as good, but I'd like to see if any of those sites have stats that adjust for who the guy is covering on a given play and what his assignment typically does vs what happens when Peterson is on them.

last year patrick played left rather than covering the #1 only.

With that said, I am a fan, he can ball and I hope he hits it big this year but I honestly expect HB to be a bigger star than he.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I'll take PP as one of my CB's any day.

 

[slanidrac16]

I'm happy to have him but have grown tired of him being promoted as elite. Until he proves to me otherwise is an above average CB with an elite salary.

 

[GatorAZ]

last year patrick played left rather than covering the #1 only.

With that said, I am a fan, he can ball and I hope he hits it big this year but I honestly expect HB to be a bigger star than he.

I agree with that. HB has always had the better instincts. PP has the size and athleticism.

 

[Shane]

100% overrated around here and certainly isn't worth the contract he signed.... Good player but not elite in anyway....

 

[Shaggy]

I'm happy to have him but have grown tired of him being promoted as elite. Until he proves to me otherwise is an above average CB with an elite salary.

Yep, I agree. He is good but not elite. I just don't see why he still gets props in the media for being a top CB. I hope he changes my mind this year, but he was awesome his rookie season, but hasn't been that good since.

 

[b8rtm8nn]

100% overrated around here and certainly isn't worth the contract he signed.... Good player but not elite in anyway....

+1

I like the kid, but he doesn't justify the salary. He would admittedly get overpaid given his Pro-Bowl appearances, just wish he had the personality of Fitz, who people love, to cover the difference.

 

[BigRedRage]

+1

I like the kid, but he doesn't justify the salary. He would admittedly get overpaid given his Pro-Bowl appearances, just wish he had the personality of Fitz, who people love, to cover the difference.

IMO PP21 is a great team player and leader, I have no problems with him in that department.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I think he's under-appreciated around here. He's only 25 and just entering his prime.

 

[Shaggy]

I think he's under-appreciated around here. He's only 25 and just entering his prime.

I appreciate him and what he does for the team, but he is not a knock down elite CB right now. He was a few years ago, but he has tapered off for now. I hope that changes this year and he becomes a CB QBs are scared to throw to.

 

[kerouac9]

It's hilarious to me that a lot of the same people who are braying about Peterson being overpaid for "merely" being a Top 10 cornerback are the ones who say "F--- off, Fitz can get however much he wants; he's getting 1200 yards and 15 TDs this year, for sure!"

Peterson is an elite physical talent and football player, but (right now) an above-average cornerback. In 2014's down year, he still ranked 19th among all corners in success percentage.

PFF's game charting is poo; I've been pretty consistent in that POV for a while. What it doesn't note is that Peterson NEVER gets help over the top from a safety; he doesn't get to leverage pressure to the middle of the field where there's a linebacker in zone coverage. He's consistently left on an island with at two-way go, and he's consistently stepped up to the plate against the top competition.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

I appreciate him and what he does for the team, but he is not a knock down elite CB right now. He was a few years ago, but he has tapered off for now. I hope that changes this year and he becomes a CB QBs are scared to throw to.

I can't think of any CB's that are 25, or younger, that has had the success of, or are as good as PP. Revis is 30, Haden 26, Vontae Davis 26, the overrated Sherman is 27 and those are about the only CB's in the same class as Peterson.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

How do you guys feel about Patrick Peterson?

I hope they keep throwing in his direction.

 

[RugbyMuffin]

I like the kid, but he doesn't justify the salary.

So, many players in this league you can say that about.

Would it had been better the Cardinals let him go to another team? Do people think he would not have gotten this type of money somewhere else ?

Just wondering.

 

[ARZCardinals]

ges not Revis, but gets paid and acts like it. He's damn good

 

[Iceman]

Ever since he went away from returning punts, his play went down. We will see him returning punts this season and his play will improve. This is my prediction on PP

 

[Garthshort]

I'll tell you how good I think that PP is, when I see him playing with a team that has a good pass rush. As we all know they go hand in hand, if you are going to make a fair assessment.

 

[Chris_Sanders]

I will trust the opinion of the players in the NFL, who voted him the 19th best player in the league over some website

 

[Chris_Sanders]

Here you go

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[Russ Smith]

It's hilarious to me that a lot of the same people who are braying about Peterson being overpaid for "merely" being a Top 10 cornerback are the ones who say "F--- off, Fitz can get however much he wants; he's getting 1200 yards and 15 TDs this year, for sure!"

Peterson is an elite physical talent and football player, but (right now) an above-average cornerback. In 2014's down year, he still ranked 19th among all corners in success percentage.

PFF's game charting is poo; I've been pretty consistent in that POV for a while. What it doesn't note is that Peterson NEVER gets help over the top from a safety; he doesn't get to leverage pressure to the middle of the field where there's a linebacker in zone coverage. He's consistently left on an island with at two-way go, and he's consistently stepped up to the plate against the top competition.

This. He may not be the best CB but you can't just compare catch rates and things like that in a vacuum. Since he's come into the league we have been playing a defense that blitzes more than virtually any other team. the result is he's often totally on an island. He doesn't just not have safety help over the top, he has no help at all, if he doesn't get the ball or get the guy down, it's a TD.

Sherman is a great player, love to watch him play, but Seattle doesn't blitz the way we do, they don't put him in situations where he's all alone nearly as often as we do with peterson.

It'll be interesting to see if we play that way again this year. PP has slimmed down and is hopefully healthy again. Eventually he'll move to Safety but I don't think that time has come yet. I think he's going to have a bounce back season.

 

[Redheart]

I expect PP to have a monster year now that he has his medical problem identified and under control.

 

[kerouac9]

This. He may not be the best CB but you can't just compare catch rates and things like that in a vacuum. Since he's come into the league we have been playing a defense that blitzes more than virtually any other team. the result is he's often totally on an island. He doesn't just not have safety help over the top, he has no help at all, if he doesn't get the ball or get the guy down, it's a TD.

Sherman is a great player, love to watch him play, but Seattle doesn't blitz the way we do, they don't put him in situations where he's all alone nearly as often as we do with peterson.

It'll be interesting to see if we play that way again this year. PP has slimmed down and is hopefully healthy again. Eventually he'll move to Safety but I don't think that time has come yet. I think he's going to have a bounce back season.

I think he'll move to safety in the same way that Charles Woodson has moved to safety, not Antrel Rolle.

If Peterson is still playing 8 years from now, he'll be a safety.

Charles Woodson might be one of the most underrated players in NFL history.

 

[DVontel]

I will trust the opinion of the players in the NFL, who voted him the 19th best player in the league over some website

The same players that had Adam Vinateri & Joe Flacco over Calais?