Steelers' Patrick Peterson Frustrated With The Incompetent Stat Reporting By PFF

The Pittsburgh Steelers showed up to their Week 2 matchup against the Cleveland Browns 0-1. After such a poor performance opening weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, the game felt like a must-win. The Steelers had not performed well nearly across the board in Week 1 and needed to display some signs of life. 

Pittsburgh managed to pull out a win against the Browns 26-22, but it was an ugly win. The defense scored more points than the offense did. The Browns beat the Steelers in almost every stat category except the one that mattered, the score. While the offense did not perform well, the defense had some incredible plays, including both an interception and a fumble that were returned for touchdowns. 

However, in the weird world of sports media, the Steelers defenders did not get the credit they deserved, especially from one particular site. Pro Football Focus (PFF) releases grades after each game that grade player performances. Unbelievably enough, T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith not only scored defensive touchdowns, they also had better stats than the Browns' Myles Garrett. PFF graded Watt 82.6 and graded Highsmith 91.1, shockingly they had Garrett at 91.7. 

It wasn't just Watt and Highsmith that were egregiously snubbed. Steelers cornerback Patrick Peterson is frustrated with the stats that PFF levied against him for his Week 2 performance. Peterson is in his first season with the Steelers. He is in his 13th season after spending the bulk of it with the Arizona Cardinals and the Minnesota Vikings. 

Steelers' Patrick Peterson Highly Critical Of The Way PFF Grades Players

The eight-time Pro Bowler also co-hosts a podcast with his cousin and former Steelers cornerback, Bryant McFadden, called All Things Covered. On a recent episode, the duo talked about what they saw during the Steelers-Browns game. McFadden asked Peterson about his PFF score and his feelings on it.

Peterson said that he would be the first person to say if he felt that he made a mistake during the game. McFadden noted that PFF said he was down for four targets, allowing two receptions which meant he gave up 46 yards. He added that he was credited with one pass breakup, but had two penalties. Immediately Peterson got frustrated, he said that he had no clue where the second catch came from.  

"The only catch I know that I gave up was the back shoulder fade to Amari [Cooper]. That was about 12 yards so where did the other 20-24 yards come from?"

McFadden said in watching the film, he couldn't figure out where it came from either. He said he was asking Peterson because he was just as confused. Peterson noted he really didn't want to get into this again this season, indicating he has had issues with PFF's grades in the past. 

"What I want them to do is put up the place where they say I gave up a pass. I remember guarding three passes in that game, which was the back shoulder fade, the slant route to the running back, and the out route to Cooper. If they're talking about that deep a** combat, we was in the zone, a cover three. You could see me, I'm clearly seven to 10 yards away from the receiver, that's not my man."

He thinks that the deep ball is the the one that they are accusing him of missing and McFadden agrees. What makes him upset is that they are putting the blame on him for something that wasn't his to begin with. 

If they are blaming him for blowing coverage on that long pass, he said not only was it not his man, they screwed up the yardage. McFadden said if the one pass was for 16 yards, then the other deep ball must have been for 29 yards based on PFF's numbers. Peterson pointed out that they clearly aren't watching because no one runs a 29-yard stop route, which was the play that was run. McFadden agreed, saying it is not even possible.  

"I watched the film a couple times, you can clearly see me pointing. Everybody's dropping in the zone and nobody's guarding. Where are they getting these numbers and how are they saying passes are being called on people? It's outrageous."

What they need to do, said Peterson, is to get a PFF representative to come on the show and explain how they track these stats. Peterson said he feels like they don't even watch the games.

As a long-time player, and as someone who has been at the top of the league for his position, Peterson said he knows defense. He has also proven himself to be a scholar of the game. He has been working hard in Pittsburgh to get up to speed and be a leader in the cornerback room. He added that he knows what he is supposed to do.  

"I want them to understand what they are grading, not what you're talking about. I have yet to see a correct stat that they put out about me. I'm not even being biased. I'm straightforward, if I got beat, it is what it is. But come on man. And it's week after week after week."

It is easy to understand why Peterson is upset. If you are going to report stats, at least report them responsibility. PFF Is like Wikipedia, we all know it's an imperfect system that can be changed at will by the people who work there, but that doesn't stop a million people from believing what they say. 

What do you think about PFF? Did you feel they blew it with Watt/Highsmith/Garrett after Week 2? What do you think about Peterson's complaints? Click to comment below. 

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