Scores from sports analytics firm Pro Football Focus have become a popular way to evaluate the performance of NFL and college football players for the past decade.
According to the company's website, the scoring system evaluates every player on each play of a particular football game. Players are then rated on a scale of -2 to +2. Analysts then undergo training to learn how to evaluate plays. Therefore, PFF grades include a subjective element.
Assigned grades also sometimes come under scrutiny, with some questioning how seriously teams and fans should take the results. Retired NFL pass rusher JJ Watt has recently been vocal about his disdain for the scoring system.
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JJ Watt, No. 99, of the Arizona Cardinals looks on during player introductions before the start of the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Shearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
NBC commentator Cris Collinsworth is a co-founder of PFF and often cites the company's performance during broadcasts of “Sunday Night Football.” PFF numbers are increasingly being seen as the number one source of information for evaluating players.
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On Tuesday, Watt fired back at PFF's grade for Texans rookie star quarterback CJ Stroud following his performance in Houston's win over the Cleveland Browns in the wild-card round.
Stroud finished the game with 284 passing yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions, becoming the youngest quarterback in modern NFL history to win a postseason game. Despite Stroud's strong performance, his grade of 77.8 was significantly lower than other quarterbacks playing in the wild card round.
Former Houston Texans player JJ Watt speaks during his induction into the Texans' Ring of Honor during a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at NRG Stadium on October 1, 2023 in Houston, Texas. . (Logan Riley/Getty Images)
This number prompted Watt to turn his attention to a comprehensive evaluation system.
“This is what happens when you try to algorithmically score soccer players…” Watt wrote on Company X, formerly known as Twitter.
“CJ Stroud's performance was 'scored' at 77.8.”
“And people treat this as gospel.”
NFL icon watches the Sky Bet Championship trophy from the stands after the Sky Bet Championship between Burnley and Cardiff City at Turf Moor in Burnley, England on May 8, 2023 And Burnley's minority owner JJ Watt. (Alex Livesey – Dane House/Getty Images)
Watt then appeared on his annual “Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday and detailed his views on PFF. The legendary Texans defensive lineman said the company's scoring system is “terrible.”
“The system is terrible,” Watt said.
“Do they watch a lot of movies? Of course, it's great. Do they know everyone's mission? Do they know exactly what should happen? How do they wait? And do you know how to do different things? No, it's just a terrible system and the fact that they have the ability to influence the public's thoughts about the players. The fact that they're literally influencing award voting and even how player contracts are handled… it's really scary and crazy that they've got that level of power. ”
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Mr Watt also took issue with what he described as PFF's “noble and powerful” temperament.
“They come from a high and great place. And they talk like they know everything there is to know about football…As someone who's done it…I've literally sat in meetings with the coaches, and the grades… “From the coach's grade and from the PFF grade. I made it. And it's not even close,” Watt said.
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