I think is pretty well accepted by us armchair Coaches that our OLine's and DLine's struggled pretty badly this season.
Which is not a surprise given the decimating abandon-ship actions by most of our experienced linemen during the last off season.
So while I'm not aware of the exact algorithm used to calculate the performance grades, I suspect that the struggling lines could have ended up weighing down, bogging down, the performance numbers on the whole rest of the team.
When we were on Offense, if our OLine didn't reliably open up running lanes, or worse let the D through to party in the backfield, then how good a grade could our RB's (or a running TE or WR) get? While we were in pass protect, if our QB only got 2 to 3 sec max of protect and decision time, before a sack or chased outta pocket, then how great a grade could he or the TE's and Receivers be expected to get?
While on Defense, if our DLine got pushed around and big running lane holes opened up, then of course these linemen and LB's grades not gonna look good.
If we were pass rushing but didn't get quick penetration, and their QB got 4, 5, or more seconds to calmly go through his progressions, then this made it so much harder for our DB's to cover well than if our rush would have forced their QB into quick and panicky throws.
I'm not making excuses for anyone.
Just conjecturing (rightly or wrongly) that if our OLine wasn't strong, it might have bogged down the grades of our entire offense.
And likewise if our DLine wasn't strong, there might have been be a similar bog down of grades to our entire defense including to our DB's.
Which is not a surprise given the decimating abandon-ship actions by most of our experienced linemen during the last off season.
So while I'm not aware of the exact algorithm used to calculate the performance grades, I suspect that the struggling lines could have ended up weighing down, bogging down, the performance numbers on the whole rest of the team.
When we were on Offense, if our OLine didn't reliably open up running lanes, or worse let the D through to party in the backfield, then how good a grade could our RB's (or a running TE or WR) get? While we were in pass protect, if our QB only got 2 to 3 sec max of protect and decision time, before a sack or chased outta pocket, then how great a grade could he or the TE's and Receivers be expected to get?
While on Defense, if our DLine got pushed around and big running lane holes opened up, then of course these linemen and LB's grades not gonna look good.
If we were pass rushing but didn't get quick penetration, and their QB got 4, 5, or more seconds to calmly go through his progressions, then this made it so much harder for our DB's to cover well than if our rush would have forced their QB into quick and panicky throws.
I'm not making excuses for anyone.
Just conjecturing (rightly or wrongly) that if our OLine wasn't strong, it might have bogged down the grades of our entire offense.
And likewise if our DLine wasn't strong, there might have been be a similar bog down of grades to our entire defense including to our DB's.