Falcons 2011 First Half Pass Coverage Report:Grimes and DR Edition

The Falcons Pass defense currently ranks 19th in Yards/G after 8 games, however the pass defense rank improved from 28th after first 4 weeks. The Yards/Game and Points/Game took a big dip in the second quarter despite facing 3 passing teams, which rank in top 10. Lets jump in to the post to cover Brent Grimes and DR numbers for the first half of the season. The numbers doesn't include QB thrown away balls and two screens (Devin Hester's 52 Yard gain lined up against Brent Grimes and Jeremy Maclin's TD screen when lined up against DR.). The numbers are divided in to Week 1-4,Week 5-7 and Week 9 against the hapless Colts.

Brent Grimes:

Brent Grimes or shall we say Optimus Grimes, is clearly the MVP in Pass coverage for the fist half of the season.  Below are the first half numbers for Brent Grimes.

Key Observations:

1.     Grimes probably had the best start to the season among all the Falcon players, considering how much was made out in the local media about Grimey holding up.

2.     Grimes leads the whole team in PD with 9 passes defended in the first half. William Moore and Kelvin Hayden are distant second with 4 PD each.

3.     Grimes is the most Targeted CB for the first half with 42 TA, however DR was most Targeted CB in the first quarter.

4.     Brent Grimes had given up only 84 Yards from week 5-7,if the 57 Yard trick play TD to Calvin Johnson.

5.     Interceptions this year are down with only 1 interception, the numbers could have been better if Grimes Hadn't dropped two easy interceptions.

Bottom Line:

Grimes is a playmaker, the more you throw at him the more he jumps in the air and makes the opposing QB's pay.

Dunta Robinson:

Dunta Robinson had the worst First Quarter of the season among all the Defensive Backs. He turned around things to move from worst DB to best DB in the second quarter. Dunta Robinson was probably under more pressure than any other player on the team to start producing after first 4 weeks. If the slide had continued, who knows he could have become a FA next year.

Key Observations:

1.     DR last year played mostly man-to-man coverage last season, however he is playing more Zone coverage this year. In the first 4 games, Dunta was clearly not comfortable in the zone either because of communication issues or being out of position giving up large chunks of yards.

2.     DR gave up 232 yards in the first quarter, most yards given up by a Defensive Back, however he gave up just 45 yards against Packers, Panthers and Lions combined.

3.     DR was targeted team leading 22 times from week 1-4. However, from the weeks 5-7 and week 9 he was the least targeted CB.

4.     Dunta Robinsons 6.42 YPA in the Weeks 5-7 was the best among the Defensive Backs.

5.     Dunta Robinson allowed 77% completion in the first quarter of the season followed by 57% in Weeks 5-7 and 50 % in week 9.

Bottom Line: Dunta Robinson would never be the guy to grab lot interceptions. However,DR is more effective as a coverage guy who is not targeted much for blanketing the receivers.

Discuss what you think about our top 2 CB tandem and use the above stats to make your own Conclusion.