This series dissects each upcoming game from a statistic-driven viewpoint, focusing in on one or more positional battles of interest. Not predicting what will happen, just trying to narrow down what could happen, assuming past performance tells us something about future performance. If any of these statistics don't sound familiar, give our Statistics 101 Series a read.
The "Dunta is valuable because he never gets targeted" argument has been repeated ad nauseum by many a Falcoholic this year. My sense was that someone just made it up to justify why we're paying Dunta like a Pro Bowler that it wasn't true, or that the disparity was somewhat overblown.
Join me after the jump if you can handle the truth (insert Jack Nicholson voice)!
Standard Contradictory Disclaimer: These are the target #s for Dunta (defensive right) and Grimsey (defensive left). Did not include weeks 6 and 7 because Dunta was concussed.
They only cover #1 (defensive right) and #2 (defensive left) WR targets. Unfortunately yours truly doesn't have enough time to go back through each game film and chart complete target #s. Sites like Stats Inc. and Pro Football Football have those numbers, but it's paid content, and I'm a poor college student.
Did my best for y'all. But obviously there's more to the equation, so to speak. Undoubtedly Dunta and/or Grimsey received (or should have received) a little safety and/or LB (and/or DE in BVG's defense) help here and there. If I'm wrong about who the #1 or #2 WRs were, please let me know (and I'll make the necessary edits); if you're gonna be statistical, you gotta be accurate
Nonetheless, I think these #s may surprise some of you. So read on if you dare ...
Carolina game (week 17)
Clowney: 4 targets - 2 receptions - 56 yards
Gettis: 8 targets - 4 receptions - 33 yards
NO (week 16)
Colston: 5 targets - 2 receptions - 21 yards
Henderson: 4 targets - 3 receptions - 35 yards
Seattle (week 15)
Williams: 13 targets - 8 receptions - 66 yards
Obomanu: 8 targets - 1 reception - 7 yards
Carolina (week 14)
Smith: 3 targets - 2 receptions - 17 yards
Gettis: 4 targets - 2 receptions - 22 yards
TB (week 13)
Williams: 15 targets - 6 receptions - 68 yards
Stroughter: 5 targets - 5 receptions - 39 yards
GB (week 12)
Jennings: 8 targets - 5 receptions - 119 yards
Driver: 3 targets - 2 receptions - 26 yards
St. Louis (week 11)
Gibson: 10 targets - 5 receptions - 42 yards
Amendola: 8 targets - 8 receptions - 63 yards
Baltimore (week 10)
Mason: 6 targets - 4 receptions - 48 yards
Boldin: 7 targets - 5 receptions - 50 yards
TB (week 9)
Williams: 10 targets - 4 receptions - 89 yards
Parker: 2 targets - 0 receptions - 0 yards
Cleveland (week 5)
Massaquoi: 6 targets - 5 receptions - 55 yards
Robiskie: 1 target - 1 reception - 5 yards
SF (week 4)
Crabtree: 6 targets - 5 receptions - 58 yards
Morgan: 7 targets - 2 receptions - 20 yards
NO (week 3)
Colston: 5 targets - 4 receptions - 25 yards
Henderson: 5 targets - 2 receptions - 23 yards
Arizona (week 2)
Breaston: 5 targets - 3 receptions - 10 yards
Fitzgerald: 12 targets - 8 receptions - 83 yards
Pittsburgh (week 1)
Ward: 7 targets - 6 receptions - 108 yards
Wallace: 5 targets - 2 receptions - 62 yards
Total Against #1 Receiver (Dunta's side of the field): 102 targets - 61 receptions (59 percent completion percentage) - 782 yards (7.7 yards/target or 12.8 yards/reception)
Total Against #2 Receiver (Grimsey's side of the field): 79 targets - 45 receptions (56 percent completion percentage) - 468 yards (5.9 yards/target or 10.4 yards/reception)