Justin Tuck a bit better than his stats

[MightyGiants]

Tuck was officially credited with zero tackles and one quarterback hit in 40 snaps on Sunday as the New York Giants routed the 49ers, 26-3.

.......

Tuck played 40 of 61 defensive snaps without registering even an assist, though he did get one quarterback hit.

PFF vehemently disagrees with my assessment, giving Tuck a +2.8 (+3.2 pass rush) grade for the game and crediting him with seven "quarterback disruptions." PFF wrote:

He came into this game with only six QB disruptions (sacks, hits, hurries) on the season and more than doubled that total with his one hit and six hurries. He got around 49ers right tackle Anthony Davis on multiple occasions, including forcing Smith to step up in the pocket on his first interception with 14:02 to go in the second quarter. Tuck's exemplary work came on only 26 pass rush attempts and Sunday was clearly his best game of the season at +2.8 overall (+3.2 pass rush).

I honestly don't know how Pro Football Focus defines, or judges, a hurry. What I can tell you is this: After re-watching the broadcast I will give Tuck credit for a better performance than what it initially looked look. Including the Amukamara interception, I would give him credit for five "disruptions,' including four hurries and a hit. All of those, incidentally, were in the first half. The Giants weren't on the field much defensively in the second half, and Adrian Tracy finished up the game for Tuck.

In the end, the conclusion has to be that Tuck was not the invisible man the stat sheet would have you believe. Neither, though, was he the difference-maker Pro Football Focus's grade would indicate.

http://www.bigblueview.com/2012/10/16/3512180/justin-tuck-giants-49ers-grade-pro-football-focus-review

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[Mr. Matt]

Most pass rushers have these kind of slumps. For instance, I remember Strahan having a long stretch from the early '99 season to late in the '00 season where he was not getting sacks.

Last time I checked, Tuck has about 20 tackles on the year. That's not bad for a defensive end. Keep in mind that he is solid against the run and often plays DT in pass rush situations, where his job is as much to draw double teams to free up a teammate as generate his own pressure. I think sacks will come eventually. My perception is that the whole thing is being overblown.

Tuck has taken a beating over the past five years and I'm certain that his body is not what it was in '08. If we are expecting him to have those all-pro type seasons every year, he may never live up to expectations. If we start looking at him as a formerly great player who is still generally solid, very versitile and savvy, an important cog when the defense is playing well, that may be more realistic. I'm sure he still has some huge games left in him, as he showed last January.

[tomeee]

Just goes to show stats don't tell the whole story.