Is PFF the gold standard?

[*ochocincos*]

(03-05-2022, 03:04 AM)phil413 Wrote: I think I asked this in passing a few years ago, but I notice that we have moved beyond debating players to now banking on PFF's FA predictions regarding estimated contracts.

1. Are we putting too much stock into them, specifically at positions like OL where there is more than just sacks allowed and pressures.  

2. I'm shocked that they don't have serious competition.  I feel like a former GM (and draft guru) Mike Mayock could start a site as a figurehead with a bunch of retired scouts that want to make money scouting tape and reporting what they find.  I don't know enough about PFF's crew, are they closer to the kids that eyeball the Madden ratings or are they actually credible?  If I had a site that showed me PFF ratings with multiple reputable guys telling me why Quinton Spain is a "65" and what that means, or what their average is for a player....I may actually pay for that info.  This could make a lot of money for someone.

PFF does far more than just grade based off sacks and pressures.
If they only graded off sacks and pressures, you'd see way higher pass blocking grades.

But to answer your overall question, no PFF is not the gold standard.
You should always cross-check good/bad ratings to what you see on field and also what you see some other sites/analysts saying.

Here is their page about grading. https://www.pff.com/grades#:~:text=WHO%20IS%20DOING%20THE%20GRADING,finalizing%20each%20grade%20after%20review.

Quote:WHO IS DOING THE GRADING?

PFF employs over 600 full or part-time analysts, but less than 10% of analysts are trained to the level that they can grade plays. Only the top two to three percent of analysts are on the team of “senior analysts” in charge of finalizing each grade after review. Our graders have been training for months, and sometimes years, in order to learn, understand and show mastery of our process that includes our 300-page training manual and video playbook. We have analysts from all walks of life, including former players, coaches and scouts. We don’t care if you played.
Each grade is reviewed at least once, and usually multiple times, using every camera angle available, including All-22 coaches’ tape.