Through Week 4 of the NFL season we take a look at another PFF Elite stat, this time we focus on pass protection and our pass-blocking efficiency leaders for each offensive line position.
PFF’s pass blocking efficiency measures pressure allowed on a per snap basis with a weighting towards sacks. Overall, it’s a deeper dive into a player’s pass protection efficiency that goes beyond just the traditional sacks allowed.
Tackles:
1. Andrew Whitworth, Los Angeles Rams
PFF Grade: 83.6
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 99.2
Whitworth was the position leader in pass blocking efficiency a year ago and continues his claim as the league’s top pass protector despite changing teams this offseason. Whitworth has been near perfect yet again this season with his lone pressure allowed being a sack in Week 2 against the Redskins.
2. Demar Dotson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 86.0
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.7
Dotson is off to a hot start this season performing for an offensive line that looks improved in pass protection as a whole compared to a year ago. Dotson has kept his quarterback clean allowing just two total pressures on 115 pass block snaps: neither were hits or sacks.
3. Donald Penn, Oakland Raiders
PFF Grade: 82.2
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.2
Penn maintains his spot as the star of the league’s best pass protecting line. For the second consecutive season, the Raiders' line leads the NFL in pass blocking efficiency and Penn is a huge reason why allowing just three total pressures and one sack on 137 pass block snaps.
4. Jason Peters, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 86.4
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.0
Peters has been one of the best in the business for quite some time now and this season is no different as he has allowed just four pressures on 147 pass block snaps with none of them being hits or sacks.
5. Lane Johnson, Philadelphia Eagles
PFF Grade: 85.4
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 97.7
Johnson continues his strong play anchoring the right side of the league’s second-best pass protecting unit. He has allowed five total pressures while playing 24 more pass blocking snaps than teammate Jason Peters.
Guards
1. Ron Leary, Denver Broncos
PFF Grade: 82.9
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 100.0
Denver has been one of the poor pass blocking units in the league thus far but Leary is not the reason why. In fact, Leary has been near perfect in pass protection possessing the highest pass block grade among Guards while not surrendering a single pressure on 132 pass block snaps.
2. Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF Grade: 70.7
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 99.3
Duvernay-Tardif was solid a year ago in pass protection ranking in the top-10 among guards in pass blocking efficiency and has continued his success this season. So far, he has allowed just one pressure on 102 pass blocking snaps.
T3. Nick Easton, Minnesota Vikings
PFF Grade: 39.6
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.9
While Easton’s play has been poor overall, the lone bright spot with him this season has been his efficiency as a pass blocker. On 139 pass block snaps he has allowed just two total pressures.
T3. Patrick Omameh, Jacksonville Jaguars
PFF Grade: 72.8
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.9
The Jacksonville offensive line has allowed the second fewest sacks so far this season and Omameh is a big reason why. Pass blocking has been his specialty as he is currently graded in the top-10 among guards with a pass block grade of 83.4 while allowing just two hurries, not hits or sacks.
5. Josh Kline, Tennessee Titans
PFF Grade: 83.3
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.8
Tennessee has boasted one of the better offensive lines in the league for well over a year and while their tackles get a lot of the credit, Kline has been very good on the interior. He has allowed just two hurries on 130 pass block snaps and currently grades in the top-5 among guards as a pass blocker.
Centers
1. Rodney Hudson, Oakland Raiders
PFF Grade: 85.8
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 100.0
While centers often yield fewer pressures than their offensive line counterparts, pitching a perfect four games to start the season is undoubtedly amazing and that is exactly what Hudson has done allowing zero pressures on 137 pass block snaps.
2. Alex Mack, Atlanta Falcons
PFF Grade: 93.9
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 99.5
No surprise to see the league’s top graded center near the top of this list. On 146 pass block snaps Mack has allowed just a single hurry.
3. Justin Britt, Seattle Seahawks
PFF Grade: 76.9
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.9
Despite manning the middle on one of the league’s worst pass blocking units, Britt has been very efficient in pass protection allowing one hit and one sack on 146 pass block snaps.
4. Ali Marpet, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
PFF Grade: 67.0
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.7
Marpet’s overall play has dipped since moving from guard to center but he has remained efficient as a pass blocker. He has kept his quarterback relatively clean not allowing any sacks or hits while allowing just two hurries in the Buccaneers first three games.
5. Weston Richburg, New York Giants
PFF Grade: 71.3
PFF Pass Block Efficiency: 98.6
Richburg has been a strong spot on the Giants offensive line in pass protection. On 162 pass block snaps Richburg has yet to allow a sack and has given up just three total pressures.
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