ChrisXVI

What Lofton are u watching? The one that's not good in coverage or the one that's not good in stopping the run? Just because someone is on our team doesn't mean that they're beyond reproach.

Jack Vegas

^

Yes, but you (ChrisXVI) are talking about him like he's some worthless bum. I've said this before but some of ya'll talk about Lofton like he is Orlando Ruff or Mark Simoneau or somebody. Lofton may not be a superstar but he is a good player. I would urge you to re-watch the first 4 or 5 games this season and still try to say bad things about him. Maybe he is dinged-up the last few weeks or something because we can see him not getting to the ball as much but that doesn't mean he isn't still a key piece of the defense.

ScottF

I guess I am watching the one who has 24 more tackles than any other player on the team, so reproach away.
Again, Ryan thinks enough of him to have him out there much more than any other LB, and that's good enough for me.

Jack Vegas

The thing about these grading services (I am assuming this one is PFF) is that they don't really know any particulars about a given play call or an individual's responsibility for that play.

Obviously if the DE beats his man clean and gets a sack, that's a plus for him, if he gets ragdolled that's a minus. If a corner in press coverage gets torched, it's all on him, etc. etc.

But honestly, you can't really judge linebackers, safeties or even linemen on run defense if you don't know what the play call was. If Lofton is supposed to blitz the A gap and the running back slips just past him, is that really his fault? Or if, say Herring blows his coverage and Lofton tries to make up ground to the ball but just can't make the play, is that his fault?

I agree with somebody above, if Ryan didn't think Lofton was playing at a fairly high level and contributing a whole lot to the defense, he wouldn't be on the field. Hawthorne and Humber have both been real good, yet Lofton is still out on the field most third downs. To me that says way more about his importance to the defense than any grading service.