Tag: Stephon Gilmore

Stephon Gilmore Among Pass-Disruption Rate Leaders

Patriots
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Yesterday I outlined why the Patriots man coverage may present a challenge for Patrick Mahomes in the AFC Championship Game. One of the more specific challenges Mahomes will face is trying to throw in the direction of Stephon Gilmore, who has been one of the most dominant cornerbacks in the game this season.

Sports Info Solutions tracks four different types of coverage stats: interceptions, dropped interceptions, passes defensed and passes deflected (here’s their glossary for full explanations of the differences).

If we add up all these stats and divide by a cornerback’s targets faced in coverage, we get a number we’ll call his “pass-disruption rate.” Essentially, it’s the rate at which he legally interferes with the attempted pass.

Among cornerbacks with at least 48 targets in coverage (three per team game), here are the leaders from the 2018 regular season:

Gilmore was one of just three players in the league to generate a pass-disruption rate greater than 25 percent.

One of the reasons Gilmore has thrived in New England appears to be his production in man coverage, especially when he’s allowed to get physical with receivers. NFL Network’s Michael Giardi recently shared this excellent stat, via Next Gen Stats, on Gilmore’s performance in press coverage:

According to Sports Info Solutions, Mahomes didn’t entirely avoid Gilmore in the teams’ first meeting, but he didn’t have much success targeting him either. Mahomes completed two of four passes for 18 yards when throwing in Gilmore’s direction.

How often Mahomes challenges him and how often Gilmore is able to disrupt the pass will be a fun storyline to watch unfold on Sunday.

Draft Grades: Buffalo Bills

Bills, Draft Grades - 2012
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The Buffalo Bills were already having a strong offseason, highlighted by the addition of Mario Williams. And their 2012 draft class completes the process, and potentially makes them darkhorse contenders in the AFC.

The Bills reached for Stephon Gilmore. There’s no denying his potential, but he’s will need time to develop – more time than you’d typically expect from a top-10 pick. That said, I believe cornerback was one of their most glaring needs, and there was a fairly significant dropoff in talent at the position. If they felt this was an area they needed to addressnz in order to compete in 2012, the reach was justified.

Cordy Glenn could be a steal in the 2nd round, but it depends where the Bills use him. He played left tackle this past season at Georgia, but is best suited to play right tackle or guard in the pros. If the Bills use him at left tackle, they’ll be missing an opportunity to maximize his skills.

T.J. Graham was a reach in the 3rd round. He’s more of a track star than a football player. He can stretch the field and potentially contribute as a return specialist, but his upside is limited.

Nigel Bradham is a developmental prospect but I like how he fits in Buffalo. He won’t be forced to play a significant role right away and can be brought along slowly.

I love the selection of Ron Brooks. He was stuck behind Morris Claiborne and Tyrann Mathieu this past year, but had the skills to start for nearly any other program in the country. His lack of experience makes him a bit of an unknown, but he played well in a nickel corner role at LSU and, at worst, should be able to fill that role in Buffalo.

Zebrie Sanders could be the Bills long-term answer at left tackle, but he isn’t ready for that role just yet. Ideally, they’ll keep him on the sidelines for a year, developing his strength and technique. But they’re desperate for help on the offensive line, which may force him into action.

Tank Carder lacks the measurables, but was extremely productive at TCU. He may never start, but should have a long career as a backup and special teams contributor.

Mark Asper may add some depth to the offensive line, but he’ll have to fight to make the final roster cuts. The Bills have no shortage of mediocre interior linemen.

The selection of John Potter doesn’t make much sense. Rian Lindell seems to be entrenched as the starting kicker and Potter is no better than any number of kickers who could have been picked up after the draft.

Overall, the Bills did a nice job of addressnzing needs without making many significant reaches. They also landed a few solid developmental prospects who could pay off a few years down the line. This may be Buddy Nix’s best draft class since coming to Buffalo.

Stephon Gilmore scouting report

Scouting Reports - 2012
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Stephon Gilmore CB South Carolina #5
Ht: 6’1″Wt: 193  
Strengths:
Impressive height and decent overall size. Adequate athleticism; especially for his size. has enough speed to stick with most receivers. Capable of delivering the big hit. Can be an asset in run support when he puts in the effort. Does a nice job tracking the ball in flight. Good hands; will come down with the interception when he’s in position. Coaches praise his work ethic and leadership.
Weaknesses:
Slow to react to run plays at times; seems to pick and chose when he wants to get involved. In consistent tackling; goes for the big hit too often and isn’t a reliable wrap-up tackler; prefers to lower his shoulder rather than square up the ball carrier. Struggles to shed blocks, even from receivers. Gets sloppy in coverage at times; relies too much on his athleticism and seems to trust his speed more than he should. Speed is very average. Struggles with a lot of the minor aspects of coverage, such as putting himself in position to get his hands on the ball.
Comments:
Gilmore is intriguing due to his size and athleticism, and the fact that there simply aren’t many prospects with his measurables. However, he has a lot of work to do before he’s ready to be an impact player at the next level. He clearly has the potential to be a starter, but he’s very inconsistent with his fundamentals at this stage in his career. What’s most concerning is his inconsistent effort against the run. Due to his size, this is one area when could make himself standout above other corners, but far too often he’s hesitant to really get physical. Due to his size and average speed some teams may consider him a free safety.
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