The Pittsburgh Steelers are used to being the target of Pro Football Focus' hate, especially since their owner is a Cincinnati Bengals fan and former player of the team. This time, they underrated both Steelers' guards, even though one of them didn't allow a single sack, according to PFF themselves. The other guard was a key piece to an elite offensive line that sent the Philadelphia Eagles to the Super Bowl, yet his stock suddenly drops because he moved across the state of Pennsylvania.
James Daniels runs through drills on the South Side. (Karl Roser/ Pittsburgh Steelers)
How Did PFF Disrespect The Steelers This Time?
James Daniels made lots of noise for the Steelers in his first season with the team. He was what many people consider to be an "Iron Man" as he played every snap in every game in 2022. What makes it even more impressive is that he didn't give up a single sack in the 2022 season. That is almost unheard of, and he was a big reason why Kenny Pickett and Mitch Trubisky both stayed upright for the most part during the season.
Daniels was also a big reason why the run game suddenly took off, with or without Najee Harris. Jaylen Warren had plenty of great runs himself, with plenty of help from Daniels and the linemen on either side of him. Even when both running backs were out, Benny Snell and Anthony McFarland were able to combine to run for over 100 yards against the Indianapolis Colts. However, PFF still has him as the 20th-best guard, but their explanation makes no sense.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
"Daniels set a career high with a 73.2 PFF pass-blocking grade in 2022 and tied for another career high with a 98.4 pass-blocking efficiency rating, allowing 20 pressures from 686 pass-blocking snaps."
You explain the logic behind this. It's even funnier when you look at who they had at 19 and how much negativity they put into his entry. Apparently, a guy that's terrible at run blocking, gave up six sacks and had his worst season is better than a guy that gave up no sacks, propelled the run game and had his best season.
"Scherff is coming off the lowest-graded season of his career, posting a sub-60.0 PFF run-blocking grade for the first time since he entered the league in 2015 and allowing a career-high six sacks."
Karl Roser/Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers' New Guard Isaac Seumalo
The next Steelers' entry is a little more reasonable, but it's still insane to keep him out of the Top 10. Isaac Seumalo and the rest of the Eagles' offensive line was one of the biggest reasons that Jalen Hurts developed extraordinarily well and the team made it to the Super Bowl.
Seumalo also started in every game of the 2022 season but did miss a few snaps to minor injuries. Despite all the ways he helped make the Eagles' offense elite, he doesn't get much credit. He even gets blamed for the first part of the season, despite showing elite form then too.
"Seumalo made the switch across Pennsylvania in free agency after a really strong second half of the season as a pass blocker for the Philadelphia Eagles. From Week 11 through the Super Bowl, he allowed three or more pressures in only one game, with five outings where he shut out opposing interior pass rushers."
Once again, looking at the players above him is hilarious. Yes, Alijah Vera-Tucker has plenty of potential for the New York Jets, but he's only played seven games, with three of them at guard. You could also go all the way to the top of the list, where Quenton Nelson is still at two, despite his production and skills falling off of a cliff. There are plenty of examples of players who are above Daniels and Seumalo for no reason, and it's just laughable at this point.
What do you think of Pro Football Focus doing what they always do and disrespecting the Steelers? Let us know in the comments below.
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