Lions-Chargers PFF Grades: Offensive line struggles, poor tackling lead to defeat

If you're not aware by now, Pro Football Focus is a website that focuses on grading NFL players for their individual performances based on an in-depth review of every snap for every game. If you're interested, here is a look at their grading system.

Let's take a closer look at what they had to say about the Detroit Lions' brutal loss to the San Diego Chargers, shall we?

Offense

Best Grades

Manny Ramirez: +1.6
Theo Riddick: +1.3

Worst Grades

Laken Tomlinson: -3.9
Travis Swanson: -2.2
Cornelius Lucas: -1.7

Analysis

Ameer Abdullah was given a -0.4 rush grade. I will present that without comment.

Tomlinson's poor overall grade was mostly due to his performance as a run blocker. He was given a -3.3 run blocking grade for his (lack of) efforts. Manny Ramirez's +1.6 overall grade was the only positive grade on the offensive line and each starter received a negative pass blocking grade.

Overall, the offensive line and Matthew Stafford need to do a better job of recognizing blitzes and picking up assignments, because plays like these just cannot happen in the NFL.

Boy, the #Lions really wanted to block #90. pic.twitter.com/4q6EDO8XI9

— Pride Of Detroit (@PrideOfDetroit) September 14, 2015

That's one way to completely shut a single player down.

Defense

Best Grades

Josh Bynes: +2.2
Jason Jones: +1.8
Tyrunn Walker: +1.8
Phillip Hunt: +1.7
Gabe Wright: +1.3
Glover Quin: +1.2

Worst Grades

James Ihedigbo: -3.9
Stephen Tulloch: -2.2
Devin Taylor: -1.7
Tahir Whitehead: -1.2

Analysis

Rashean Mathis was given just a -0.4 pass coverage grade, despite allowing 9 catches on 11 targets. This is where I start to question why PFF even releases their grades before the NFL releases all-22 film because you're essentially missing half of the play when you grade wide receivers and cornerbacks.

One thing is for certain. Mathis, Ihedigbo and Tulloch all seem to have lost a step in coverage and all played poorly against the Chargers. The entire defense combined for 11 missed tackles. Tulloch and Ihedigbo had three each.

Walker continues to look like a solid pass rusher and had a total of seven QB hurries on Sunday. He was the only D-lineman to generate much of a pass rush. The rest of the defense looked pretty solid for the most part in terms of stopping the run. Jason Jones (+1.6), Ziggy Ansah (+1.6), Gabe Wright (+1.3) and Josh Bynes (+1.5) all had impressive grades in that department.

The most telling statistic from this game is that Quin and Ihedigbo were both on the field for all 79 snaps on defense. The offense only saw 47 snaps.

Special Teams

Best Grades

Sam Martin: +1.6

Worst Grades

None

Analysis

I thought Sam Martin had a rough day punting the ball. PFF gave him a positive grade. Three of his five kickoffs were touchbacks, so that's good, I guess.