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21 Preseason tidbits from Pro Football Focus

Here are a few things I found interesting while searching PFF pre-season ratings. Since the sample size is small, and it's preseason, they need to be taken with a few grains of salt. But, they are interesting nonetheless.

1. Davon Coleman is tied for the second best DT rush rating, at +4.3. This is likely helped by him playing the 4th number of snaps -- 119 -- of all DTs this pre-season. But still, it's a good omen and another potential UDFA star for Dallas. The downside is his run rating is negative.

2. Davon Coleman has the same overall rating as Aaron Donald, +2.3. Donald has played 101 snaps.

3. Ken Bishop has played the most snaps for a DT this preseason - 135. And accumulated a -3.2 overall rating, mostly because he doesn't generate much rush. Still, as a rookie 7th rounder, you have to like his potential upside.

4. If you are looking for waiver-wire D linemen, look to the Rams. Ethan Westbrooks, a free agent we might have signed, is off the charts with a +11.3 in 113 snaps, more than 4 points higher than the second guy. Michael Sam has posted a respectable +1.1 with 3 sacks. Both are listed as 3rd string or below on their depth chart.

5. Tyler Patmon is the 6th ranked CB in pre-season, with a +4.5. And it wasn't all the Miami game. He was also +1.2 in the Baltimore game. His run support is -0.7, because he's only 180 lbs. There's no way he's being cut.

6. Terrence Mitchell is ranked 182 out of 192 in preseason CBs, with a -4.3. He's also played the most snaps, at 172. He's not ready for prime time, and should be farmed out to the practice squad to work out his kinks.

7. Ken Boatright is the only Cowboys DE with a positive PFF score in preseason, at +0.8. Martez Wilson was -3.2, George Selvie is -1.4, Caesar Rayford and Tyrone Crawford are -0.4, Jeremy Mincey is -0.2. Not a lot of snaps for any of these guys.

8. Jermey Parnell is the highest ranked tackle on Dallas, 6th overall at +3.7, and every game has been rated positive. For those who want to cut Parnell, does this give you any pause? John Wetzel, the darling of many, scored worst at -3.3. Tyron Smith is -1.7 and Doug Free is -2.2.

9. In the battle for starting guard, Ron Leary is WAY ahead of Mackenzie Bernardeau. Leary has been given a +0.6 rating, while Bernardeau is ranked 131 of 137 with a -7.7, with his biggest failing at run blocking. Nwaneri ranks best at +1.6, suggesting he might be a good choice for roster depth. Zach Martin is -0.1.

10. Travis Frederick is a big ZERO in his PFF rating. His slightly positive pass blocking cancels his slightly negative run blocking.

11. Gavin Escobar is still a terrible run blocker, according to PFF, with a -4.0 rating. This ties him for 6th worst run blocker among TEs. He came in 8th in pass catching, however, with +1.5, suggesting Linehan is best to utilize him getting downfield.

12. Ryan Williams ranks 3rd in run scoring, at +2.4. His pass blocking, however, was negative, pushing him down to 17th overall. Joseph Randle was better at blocking, but still slightly negative. I think both will make the roster.

13. Jimmy Garoppolo is 15th among QBs, at +3.0. Wish Dallas would have drafted him in the second round. Mark my words -- Garoppolo will end up being the best QB taken in this draft, in a race with Blake Bortles who has done really well for Jacksonville so far.

14. Brandon Weeden and Dustin Vaughan both get negative scores from PFF. Weeden is -2.3, putting him 58th (with Matthew Stafford). Vaughan is -4.3, putting him 74th. However, both are well above RGIII, who ranks 81st, and Eli Manning, who ranks LAST (90).

15. Bruce Carter continues to put up bad PFF scores. Overall, he comes in at -5.9, second worst among 4-3 OLBs. Anthony Hitchens is nearly as bad at -4.6 (5th worst). Kyle Wilber is 25th, at +1.0. Cam Lawrence is also positive at +0.7.

16. At Mike, no one is bad, or good. PFF puts Durant here, with a -0.8 rating in 44 snaps. McClain is -1.0 in 57 snaps. The departed Holloman earned a zero in 45 snaps.

17. Dan Bailey is rated 3rd among kickers, second in FG/EP. I don't think he was trying to boom kickoffs, so the team could learn coverage and evaluate players.

18. Chris Jones is ranked 21st among punters. But his score is positive.

19. Dwayne Harris is ranked 2nd among kick returners.

20. On offense, Dallas is given a -28.2, 17th in the league. The team on top is the Philadelphia Eagles at +15.5. Only 3 teams have positive numbers, Philly, NE, Denver.

21. Dallas's defense is ranked second worst, at -34.7. Run defense and pass coverage are the biggest negatives. Pass rush is around zero.

What do you think?

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