Does anyone want to take a guess as to who Pro Football Focus (PFF) has ranked as their third best 3-4 outside linebacker through three preseason games?
Anyone?
Here’s a hint: The last time he had more than five sacks, he was in his rookie season, and the Ravens went all the way to the AFC Championship.
Yup, you guessed it , it’s Pernell McPhee (and he had six sacks that season if you’re keeping score at home).
PFF gave McPhee a rating of +5.1. Coincidently, Elvis Dumervil is also rated in the top five with a +4.0 rating. It’s fair to say that between training camp and the preseason games, McPhee has been one of the top three players on defense along with Brandon Williams and rookie C.J. Mosley.
The fourth-year player’s versatility has been on full display throughout the preseason as an outside rusher and a down linemen at the defensive tackle position. In the Ravens’ last preseason game against the Redskins, McPhee was on the field in every third down passing situation.
With the first team, he was installed as an interior pass rusher in the sub-package with Dumervil and Terrell Suggs. And with the second team, he moved outside and alternated between a two-point and three-point stance.
McPhee has been a wrecking ball on the snaps he’s played. On two different occasions against the Redskins, it was McPhee that caved in the pocket from the inside to free up Dumervil around the corner. His quick first step forces interior linemen to engage him quickly, and he’s also been able to occupy two linemen in these situations to open up one-on-one matchups across the line.
On the inside is where McPhee is at his best. His interior rush was the big differentiator (that’s a word, right?) for the defense during 2011 in Chuck Pagano’s third down defensive scheme. When McPhee’s not battling knee injuries, he has a great get-off at the snap. And he continues to display heavy hands to rip through blocking attempts.
Now McPhee has added the outside rushing skills to his bag of tricks. Looking at the hulking 280-pound linebacker rock back-and-forth before the snap is a deceptive display. He doesn’t look fast enough to bend the edge with speed. But in training camp especially, he was consistently disruptive getting past the outside shoulder of the left tackles he faced.
When he had enough success with his speed rush, he’d throw a changeup using power rush moves to work back inside. There wasn’t a single day in practice in which McPhee didn’t get into the backfield on a sack or a hurry. He left his opponents dazed and confused.
The most exciting aspect of McPhee’s expanding role is that he can play on the field with Dumervil and Suggs.
This is a very important distinction to keep in mind.
When the trio are on the field together, the team is able to line up in their sub-package with their three best pass rushers. All three players can stand up or put their hands in the dirt, giving defensive coordinator Dean Pees plenty of mix-and-match options.
Last season, when teams were able to take away Dumervil and Suggs, there wasn’t a consistent third pass rushing threat that could pressure the quarterback from the inside or the outside.
A healthy McPhee can bring the heat from both sides of the line, giving the team the edge they need from the guys down in front.
