NFL Broken Tackle Stats -- No Surprise that James Harrison Amongst Most Reliable Tackling Linebackers in 2010

On Monday, we took a look at the NFL's best and worst tackling defensive backs -- at least as measured by the rate at which they allowed an opponent to break a tackle on them and pick up extra yardage. Unsurprisingly, no Steelers showed up on the top ten least reliable tacklers in 2010. Bryant McFadden meanwhile appeared in the top ten most trusty tacklers with his meager broken tackle percentage (3.8%). Some have argued that McFadden shouldn't get much praise and that his tackles total for the season were a product of teams just picking on him constantly. Not quite the case when we're dealing with reality.***(Read further thoughts on B-Mac at end of post). 

For now though, let's turn our attention to the linebackers. To the numbers first; commentary to follow after charts.

Thoughts:

• Not sure I understand this qualification by FO's:
  

Don't make too much out of the fact that our game charters did not record Clay Matthews with a single broken tackle. There's a good chance we missed one at some point. What's important is that he had very few broken tackles, possibly zero.

So, you're saying we shouldn't believe your research and data? Does that same principle apply to the other folks on the list? I'm not the biggest FO fan in the world, but I respect there work and draw value from their efforts, but seriously don't understand that statement. Super amateur for an outfit that established.

• I hate to say it, but Terrell Suggs is beastly. I'm so glad we get to cheer on guys like James Harrison (scary in a non tacky, Suggs-like way), but make no mistake about it -- that's a guy you want on your team.

• If you recall, Tennessee also had the defensive back with the most missed tackles last year -- Michael Griffin. I suppose if you have a dominant front three our four you can get away with that kind of shakiness at second level, but the Titans didn't get that kind of top tier play from their defensive line. Not terrible, but not great. Probably why they finished 21st against the run and 26th in total yards allowed.

• Impressive stuff by Matthews Jr., but I'd contend that Mayo's efforts were even more noteworthy. Patrolling the middle of the field from a 4-3 base defense, Mayo double the opportunities to stop a guy in his tracks. He faltered just once.

• The same might be said of former Penn State backer Paul Pusluszny. However, Posluzny was doing a lot more mop-up duty well past the line of scrimmage than most of his peers. That's not entirely on him of course. Once again the burden lies more squarely at the feet of the defensive line, and Buffalo's was unequivocally one of the league's worst a year ago.
  

• For as solid and praise worthy as James Harrison's season was, I bet if you showed Deebo that he missed three tackles, he'd be pissed off and go bench press smart cars.

• Detroit and Seattle each with two linebackers with a high propensity to miss tackles. Not going to cut it. For Seattle, that trend is particularly troublesome. For Detroit, at least the Lions feature an incredible, young offensive line that might be able to pick up the slack.

Thoughts?

*** Over 43 percent of B-Mac's total tackles on the season came in exactly 25 percent of the season's games (4). Of course, three of those games were against top flight QBs -- Matt Ryan, Tom Brady, and Drew Brees. There's an argument to be made that you should only judge guys based on how they do against the creme de la creme. But not in the NFL. That's unrealistic and foolish.

Bottom line is McFadden has proven himself to be a perfectly suitable cog in Dick LeBeau's machine over the course of a long, grinding 16-game season. Like everybody else that plays defense, McFadden at times is made to look bad by QBs and offenses that are executing well. Not much you can do about that at times. Finally, look at that first Falcons game where McFadden had 12 tackles in Pittsburgh's 15-9 Week 1 win over the Falcons. Gasp! 12 tackles! Matt Ryan must just be feasting on him all day. Again, not quite.

McFadden squared off against All Pro Roddy White for much of the afternoon, and though White had 13 catches on the day, he mustered just 111 yards, and more importantly 0 TDs. Matt Ryan meanwhile had 252 yards through the air, but it took 44 passes to get to the quarter century mark. That's not going to cut it in this league. Teams with quick hitting passing games rely on missed tackles, and B-Mac just doesn't allow big plays to materialize after the catch because of missed tackles.