This week, the Detroit Lions made it clear: they don’t buy the hype of Pro Football Focus (PFF) player-grades as gospel. Instead, players and coaches are dismissing those evaluations as little more than entertainment.
🔊 What Was Said
During a press session, special teams coordinator Dave Fipp pulled no punches. He shared a story about a “grader” from PFF who had never played or coached football evaluating his players. “He’s grading our players on who played good and who played bad,” Fipp said.
Fipp also recounted how a player listed by PFF as the best-rated blocker on kickoff returns was something he described internally as “the worst blocker on our team” — yet PFF ranked him high thanks to match-up quirks.
While that comment came from the coach, other voices around the organization back a broader sentiment: that, for all its data and headlines, PFF’s grading system doesn’t always reflect what happens on the field — especially in the Detroit locker room.
⚙️ Why the Lions Are Pushing Back
1. Grading Without Context: Fipp’s point: much of what PFF grades ignores player assignments, coaching instructions, game-plan specifics or situational nuance.
2. Mismatch Between Reality & Grade: When players feel their real-world performance doesn’t match a grade, trust erodes. Fipp’s example highlights how a high grade can conflict with the team’s internal evaluation.
3. Media Amplification: PFF grades are frequently used as talking points in broadcasts and articles, which can amplify mistakes or set unrealistic expectations for players and fans alike.
4. Team Identity Over Metrics: The Lions emphasise film-work, scheme understanding, in-game adjustments and player effort as more meaningful than headline grades.
🎯 The Impact on the Team & Fans
Player morale: When someone gets a low grade publicly, even if coaches believe they did their job, it can create frustration. The Lions’ pushback may be a way to reclaim internal confidence.
Fan interpretation: PFF grades often influence fan discussions and social media — this transparency from the team may change how fans view these numbers.
Media narrative: With the Lions openly critiquing PFF, pundits may have to tread more carefully when using grades to evaluate Detroit’s players.
🔮 What to Watch
Will specific players speak up next about their PFF grades?
Will PFF or the media respond to this pushback with updated evaluations or deeper context?
Might the Lions start publishing more of their own internal metrics or film grades to counter external ones?
In short: the Lions are saying, “Don’t let the grades fool you.” They’ll still strive for excellence, but they’ll do it their way — and won’t let a number on a website define their value.
Coach Fipp On PFF: ‘The Grade Doesn’t Match What We See’ for Lions
