CODY STOOTS/PRO FOOTBALL FOCUS
Former Texan Swearinger stands out on average Washington team
Pro Football Focus grades each individual player's performance and assigns them a grade. All 32 teams use Pro Football Focus.
Usually each week we will take a look at some of the good and bad from the Texans and a look at the upcoming opponent as well. With the bye week last week we will we look at Washington players. They also do great fantasy analysis and draft coverage as well. Stats are for the previous game unless otherwise noted. You can join Pro Football Focus here.
Tony Bergstrom - 31.8 pass blocking grade
The former Texans offensive lineman was the only offensive lineman to allow a pressure or a sack against the Buccaneers for the Redskins. He has played center and left guard for Washington this season and not graded out particularly well in any of the games at any of the positions. A career journeyman lineman he blocked well in the rushing game pretty well against Tampa Bay. Considering how well the Texans interior has played and how often Jadeveon Clowney rushes inside this could be a spot the Texans could exploit.
D.J. Swearinger - 87.7 season defense grade
Another former Texans player but he has had a long track record of success with Washington. Swearinger is the fifth best defensive back in the NFL according to Pro Football Focus when accounting for playing more than 50 percent of his team's snaps. He is playing very well and has now for a couple of years. He is playing the best coverage of his career as well. He is a far cry from the one-trick pony he was when the Texans first had him on the team. He's a leader on the defense and a player Deshaun Watson and company will have to watch out for on Sunday.
Ryan Kerrigan - 72.2 season pass rush grade
Washington is about average when it comes to getting after the passers, just a couple of sacks ahead of the Texans. Kerrigan is the consistent force for the team in the pass rush though. J.J. Watt's fellow draft class member has a sack in four straight games and is the most consistent player Washington has in their front seven in getting after the quarterback. Though he hasn't graded out great, the Texans need to be aware where the former Purdue product lines up.
Alex Smith - 70.3 season passing grade
Smith is about the 23rd best quarterback as far as passing goes according to the grades. He is a high-level game manager for Washington that on any given day can still be a dangerous threat. He is about average below in almost everything he does with the exception of interceptions. He doesn't throw a lot of interceptions. He throws the deep ball poorly and is one of the league's worst under pressure. There's just not a ton here besides a savvy veteran who gets his team in the right play and doesn't make mistakes.
