The Read Optional Passing Indexes — Week 5
The Read Optional ROPE (Offense) and ROPED (Defense) Indexes are our in-house statistical passing efficiency metrics, analyzing the performance of the NFL quarterbacks. Based loosely on the passer rating formula, I have taken it further by analyzing data that looks at receiving, blocking and pass rushing to give a more rounded view of the passing offense. In total there are six metrics that are measured to give a ROPE/ROPED Index score; completion percentage, yards per attempt, yards per completion, touchdown percentage, interception percentage and adjusted sack rate. For a full breakdown of the way the ROPE and ROPED Indexes are put together, including the thresholds for achieving a ‘perfect’ game, you can find my original posts explaining them here (ROPE)and here (ROPED).
ROPE Index – Week 5
In a tough week for quarterbacks, the average ROPE rating was 48.6%, down from 49.2% last week and a season average rating of 50.1%. It was the first time this season the average yards per attempt was under 7 (6.9).
The 2015 MVP was at it again this week as Cam Newton finished on top of the ROPE ratings for the second straight week as he matched his rating of 83.3% from last week. Cam threw for over 350 yards and three touchdowns and completed just under 80% of his passes. After a shaky first three weeks. Cam is truly back to his very best. Newton tied for first place this week with Carson Wentz, who put up the best ROPE rating of his short career. Wentz passed for over 300 yards and had 4 touchdowns, with two of those going for 59 and 72 yards respectively.
Alex Smith continues his early season tear for MVP and posted his second highest rating of 2017 with an 81.8% rating as the Chiefs remained perfect after 5 weeks. Smith continues to push the ball downfield and defy his career average yards per attempt of 6.8 with 8.8 ypa against the Texans. Smith was tied third with Cleveland’s Kevin Hogan who came off the bench for the Browns and provided the spark missing from their offense n 2017. Hogan went 16 of 19 for 194 yards and 2 touchdowns against the Jets, albeit in a losing cause. Hogan has been named starter for the Browns’ week 6 game against the Texans.
Case Keenum also came off the bench this week and posted another solid performance as he led the Vikings to victory against the Bears. Keenum’s 66.7% rating outshone Sam Bradford, who made his first appearance since week 1 and looked far from ready to return as he posted the lowest rating of the week with a 16.7% rating and passed for just 36 yards at 3.3 yards per attempt.
Mitchell Trubisky made his debut for the Bears in the defeat to the Vikings, posting a 28.8% rating as he went 12 for 25 for 128 yards. Despite the loss and the low rating, Trubisky provided the spark missing with Mike Glennon under center and with more playing time, will hope to see his ratings rise.
ROPE Index – Season to Date
Alex Smith now leads the way in the overall standings as Jared Goff suffered at the hands of the Legion of Boom in week 5 that dropped him to 4th. Smith’s career season to date, compare’s favorably with Matt Ryan’s start to his MVP year in 2016, as the table below shows.
There is a log jam of quarterbacks in joint 7th place in the rankings through week 5, with Aaron Rodgers, Dak Prescott, Carson Wentz and Cam Newton all with a season to date rating of 57.6%. All four players posted strong performances in week 5 and are pushing to move further up in the rankings.
Deshaun Watson leads the league in touchdown percentage through the first 5 weeks and is second only to Aaron Rodgers in total touchdowns with 12. His 48.8% rating through 5 weeks means he’s the leading rookie and already the prime candidate for rookie of the year honors.
DeShone Kizer’s benching, statistically is without doubt the right thing to do as the rookie continues to sit at the foot of the cumulative ROPE ratings. Whether its the right thing for his career is another matter but the Browns’ offense was going nowhere with Kizer under center.
ROPED Index – Season to date
The Jaguars continue to lead the way, and have improved their overall rating after they picked off Ben Roethlisberger a franchise record 5 times for a rating of 75.8% in week 5. The Steelers remain in second place as they also posted a 75.8% rating in the game against the Jaguars as Blake Bortles threw the ball just 14 times for 95 yards.
Despite losing to the Dolphins in week 5, the Titans posted the best ROPED rating of week 5 with a 83.3% rating. They held Miami to just 92 pass yards, a 44% completion rating, an interception and two sacks. The worst ratings came from the Lions and Cardinals with a 16.7% rating as they were torched by Cam Newton and Carson Wentz respectively. Those ratings dropped the Lions 7 places and Cardinals 10 places against last week’s rankings.
The Patriots remain at the bottom of the ROPED ratings through week 5 as they continue to lead the league in yards allowed and joint first in touchdowns allowed.
I’ll be back next week with the updated week 6 rankings. You can find me on Twitter @PaddiCooper or @ReadOptional.
