The Read Optional Rushing Indexes — Week 6
Alongside my team RODS ratings and Passing ROPE and ROPED Index ratings, I have additionally developed some metrics for measuring the efficiency of each team’s rushing offense (RORO) and rushing defense (RORD) efficiencies. The RORO and RORD Indexes are based on a similar approach to the passing indexes, taking into account a number of factors affecting rushing performance. Each of these factors is graded to give an overall efficiency percentage that can be measured against the rest of the league.
RORO Index — 2017 Season to Date
The Jaguars retain their position as the number one rushing attack in the league as they posted their fifth game out of six where they rushed for over 150 yards. Leonard Fournette broke off a 75 yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage for his second straight game with a 50 plus yard touchdown. Though their rating of 53.8% was the lowest for the Jaguars in 2017, the 6.5 yards per carry was their highest of the season and overall they have the second highest ypc with 5.0.
The Titans have moved up from fourth to second as they ran for 169 and two rushing scores in the defeat of the Colts on Monday night. The Titans lead the league with 9 rushing touchdowns and the highest rushing touchdown rate at 5.5%.
The Saints posted the highest RORO rating of week 6 with an 80.6% rating, the fourth highest rating of the entire season. The Saints rushed for 193 yards and two touchdowns as they defeated the Lions as they has more rush than pass attempts for the first time in 2017 and only the fourth time since the 2010 season.
The Cardinals remain the lowest rated rushing attack, despite Adrian Peterson’s remarkable debut in week 6 and the overall 62.9% rating which was the 4th highest of the week. The Cardinals travel to London this week to face the Rams and their 30th rated rush defense and have the opportunity to close the gap on the teams above them if Peterson continues his excellent start.
RORD Index — 2017 Season to Date
The Broncos remain on top despite their worst RORD rating of 2017 as they allowed the poor Giants rushing attack to run for 148 yards, their first 100 yard game of the season. The Broncos had previously not allowed more than 75 rushing yards in game this season and now face the Chargers in LA this weekend and will hope to restore their dominance against the 27th rated rushing attack. The Chargers on the other hand present the worst rushing defense in the NFL, having conceded the most yards (915) and the highest percentage of 1st downs given up to runners (40.7%)
I’ll be back next week with the updated week 7 rankings. You can find me on
Twitter @PaddiCooper or @ReadOptional.
