What’s the cause of Chad Greenway’s slow start this season?
While three games is still a relatively small sample size, we’re almost to the first quarter point of the NFL season. Over the last several seasons, Chad Greenway has been a consensus top IDP, not only at the LB position, but overall. Since 2010, he’s averaged nearly 144 tackles per season and a 12.8 percent tackle rate, while also finishing among the top scoring LBs with a 0.23 points per snap rate.
Greenway was poised to repeat those same numbers once again in 2014, as Mike Zimmer was coming in to improve the defense and he’s one of their better tacklers. Unfortunately for his owners, which I am in a few leagues, he’s gotten off to a slow start. He suffered a broken wrist in Week 2, after posting just two tackles previously. He did record eight total tackles in Week 2, which indicated good thing were ahead. That hasn’t been the case.
So what is the cause for Greenway’s slow start?
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I looked at the NFL GameRewind’s for this IDP All-22 analysis to see what exactly is causing Greenway’s poor production.
I looked at a few plays from the Vikings Week 1 tilt with the Rams:
Here, Greenway took a good angle to Zac Stacy, but Roger Saffold picked him and he couldn’t break off the block
Once again, Greenway’s in good position but is unable to release from guard to make the play on Stacy
Jake Long pulled to the right and picked up Greenway, where he was unable to make the tackle
In looking at the All-22, it appears as if he’s not able to release from his blocks and make the tackle attempts that he has in the past. He only finished with two solos in Week 1.
In Week 3, Greenway looked to have missed most of the 4th quarter, as he was in on 57 of the 71 defensive snaps against the Saints. Here are a few plays that I looked at:
This is a tackle that should’ve been routine for Greenway.
He’s got Khiry Robinson in his sights, but misses the tackle
Greenway, once again, has a clear angle and is in wide open space in pursuit of Ben Watson.
He overpursues and Watson cuts to avoid him.
Yet again, speed kills. Robinson sees Greenway, shifts and he’s unable to make the tackle.
At this point, it seems to me that Greenway is unable to shed blockers like he used to and can’t keep up with shiftier backs. It was also surprising to see him unable to make the play on a slower Ben Watson. What to make of Greenway the remainder of the year?
At this point, he’s a hold on the bench. You’re going to receive just pennies on the dollar in a trade, even though track record indicates his production is an aberration. Injuries are piling on, also, as he’s not only dealing with an inured wrist, but also a fractured rib. His Week 4 status is in doubt, so his owners should have a backup at the ready. Gerald Hodges would get the nod against a Falcon team allowing the 17th most points to opposing LBs. In looking a bit deeper, the Falcons have allowed double-digit fantasy points to three 4-3 OLBs. Hodges would be a sneaky play this week.
Mike Woellert is an IDP Contributor for FakePigskin.
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Target, grading and rush snap data courtesy of Pro Football Focus
Points allowed data courtesy MyFantasyLeague
Image Credit: WhoDatFish
