Just like usual, you're all over the place.
Each position is different.
When you talk about a NT/DT like Reader, bring up example of similar players, like Vince Wilfork.
Forget about the other positions.
Now, I had already said that Reader was "overpaid" for his value to the team.
I never disputed that ('cause there's not enough evidence yet and also the importance of a player at that position is historically not great - like in Wilfork's case.)
But to measure the value of a defensive player, it's probably about "big play" ability.
Like we saw how JJ Watt can be disruptive in the backfield.
Or how some of those safeties that can read the play and fly all over the field making big plays, especially in key moments.
There are only about 10 offensive drives per game.
An average NFL teams score roughly 25 passing TDs and 14 rushing TDs a season.
That's an average of 2.44 TDs per game (2019 stats)
They average 1.56 FGs per game.
https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2019/
(Besides TDs by returns, Ints, Fumbles)
So, on the average, a team is successful or semi-successful on 4 drives a game.
That means the defense need to put up 6 stops to be average.
The Bengals spend roughly an equal amount of cap space on either side of the ball.
Reader's part is 4.83% of the total cap space, and 9.67% of the defense; I'll round it up to 10%
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/cincinnati-bengals/positional/defense/2020/
So, his contribution value should be at least 10% of the total defense to justify his contract value.
Reader's major contributions in the Browns game were:
- Reader was double teamed by the LG and the LT. He was able to get through the gap and chased the QB out of the pocket. That helped the edge defender to put additional pressure on Baker, forcing an intentional grounding call for 15 yards.
It stopped one drive.
Reader should get partial credit for that, correct?
- Reader made two key plays plus an assist on the goal line stand, forcing the turnover on down.
All the credits (or the vast majority of the credit) should go to Reader. Yes, No?
1.5 major stops on 6 drives that needed to be stop is 25% (which is 250% or 2.5 x threshold).
Even if you want to bump up his cap space to 15% (instead of 10%), his value in this particular game is still more than justified.
His other contributions:
2 13:28 1 10 CLE 43 Nick Chubb up the middle for 1 yard (tackle by Jessie Bates)
2 5:25 1 10 CLE 37 Nick Chubb left guard for -1 yards (tackle by D.J. Reader)
Lining up at NT on a 5 man front vs the I, Reader put the C on the ground (and the LG as well in the process of the fall of the dominoes) to make the TFL on Chubb.
2 2:00 1 10 CIN 23 Nick Chubb right guard for 1 yard (tackle by Freedom Akinmoladun)
3 11:50 1 10 CLE 48 Baker Mayfield pass incomplete short left intended for Austin Hooper
Reader beat 64 (even though the C cheated with a non-call hold) and chased Mayfield out of the pocket. This allowed the ROLB 59 to come up and forced the hurried throw by Mayfield that was off-target.
3 11:42 2 10 CLE 48 Nick Chubb up the middle for 2 yards (tackle by Christian Covington)
4 4:10 1 10 CIN 12 Kareem Hunt up the middle for 1 yard (tackle by D.J. Reader and Josh Bynes)
Reader disengaged from his man to wrap up the runner's legs while the other defender tackle up high, minimizing the gain to just one yard.
He was also in on at least another 3 plays where the runner gained 3, 3, 4 yards.
There were also plays where he won, like when he pressured Mayfield out of the pocket, but the QB completed the pass any way.
.......................
I don't know about you, but to me, that's pretty good play for a NT.
Oh, and BTW, the Brown only 9 offensive drives in this game (disregard the one play kneel down by Mayfield to end the game).
And let's not forget that the Chargers only scored 16 points in the first game.
................
Furthermore, my original/main intention was to dispute Steelb's claim that Reader had his arse handed to him.
I wasn't out to prove that Reader had a great game; the evidences just led me closer to that end.