On Brian Orakpo and holding

[LavaRnChad]

Originally Posted by Mattyk

Not everyone is getting the calls like Rak. He's drawn 5 holding calls, more than the top sack guys Matthews and Phillips.

The holding stat can be misleading because of the different variables. If other passrushers played against the same tackles (especially the NFL's worst Alex Barron) and in front of the same officiating groups as Rak did, would they have forced the same amount of holding calls? Maybe more? Maybe less? It can't be determined, that's why the forced holding stat is useless when comparing player to player.

[steveo395]

Originally Posted by LavaRnChad

The holding stat can be misleading because of the different variables. If other passrushers played against the same tackles (especially the NFL's worst Alex Barron) and in front of the same officiating groups as Rak did, would they have forced the same amount of holding calls? Maybe more? Maybe less? It can't be determined, that's why the forced holding stat is useless when comparing player to player.

You could say that about any stat. Every other pass rusher has been going up against different tackles in different situations, so there are always different circumstances when comparing different players. The forced holding stat is just as relevant as sacks and hurries.