Geno Hayes: Stud On The Run
June 3rd, 2011
Nothing got Bucs fans tossed from bars quicker than when they threw beer glasses at a TV, outraged over the play of Bucs linebackers.
Just mentioning the name “Barrett Ruud” so incenses Bucs fans some are liable to blindly run into traffic, screaming at the top of their lungs about how he is a disgrace to powder puff college women’s flag football linebackers.
Quincy Black largely gets a pass because these same angry fans claim Black is invisible.
Geno Hayes, the third of the Bucs starting linebackers, is a mixed bag. Joe believes Hayes is simply inconsistent. He will make a few splash plays but then get burned on routine plays.
But that’s not quite accurate, so say the educated geeks (Joe says that fondly) at FootballOutsiders.com. The spreadsheeters compared computer printouts and determined that Hayes is one of the best run-stoppers in the NFL.
Stop Rate is defined as the percentage of a players Plays that were Stops. Plays are any time a player shows up in the play-by-play on defense: tackles, assists, forced fumbles, etc. Stops are plays that stop the offense short of what FO considers a successful play: 45 percent of yards on first down, 60 percent on second down, and 100 percent on third or fourth down.
Obviously, Stop Rate isn’t a perfect stat. It measures the plays that a player makes, not the plays he misses or the plays he doesn’t even get a chance to miss because he is being properly blocked away from the ballcarrier. Still, it gives you a good idea of where players were making their plays and thus why certain defenses were good or bad at certain parts of the game in 2010.
The tables below are limited solely to running plays, including scrambles. We give Run Stop Rate as well as number of Plays and number of Defeats, plus yards per play, which is the average length of a run past the line of scrimmage when this player had a tackle or assist.
In the link above, Hayes is the fifth-best run-stopper at linebacker in the NFL, just behind Terrell Suggs, Roger Goodell’s nightmare James Harrison and Lance Briggs.
Per FootballOutsiders.com, of the 36 rushes Hayes defended, opponents only got 2.1 yards. That’s a damn good average.
In a related note, the FootballOutsiders.com whizkids also ranked cornerbacks and it should come as no surprise that Ronde Barber was ranked third overall in the NFL.
Not bad for an old man (for NFL standards). Not bad at all.
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:29 am
Doesn’t really surprise me because when Hayes did make a play; it was usually a good one. He did have a larger amount splash plays compared to our other LB’s. Like the article said; it doesn’t account for plays were he’s out of position and there lies the inconsistancy. What was Ruud’s Run Stop Rate? Oh wait he’s on his back again!
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:37 am
Surprised you even pay attention to this stats nonsense. It’s not football.
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:53 am
The CURRENT linebacker situation needs to be AMPED up. We need to inject an ELECTRIC FA signing that will SHOCK the league. One that can take HIGH VOLTS from a taser. Oh wait, we have that LBer already(2x).
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:55 am
Joe,
Excellent picture! The picture sums up Ruuds season against the run.
June 3rd, 2011 at 8:57 am
So Hayes is a run stopping stud, hmmm. What was our ranking against the run this year? Don’t see any run stuffers in that bunch! Black played terrible last year. Like he was scared to get hurt. Hayes was different. Inconsistent was the word, but it was like he was holding back until the last 5 games or so.
That doesn’t get it in the big leagues. I think Foster will suplant Black, but Watson might come and sit Hayes down. We could have thee new linebackers next year, which in my opinion is how many you need
June 3rd, 2011 at 9:17 am
Geno is the best LB we have period. He can’t do it by himself, but on the other hand I thought Watson should have been starting for at WOLB, and we should have try Black at MLB. Now Foster is the MLB which is a major upgrade. So I thick the LB line up should be Foster, Watson, and Hayes. But you know Morris loves himself some Black so realistically I expect Black, Foster, and Hayes.
June 3rd, 2011 at 9:27 am
the one FA LB that will fill the middle for the Bucs could be D’Qwell Jackson from the browns. he be a perfect LB replacement for Ruud. Hear that Glazers!!! he can be had on the CHEAP!!!!! and he is a tackling machine.
June 3rd, 2011 at 9:39 am
Capt. Tim, who will replace Ruud if Foster replacing Black?
June 3rd, 2011 at 9:48 am
@Hector….LARGOOOOO repin’. I’d like to see D’Qwell in a Bucs jersey.
June 3rd, 2011 at 10:20 am
If they replace Ruud, it will be either Tyrone McKensie or a FA that has played in the Tampa 2 in some form. I would bet on McKensie. Think any FA LB Wil be at Hayes spot. D’Qwell Jackson is a great LB. But in our D, he’d be a sam. Great run stopper, not great in coverage. Our MLB has to be the opposite- great coverage skills are prerequisite. Wonder if Jackson could play our Wil ‘backer? He’s kinda big for it, but he’s my kinda LB. He’s a smash mouth guy!
June 3rd, 2011 at 10:26 am
Oh, and Tyrone MacKensie was a Third round pick of the Patriots. Originally brought in to supplement their aging LB Corp. He tore his ACL in camp, and got lost in the Shuffle. He was very highly regarded coming outta college. Great speed and agility.we signed him outta Free agency last year, and he got some field time. If knee is recovered, he has speed to play MLB here.
June 3rd, 2011 at 10:57 am
Chris FWC, (sorry I can’t make that little sideways happy face thingy), But anyway D’Qwell Jackson signed a long-term contract with the Browns at the end last season. Now, on Geno, at 228lbs, he needs to put on 7lbs and play at the same weight as Brooks so he doesn’t get pushed around as much at the LOS.
June 3rd, 2011 at 11:11 am
yeah right Geno a run stopper, and didnt someone stated that Quincy was the best run stopper in an article last month,and then someone stated our def. ends especially WHITE was good against the run,whos keeping and making up these stats
June 3rd, 2011 at 11:23 am
m.wesley:
The Black/White (no pun intended) references came from the same article from ProFootballFocus, which isn’t widely known or in some cases that well-respected by the powers that be in the NFL.
FootballOutsiders, which is where the Geno Hayes information comes from, is highly regarded by NFL high priests. The FootballOutsiders crew does painstaking research and they explain how they come to their conclusions.
In the case of Hayes, they documented every run play he was involved with or had a chance to make in the 2010 season.
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:01 pm
these type of stats are nonsense.
FACT: Grimm is the reason we are better vs the run.
Dqwell & Ruud & Hayes & ..
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:02 pm
@ Macabee It’s easy man. just like this 🙂
7 lbs haha 7 lbs isn’t gunna bring him Hayes talent. To compair Brooks and Hayes the only things you can say is that they both went to STATE and both play Will. Other than that their names don’t belong together.
One is a FHOF the other you won’t remember in 10 years.
NFL awards and honors for #55:
6× First-team All-Pro (1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
3× Second-team All-Pro (1997, 1998, 2001)
9× First-team All-NFC (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005)
11× Pro Bowl selection (1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008)
Co-Walter Payton Man of the Year Award (2000)
“Whizzer” White NFL Man of the Year Award (2003)
Bart Starr Man of the Year Award (2003)
AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (2002)
Super Bowl champion (XXXVII)
Pro Bowl MVP (2005)
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:04 pm
oh and theyre both Bucs.
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:07 pm
Thanks Joe
June 3rd, 2011 at 12:28 pm
No problem m.wesley!
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:08 pm
i swear, where are all these people getting the info that Foster is going to replace Ruud. certainly they are jumping t o some very high conclusions. Its actually kind of ridiculous. The only thing Rah said on the topic is that Foster ‘could’ play any position, and it depends on how the free agency works out, every analyst (who doesnt assume right away that Rah said MLB would be the best fit for him) agrees that Foster would be a best fit at Weak Linebacker. AND every article and report made by either Raheem or Dominic talks about how IMPORTANT Ruud is to their defense, and how much they like him as a player.
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:10 pm
RIs. Bucs- that us very true, and often forgotten. Grimm made an immediate and huge impact on run defense. Not because of great talent, but because of great effort. There in lies my biggest problem with Hayes and Black. There lack of effort last year was both visible and obvious. And Unexcusable.
June 3rd, 2011 at 1:23 pm
Chris FWC, I didn’t mean to send you to the ink barrel with that post. In no way was I comparing the play or career between these two players – you’re right – not even close. I should have been clearer. I was simply suggesting that playing at 235lbs (Brooks playing weight), might help improve Geno’s play at the LOS. I also wanted you to know that D’Qwell is not available.
June 3rd, 2011 at 2:03 pm
Joe,
You’re overestimating a portion of your readership. How dare you offer facts in contradiction to some folks’ religiously held opinions? Don’t you know that if you believe something about a team or player hard enough, or argue it long enough, it changes the facts?
*sarcasm intended*
June 3rd, 2011 at 2:07 pm
If Ruud was that IMPORTANT to the Defense then he would have been signed the same time Donald Penn was. Every other big name LB has been resigned by their own team. (D’Qwell) If a team let’s a player hit free agency then their true value comes into question. People still talk like he’s under contract with the Bucs.
June 3rd, 2011 at 3:15 pm
Im not saying a thing Ruuds the greatest he puts the most effort than any linebacker out there.We are sure to have a void if he leaves.
June 3rd, 2011 at 6:02 pm
If anyone wants to know why Raheem says “stats are for losers”, this is exhibit A. What a bunch of junk. I like Hayes, but this is utter and complete garbage.
June 3rd, 2011 at 7:06 pm
When Suggs, Harrison & Briggs are 3 of the other top run stoppers then I would at least take a look at the list. These 3 don’t mess around! Hayes may not be close to this caliber, but I would definately check out to see why he is mentioned with these guys. I was watching the Bucs top 10 defensive plays of 2010 and Hayes was actually part of that segment. Barber of course stole the show; Ruud not so much.