Stat of the Day: Pass Tackles for Linebackers

As part of our ongoing Stat of the Day series, we're digging deep into our spreadsheets to run a new stat every weekday until Super Bowl XLIV.

Thursday [1], we ran numbers that showed which cornerbacks made the most tackles after complete passes, as well as the most successful tackles after complete passes. Friday [2], we ran those numbers for safeties. Today, we finish out these out with linebackers. You can read Thursday's Stat of the Day [1] for an explanation of where these stats come from. It's important to understand that these are play-by-play stats, not stats from our game charting project. That doesn't mean they aren't subjective, but the subjectivity belongs to the official scorers of the 32 teams, not the FO game charting volunteers. They only take into account plays that get made, not opportunities to make plays.

If you like Patrick Willis [3], today's list is for you. Nobody tackles receivers after complete passes quite like Patrick Willis [3].

Top 11 LB Making Plays on Complete Passes, 2009
Player	Team	Plays
52-P.Willis	SF	63
56-B.Cushing	HOU	57
59-D.Ryans	HOU	52
59-L.Fletcher	WAS	51
57-Dh.Jones	CIN	50
52-D.Harris	NYJ	47
55-L.Briggs	CHI	47
52-M.Boley	NYG	45
55-C.Session	IND	45
55-S.Tulloch	TEN	45
56-B.James	DAL	45

Top 12 LB Making Stops on Complete Passes, 2009
Player	Team	Stops
52-P.Willis	SF	30
56-B.Cushing	HOU	22
52-D.Smith	JAC	22
52-D.Harris	NYJ	21
55-L.Briggs	CHI	21
56-B.James	DAL	20
56-D.Ryans	HOU	19
59-L.Fletcher	WAS	18
55-S.Tulloch	TEN	17
57-Dh.Jones	CIN	16
56-N.Barnett	GB	16
99-K.Burnett	SD	16

Those tables went over the top ten because of ties. This table goes over the top ten because I had to show everyone just how impressive Patrick Willis [3] was.

Top 12 LB Stop Rate on Complete Passes, 2009 (min. 15 tackles after receptions)
Player	Team	Plays	Stops	Stop Rate
57-B.Scott	NYJ	18	12	67%
99-M.Lawson	SF	20	13	65%
50-J.Anderson	CAR	18	11	61%
52-D.Smith	JAC	39	22	56%
58-R.Maualuga	CIN	16	9	56%
58-D.Vobora	STL	16	9	56%
58-A.Pierce	NYG	15	8	53%
51-B.Leber	MIN	21	11	52%
51-G.McRath	TEN	23	12	52%
99-K.Burnett	SD	31	16	52%
59-W.Woodyard	DEN	16	8	50%
52-P.Willis	SF	63	30	48%

Our final table is led by a guy whose half-season in 2009 definitely didn't live up to his past performance. These numbers aren't a definite guide to who player well or who played poorly, but zero stops on 15 pass tackles is not a good thing.

Bottom 10 LB Stop Rate on Complete Passes, 2009 (min. 15 tackles after receptions)
Player	Team	Plays	Stops	Stop Rate
51-L.Tatupu	SEA	15	0	0%
52-D.Jackson	CLE	19	2	11%
53-D.Williams	KC	30	5	17%
56-L.Hill	SEA	17	3	18%
50-E.Sims	DET	22	4	18%
52-J.Beason	CAR	38	7	18%
51-C.Mays	KC	16	3	19%
92-H.Hillenmeyer	CHI	31	6	19%
51-J.Vilma	NO	36	7	19%
55-J.Laurinaitis	STL	35	7	20%
93-A.Spencer	DAL	20	4	20%