Stat of the Day: DL Stop Rate vs. Run

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.

Today, we'll look at which defensive linemen led the league in Stop Rate against the run. This measures Plays against the run (any tackle or assist, according to official play-by-play) which counts as successful under FO terms: preventing the offense from getting 45 percent of yards on first down, 60 percent on second down, or 100 percent on third and fourth down. Along with Stop Rate for each player, I'm running the average yardage gain when the player made a Play.

This year's leader is a big surprise.

Best Run Stop Rate for Defensive Linemen, 2009 (min. 16 run tackles)
Player	Team	Pos	Run Plays	Stop Rate	Avg Yds
95-S.Cody	HOU	DT	18	100%	1.4
77-C.Jenkins	GB	DE	19	95%	1.7
95-J.Babineaux	ATL	DT	35	94%	0.5
75-J.Parker	PHI	DE	16	94%	1.6
92-A.Franklin	SF	DT	30	93%	1.2
96-M.Spears	DAL	DE	22	91%	1.9
92-C.Davis	ATL	DE	19	89%	1.7
99-M.Wright	NE	DT	28	89%	2.6
92-S.Ellis	NYJ	DE	42	88%	2.0
94-J.Smith	SF	DE	42	88%	1.8
96-P.Soliai	MIA	DT	25	88%	2.1
90-M.Williams	HOU	DE	32	88%	1.4

Shaun Cody was just an average tackle for Detroit from 2005-2008, but he was a great run-stuffer for Houston after they added him to the starting lineup in Week 4. He was just one reason why the Texans were fifth in ALY [1] after being 30th in 2008.

Dwight Freeney also had a 100 percent Stop Rate. Of course, he only made 8 Run Plays all year.

Here's the other side, with the defensive linemen who struggled to stop the run. The two Saints high on this list help demonstrate why run defense is their big weakness, although Charles Grant hasn't played in the postseason due to injury.

Worst Run Stop Rate for Defensive Linemen, 2009 (min. 16 run tackles)
Player	Team	Pos	Run Plays	Stop Rate	Avg Yds
95-M.Stanley	JAC	DT	17	35%	3.1
92-R.Denney	BUF	DE	21	43%	3.8
75-T.McBride	DET	DE	16	44%	3.2
96-T.Crowder	TB	DE	37	46%	5.4
74-J.Cesaire	SD	DE	23	52%	4.4
98-S.Ellis	NO	DT	30	53%	3.5
94-C.Grant	NO	DE	38	55%	2.9
99-G.Ellis	OAK	DE	18	56%	4.9
93-R.Miller	TB	DT	30	57%	3.0
94-T.Jackson	KC	DE	35	57%	3.0
90-I.Sopoaga	SF	DE	27	59%	3.3
94-M.Harrison	CHI	DT	20	60%	1.9
92-C.Avril	DET	DE	25	60%	3.6
79-R.Brock	IND	DE/DT	20	60%	2.6