ILB · New York Jets vs Detroit Lions · 67 graded snaps
Replacement
Sherwood produced quality downhill stops in the run game and flashed on a blitz, but biting on play-action and getting pinned on perimeter blocks kept him at a 67.8 grade.
Run defense7131Coverage6030Special teams605Pass rush741
The full breakdown
Sherwood posted a solid 71 grade in run defense by consistently plugging interior creases and diagnosing quick perimeter action, highlighted by blowing up a screen to Amon-Ra St. Brown for a loss (Q2 2:12) and helping stop Jahmyr Gibbs on 4th & 1 (Q4 8:37). He also generated quick pressure on his lone blitz snap (Q3 3:34), running through pass protection to force an errant throw. However, his day was held down by a 60 coverage grade after he repeatedly bit hard on early third-quarter play-action, yielding completions to Jackson Meeks (Q3 14:55) and a 28-yard gain to Sam LaPorta (Q3 13:25). Those coverage lapses, along with being trapped behind blocks on Gibbs' 17-yard touchdown (Q3 11:06), leveled his grade out at replacement tier.
Strengths
Triggering downhill on screens
Interior run fits and scraping
Pass rush blitz execution
Weaknesses
Biting on play-action fakes
Navigating perimeter crack and pull blocks
Plays that moved the grade
+1.5Q2 2:12, 1st & 10Diagnosed a quick wide receiver screen immediately and flew unblocked into the flat to tackle Amon-Ra St. Brown for a 1-yard loss.
-0.5Q3 13:25, 1st & 10Bit hard into the A/B-gap on a play-action fake to Gibbs, completely vacating the bootleg window for a 28-yard Sam LaPorta completion.
+1.5Q3 3:34, 2nd & 10Timed an interior A/B-gap blitz cleanly, driving through running back protection to hit Jared Goff and force an errant throw.
Every graded snap · 19 wins or losses, 48 routine
+0.5Q1 00:30 · 3 & 19 · CoverageDrops into the middle passing window and disrupts the throwing lane.
+0.5Q2 14:51 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFlows over the top through traffic and assists on making the tackle after a 9-yard gain.
+0.5Q2 10:48 · 2 & 6 · Run defenseReads toss promptly and flows over top to rally to the ball carrier.
+0.5Q2 03:33 · 2 & 10 · Run defenseFills downhill into the crease, takes on contact, and makes the tackle to limit the carry to 7 yards.
+1.5Q2 02:12 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseDiagnoses the quick screen immediately at the snap, flies to the flat unblocked, and wraps up St. Brown for a 1-yard loss.
+0.5Q2 02:00 · 2 & 11 · Run defenseRecognizes the checkdown quickly, breaks downhill under control, and makes a solo stop on Gibbs at the 9-yard line to keep Detroit short of the first down.
-0.5Q3 14:55 · 1 & 10 · CoverageOvercommits laterally to the run fake, leaving a wide void underneath for Meeks to leak through.
Q3 13:25 · 1 & 10 · CoverageBites hard up into the playside A/B gap on the fake to Gibbs, removing himself completely from the bootleg passing window.
+0.5Q3 12:53 · 1 & 10 · CoverageRecognizes the throw to Gibbs immediately, closes the distance swiftly, and secures an open-field tackle to prevent further YAC.
-0.5Q3 12:20 · 2 & 3 · Run defenseCaught off guard by St. Brown's crack block, pinned inside and unable to leverage the alley.
-0.5Q3 11:06 · 2 & 4 · Run defenseFlows toward the perimeter but gets caught behind the down blocks and puller, failing to impact the ball carrier.
+1.5Q3 03:34 · 2 & 10 · Pass rushTimes his rush well, drives straight through Vaki's block, and forces Goff into an erratic, rushed throw with immediate contact.
+0.5Q3 03:30 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseScrapes laterally through traffic, absorbs climbing contact, and helps make the stop on Gibbs after a 6-yard gain.
+0.5Q3 02:53 · 2 & 4 · Run defenseFlows aggressively to the ball carrier and fights through Sewell's block, drawing a clear holding penalty.
+0.8Q3 00:26 · 1 & 4 · Run defenseFills downhill decisively into the pile to assist Briggs and stop Gibbs just short of the goal line.
-0.3Q4 15:00 · 2 & 1 · Run defenseScrapes over top to meet Gibbs at the goal line, but gets pushed backward into the end zone on contact.
-0.5Q4 11:17 · 1 & 10 · CoverageOpens his zone drop slightly too deep, vacating the middle checkdown window to Vaki, but rallies quickly to make the primary tackle after an 11-yard gain.
+0.5Q4 09:20 · 3 & 3 · CoverageMaintains depth in his hook/curl zone, helping suffocate intermediate route options.
+0.5Q4 08:37 · 4 & 1 · Run defenseFills downhill into the play-side A/B gap quickly to assist in stopping the run for no gain.