CB · Detroit Lions vs New York Jets · 68 graded snaps
Replacement
Roger McCreary held up well against quick perimeter throws and run defense, but severe lapses in vertical coverage—surrendering an explosive TD and a 43-yarder—dragged his day down to replacement level.
McCreary displayed sharp downhill instincts against screens and short passes, highlighted by blowing up a perimeter screen at Q1 00:06 and quickly tackling Garrett Wilson at Q4 07:58. However, his coverage grade (58) plummeted due to costly breakdowns when challenged deep. He surrendered a 24-yard touchdown to Kenyon Sadiq at Q2 05:40 after getting stacked, and was beaten cleanly along the sideline for a 43-yard completion by Sadiq at Q4 13:59. These vertical coverage blemishes ultimately wiped out his positive underneath contributions, leaving him at a replacement-level 60.0 mark.
Strengths
Triggering downhill against screens
Reliable tackling on underneath throws
Slot leverage on quick-breaking routes
Weaknesses
Defending vertical routes down the boundary
Locating the football at the catch point
Soft cushion and leverage in deep zones
Plays that moved the grade
-1.5Q4 13:59, 1st & 10Lost outside leverage on a vertical route, allowing a 43-yard reception to Kenyon Sadiq down to the red zone.
-1Q2 05:40, 2nd & 12Got stacked down the sideline and failed to locate the ball, allowing a 24-yard touchdown catch to Kenyon Sadiq.
+1Q4 07:58, 2nd & 8Drove aggressively downhill from flat zone coverage to tackle Garrett Wilson immediately for just a 4-yard gain.
Every graded snap · 14 wins or losses, 54 routine
+0.5Q1 13:35 · 3 & 2 · CoverageStayed glued to his receiver's hip to eliminate the primary route option.
+0.5Q1 08:12 · 1 & 10 · Run defenseFights off Wilson's stalk block cleanly and makes the low initial tackle on Ruckert.
+1Q1 00:06 · 3 & 15 · Run defenseQuickly triggers on the screen, fights through the perimeter block, and squeezes Wilson back inside into pursuit.
-1Q2 07:00 · 1 & 10 · CoverageAllows separation behind his leverage on the sideline fade to Jelani Woods; rallies to make the tackle after a 20-yard gain.
-1Q2 05:40 · 2 & 12 · CoverageGets stacked and trailed by Sadiq down the sideline, failing to find the football or make a play at the catch point.
+0.5Q2 00:41 · 1 & 10 · CoverageDrives downfield from underneath zone coverage to assist Barnes in stopping Allen along the boundary.
+0.5Q2 00:11 · 2 & 12 · CoverageBreaks quickly on Sadiq's flat route to force an errant throw near the boundary.
Q2 00:08 · 2 & 22 · CoverageBreaks promptly toward the boundary route by Williams, contesting the throwing lane effectively.
+0.5Q3 07:32 · 2 & 6 · CoverageMatches Sterling Shepard stride for stride in the slot to deny the primary quick read.
-1.5Q4 13:59 · 1 & 10 · CoverageLoses outside leverage on the vertical route, trailing behind Sadiq and allowing the deep completion before tackling him inside the red zone.
+1Q4 07:58 · 2 & 8 · CoverageDrives aggressively downhill on the throw to Wilson and makes an immediate tackle to limit the gain to 4 yards.
-0.5Q4 06:39 · 1 & 10 · CoverageGives a large cushion pre-snap and fails to anticipate the break on the boundary, allowing a clean reception before closing to shove Wilson out of bounds.
-0.5Q4 02:19 · 1 & 10 · CoverageAllowed separation to Sadiq on the crossing route into the soft spot of the zone, but rallies to tackle him along the boundary.
-0.5Q4 01:45 · 3 & 3 · CoverageYields inside leverage on 3rd & 3 allowing the slant conversion, though he makes a solid secure tackle immediately afterward.