Inside the trenches: How Sheldon Rankins is adding value to the Saints defensive line [Film Study]

Rankins gets discredited because he doesn't make splash plays. A lot of those splash plays come at a risk and I don't know if Rankins mindset is for him to take those risks. I think of Fairley's big year. I saw many plays where he would jump to penetrate and put himself way out of position. Even Rankin's sack last game gets discredited since he came off a block when Tyrod scrambled. Rankins pushing his guy up in the QB's face (along with DE's pressuring edges) caused Tyrod to make that move in the first place. He had no lane because Rankins was able to guard both sides of the block since he bull rushed.

I don't know if it's a step he needs to take to get those shots straight at the QB but I tend to think he just doesn't sell out as much to get those plays. Especially in a game against a scramble QB. I could be horribly wrong but regardless I think he does his job as well as you could hope short of having a superstar there.