By Austin Gayle | ProFootballFocus
Former Louisville standout Sheldon Rankins earned a 92.6 run-defense grade across his final two years (2014-15) with the Cardinals, ranking third among all defensive interiors with 300-plus run-defense snaps in the two-year span. And while his high-end play against the run propped up his second-ranked 90.8 overall grade, Rankins was far from polished as a pass-rusher at the collegiate level.
Now 1,500-plus defensive snaps into his NFL career with the New Orleans Saints, Rankins is blossoming into one of the league’s top pass-rushing defensive interiors. Rankins’ career-high 72.9 pass-rush grade ranks eighth among the 32 at his position with 225-plus pass-rush snaps through Week 10.
Against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, Rankins notched four total pressures, including his sack of Andy Dalton that was a product of walking guard Clint Boling deep into the backfield with relative ease. Rankins now has three or more pressures in five of nine games this season. ...
Full Story - PFF
