Definition of a Pass Defensed (1 Viewer)

[cobalt_27]

Anyone have a link to the criteria for this stat? Clearly, if a guy knocks a ball out of the air, it's a PD. But, what if it's in the offensive player's hands, and the defender knocks it out for an incompletion?

My guess is that, even if it's not scored on MFL yet, it will be. But, any official definition?

 

[johnnyboy8102]

I have seen them recorded many different ways.

Some stadium scorekeepers want the defensive player to actually deflect the ball to prevent a completion. So a player who just has a ball thrown right to them on a bad pass would not get credit by those scorekeepers. But other scorekeepers will credit a PD for the 2nd scenario.

Also, I have seen PD credited when defensive players dislodge the ball from the potential Receiver with a big hit. However, sometimes it won't scored a PD in that situation. (Example. Week 1 Ravens/Jets. Ray Lewis did not get a PD on his Big Keller hit near the end of the game.)

Finally, I saw the Redskins score crew credit London Fletcher with 2 PD this season when he was just in coverage near the incompletion. He didn't make contact with the ball or dislodge it from anyone. It seems like the Redskins stat crew, much like with assist tackles, is very generous.

Overall, I would say PD are right up there with assist tackles in that they seem arbitrary to the individual score crew.