Winnipeg Blue Bombers' defensive lineman Willie Jefferson has been named the CFL's top performer for Week 9, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF), and earned a pretty remarkable accolade in the process.
The 34-year-old earned a single-game grade of 99.3 this past week, which is by far the best PFF has awarded since the organization began grading CFL games in 2023. The previous single-game high was 94.6, which was awarded to Vernon Adams Jr. while he was playing for the B.C. Lions in 2024.
https://3downnation.com/2025/08/05/winnipeg-blue-bombers-dl-willie-jefferson-earns-best-ever-single-game-cfl-pff-grade/
I just wanted to give this some air because I was critical that one of the main reasons we weren't winning was that our highly paid best players weren't impacting the game enough. Willie being one.
Well... he proved it last week with the best PFF of any player since they started using the NFL style evaluation tool in 2023. Utterly dominant. If we can get half or two thirds that output from Willie going forward it's going to make a big difference. If you were there on Friday, you witnessed in person, according to PFF, the best single performance of any CFL player on any team at any time since the start of 2023.
Thanks Willie. We needed it.
He was incredible - some nights it is all going to fall into place. Not sure if he was going against someone new or he was just in beast mode all game.
That is what we are going to need from him and others while this team racks up some wins and into a home playoff position.
For those of us lucky enough to see Doug Brown and Willy play it is crazy how they could dominate a game - very different players but ability to turn a game around is something else. NFL quality talent.
You never doubt Willie's ability to have a game-wreaking week.
Now I hope to see some consistency through the rest of the season. For all those who keeping saying, "stats don't matter", look how different it is when they get the stats.
Great posts everyone and great thread. Some panicked and thought Willie was done. He served at least a couple turkeys. He will go down as one of the best ever and while he is old, he is still outstanding and performing as good as most top DL imo. A special player and talent with a combination of skills we will never seen again in our generation. This guy is Charile / Milt good imo.
I knew he had a monster game, my gut told me one of the best we have seen but these stats back that up. He fired up the crowd, even a young kid doing the arm circles. Classic. He won't be like this all year but he will continue to show flashes of brilliance and give OL all kinds of nightmares. The evolution of his game to adapt is the most impressive to me.
If he plays like this in the playoffs he can tilt a game himself.
Willie J had himself a game the other night. Simply incredible.
I hope it's a trend! ;D
One thing I noticed in the Argo game was that Willie was sometimes faking going outside the tackle, and making an inside "swim move", which was often very effective. Arbuckle is not much of a risk to scramble, so they were probably less worried about contain, and staying in their pass rushing lanes.
Willie was lights out. He had the Oline figured out, and walked them like dogs.
Has he been nicked and now is at peak Willie? Or was it his supporting cast? Moving to a 3 DE Dline? Did he suddenly mesh with Vaughters and Person?
Regardless, we have to continue this to have success overall. Our O's present performance is not encouraging,and if it improves, this team changes from getting to the playoffs to being a GC contender.
And it all starts with someone like Willie putting up numbers.
Quote from: bunker on August 06, 2025, 04:33:36 PMOne thing I noticed in the Argo game was that Willie was sometimes faking going outside the tackle, and making an inside "swim move", which was often very effective. Arbuckle is not much of a risk to scramble, so they were probably less worried about contain, and staying in their pass rushing lanes.
Some really good insight here
Willie Jefferson is aging but he still plays better than most players in the league...
I think earlier this season he was being told to do more contain, there were games where he was more focussed on that.... this game they let him do what he does best.
The last Grey Cup which he was superb in, was only months ago. He's the same player.
Modern football Coaches overthink things. "This guy is a dominant pass rusher. Let's drop him back in coverage. "
Quote from: markf on August 06, 2025, 11:43:25 PMI think earlier this season he was being told to do more contain, there were games where he was more focussed on that.... this game they let him do what he does best.
The last Grey Cup which he was superb in, was only months ago. He's the same player.
Modern football Coaches overthink things. "This guy is a dominant pass rusher. Let's drop him back in coverage. "
I think he gives up too early. Decides he can't get the sack so waits for the opportunity to knockdown the pass.
Quote from: Jesse on August 07, 2025, 12:00:32 AMI think he gives up too early. Decides he can't get the sack so waits for the opportunity to knockdown the pass.
I would disagree with this, he wouldn't give up too early with his ability if he could smell a sack or pressure
That said yes he will play the knockdown as good as anyone ever
Quote from: Jesse on August 07, 2025, 12:00:32 AMI think he gives up too early. Decides he can't get the sack so waits for the opportunity to knockdown the pass.
i have seen that with my own eyes.
Quote from: theaardvark on August 06, 2025, 05:01:53 PMHas he been nicked and now is at peak Willie? Or was it his supporting cast? Moving to a 3 DE Dline? Did he suddenly mesh with Vaughters and Person?
Told ya guys, Vaughters is beast. And Person is legit. A complete crew opens things up...
Willie got a ton of 1-on-1's. Normally he's double-teamed. He was ripping that RT a new one all night.
Willie showed us what he can do when he turns on "playoff mode". We all know Willie doesn't always turn it on. But he will when we need it. Still one of the best.
BTW, the PFF thing is completely nutso. This is a bigger deal than many realize. That record may go unbeaten for a decade.
Obviously 4 knockdowns is amazing but having 20 foot arms helps. Does it take a lot of skill to raise those arms above your head LOL ? I await the abuse from willy fans ;)
Quote from: BlueFire on August 07, 2025, 12:16:14 PMObviously 4 knockdowns is amazing but having 20 foot arms helps. Does it take a lot of skill to raise those arms above your head LOL ? I await the abuse from willy fans ;)
He gets a lot of knock downs that are not so high no one else would have gotten them. What he does better than anyone is read the QB. His timing is the best in the league. Long arms don't hurt though.
PFF is a joke.
Point system or no Point system Willy J was a beast last week!!! No football fan needs a phony system to tell them that last Friday.
Quote from: jdrattops on August 07, 2025, 01:36:32 PMPFF is a joke.
Point system or no Point system Willy J was a beast last week!!! No football fan needs a phony system to tell them that last Friday.
It's become an impartial industry standard and is highly valued in the NFL also. Like any rating system, I'm sure it's not without its flaws, but I'll take a good PFF rating over the usual player assesment done by fans in their basement or from row 18.
Something like PFF is bad for someone with a lot of hot takes because it democratizes evaluation. Now anyone can look up how Liam Dobson is playing and be able to, with some certainty, know.
That's usually good if you like having intelligent conversations about football. Bad if you think you know your reach blocks from your down blocks but in reality, don't.
Quote from: The Zipp on August 07, 2025, 01:28:37 AMi have seen that with my own eyes.
I don't love this quote from Willie. Seems to say exactly what we were talking about:
"Where I'm at right now, nobody's done this," he said. "I'm still chasing the 100 sacks, but the 100 sacks are a lot harder than 100 knockdowns. So once I get the 100 knockdowns, I'll try to extend that. But once I get to 100 sacks, I'm trying to extend that until I get to the point where I want to retire."
Quote from: Jesse on August 09, 2025, 12:56:04 PMI don't love this quote from Willie. Seems to say exactly what we were talking about:
"Where I'm at right now, nobody's done this," he said. "I'm still chasing the 100 sacks, but the 100 sacks are a lot harder than 100 knockdowns. So once I get the 100 knockdowns, I'll try to extend that. But once I get to 100 sacks, I'm trying to extend that until I get to the point where I want to retire."
I'm not concerned with the quote. It's cool that he wants to accomplish it and he plays within the scheme. He's not losing contain and chasing sacks.
Where I think we have seen a change as he's aged is that he plays (aside from some big games, Grey Cup last year for sure) in a very controlled way which is an unorthodox way to play defensive end. It's absolutely kept him very healthy and on the field but also caps how often he'll win one on one or when he's doubled.
Am I the only one that is surprised he only had 4 knockdowns lastweek? I could have sworn it'd be at least 5.
Let's hope he has an encore tonight! Any smoke/weather in store?
Quote from: BomberFan73 on August 09, 2025, 02:05:26 PMAm I the only one that is surprised he only had 4 knockdowns lastweek? I could have sworn it'd be at least 5.
I think Person got one, and maybe one other guy too?