In this article, PFS will spotlight the center position in the AFC West. Each center from the AFC West teams will be evaluated on run and pass blocking assignment grades, dominance scores, and then ranked, according to averaged performances from the 1st four weeks of the season.

One thing to remember when evaluating a lineman across teams so early in the year…each player has met up with different defenders. Later in the season, the comparisons will be more equal as each team has similar teams on their schedule. Also, assignment grades are important, but when looking at linemen across teams, the dominance scores, or power score, is weighted as higher in value. Especially, when assignment grades are within a similar range.

Let’s take a look at those performance rankings…

Center Run Blocking Performance

Grade Bar Run Power Pull 2nd Avg. Score Blocks Level Satele 78% +.7 +0.1 -0.7 Wiegmann 84% -3.0 +0.1 +2.8 Hardwick 80% -1.1 +0.0 +0.7 Walton 77% -2.0 +0.0 +2.7

Best Run Blocking Center In The AFC West (7 games): Samson Satele.

This is a tough one for PFS this time around.  Casey Wiegmann is 6% points above Samson Satele in assignment scores.  That is a significant amount.  That means that when Wiegmann locks onto a defender, he usually can stay engaged.  An issue that Samson appears to have from time to time with the 78% assignment grade.

The big issue, however, is that Wiegmann has a -3.0 power score.  That is significantly worse than any AFC West center.  Due to that fact…Samson Satele gets the nod by having the only positive power score of any center in the AFC West.

Best 2nd Level Run Blocker In The AFC West (7 games): Casey Wiegmann.

When it comes to being athletic enough to block at the second level…Casey Wiegmann is pretty good. You can find him frequently locked onto a linebacker at the second level. Casey has recorded a +2.8 second level blocking average over the past 7 games.

Best Pull Blocker In The AFC West (7 games): Samson Satele.

Centers don’t pull much. But if they are good enough at it, the team will find ways to get them into open spaces. Both Satele and Wiegmann have done some pulling this year.

Center Pass Blocking Performance

Grade Bar Pass Power Pressure Help Avg. Score Game Blocks Satele 92% -0.4 1.4 13.2 Wiegmann 91% -1.4 0.8 15.4 Walton 93% -0.4 0.8 17.5 Hardwick 91% -0.8 1.1 19.4

Best Pass Blocking Center In The AFC West (7 games):  J.D. Walton.

Through the first 7 games of the season J.D. Walton has pulled ahead of the pack to be the best pass blocking center after 7 games.

Other Rankings:

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