[DJ's left nut]

Here's a question.

So we've seen all the stats on the impact Dee Ford has had on the 49ers DL, right? Obviously their pass rush gets measurably better when he's on the field.

But he's largely a 3rd down player that comes in on clear passing downs. Isn't EVERYONE'S pass rush measurably better on clear passing downs?

Is this a situation where Ford actually directly impacts his teammates or is it one where he comes in during situations that directly impact his teammates? Does he make them better, or does he come in when they're already set up to succeed? Is he a spurious variable here?

You see this a lot in hockey where certain players are on the ice for offensive zone face-offs so they have really good possession numbers and things of that nature. Meanwhile other guys are defensive specialists and they come in to face the other team's top line and/or they're put in for defensive zone face-offs and other situations where their odds of putting up conventional numbers are pretty remote. Their +/- figures will naturally take a hit there but in the end they are still doing their jobs pretty well - they're just put in tougher situations.

Is Ford simply being put in the game when his teammates were ALREADY likely to succeed? I'm sure there's a way to get those splits put together (mostly just compare 'passing down' productivity with/without Ford on the field), but I wouldn't know how to go about it.

It's ultimately relevant in that it could go a long way to determining the Chiefs success on 1st and 2nd downs, or 3rd and short situations where you're not looking at an obvious passing situation. Even if Ford is on the field for those snaps - will it actually matter? Is his impact because of him or situation? And if it's situation dependent, the Chiefs and their efficiency on 1st and 2nd downs could completely eliminate his impact and end up making the 49ers pass rush productivity more in line with their 'without Ford' figures, which are largely pedestrian.