There is beauty in simplicity. From Occam’s Razor to the K.I.S.S. method of writing, there are signs all around us that the most elementary answers are often the best. And this has worked its way into the NFL. We tend to judge defensive backs by interceptions, linebackers by total tackles, running backs by yards per attempt, receivers by total yardage, and defensive ends by sacks. It is simple to judge one position group by one metric, and one metric only.
While this can be beneficial to gain a quick glimpse into the talent pool of players at a given position, it rarely tells the whole story.