Sack totals

[Clay Dreslough]

We still have 3 weeks left in the season, and the sack leaders are already ahead of the totals for the 2007 season.

Joey Porter already has 16.5 sacks -- 1.5 more than Jared Allen led the NFL with in 2007.

The top 3 have 47.5, well ahead of the 43.0 posted by the top 3 last year.

And the top 8 have 97.5, compared to 94.0 last year.

With 3 more games left, we're going to blow last year's numbers out of the water. If Football Mogul produced these sack numbers, it would probably be reported as a bug.

So, what gives? Have defensive strategies changed? Or are the official scorers just being nicer about awarding sacks to the guys with the best reputations?

[bucher34]

More blitz packages I would say, especially with linebackers. Look at guys like the Joey Porters, James Harrisons, Demarcus Wares, and Shawne Merrimans (obviously when he plays). More linebackers are getting more sacks when it has ultimately been the defensive ends over the years.

[ragecage]

If you look at sacks allowed, there are 2 perhaps 3 teams that are eye catching. This could perhaps explain why so many more sacks are given up this year as opposed to last.

New England: 27 Sacks allowed 3.8 A game Ranked 31st.

I think this one explains itself, Brady hurt, Cassell though good, lacks experience to get rid of the ball quickly. But based on the way the O line played in the Super Bowl, maybe not so surprising. But for the level they are supposed to play at, it is.

Pittsburgh: 25 Sacks Allowed 3.5 A game, Ranked 29th.

Very surpising considering Pittsburghs smashmouth style of Offense, and they have had the top Offensive lines in the last 5 years.

Cincy: 28 Sacks Allowed 3.5 A game, Ranked 28th.

You may laugh, but Cincy only gave up 17 sacks ALL of 2007. And isnt that ironic, their main QB has been gone most of the year too.

Then when you take the typically bad teams, and include their typical production in the mix, I dont think its very surprising the frequency of sacks.

[200tang]

More blitz packages I would say, especially with linebackers. Look at guys like the Joey Porters, James Harrisons, Demarcus Wares, and Shawne Merrimans (obviously when he plays). More linebackers are getting more sacks when it has ultimately been the defensive ends over the years.

If this is the case then I would contribute it to also being that LB is, in my opinion, the position with the most depth to it so there are lots of good LBers to go around.

[Arctic Blast]

Pittsburgh has actually given up quite a few sacks for the past couple of years.

Anyway, overall sack numbers ebb and flow all the time. There is a focus on more aggressive defensive schemes right now, so they're definitely jumping up at the moment.

[justanewguy]

I don't think there's any way it's a scoring issue. Sacks aren't like errors in baseball, where it comes down to the scorekeeper. Sacks are clearcut.

It's probably a combination of several things:

- Change in defensive strategy (and overall strategy, just look at how the "Wildcat" offensive formation has taken off)... and yeah, defenses have focused more on blitz packages this season.

- Less offensive line talent overall. This is something that's been happening for years. Offensive linemen are coming out of the draft that aren't as talented in pass protection as their predecessors.

- Younger RBs and RB platoons. Another thing that's been gradually increasing over time. Teams are starting to rely more on two RBs instead of one. RBs are younger than ever before. And there's been a massive influx of young RBs into the league at an increasing rate. Just look at all the impact rookie RBs this season. The younger, less experienced, and more run-oriented RBs who share time with another RB probably aren't as strong at blocking as RBs were in the past.

- Younger QBs. I'm not totally sure about this, but I'm thinking the average starting QB age this season is younger than it was last season. As was mentioned above, younger and less experienced QBs aren't as skilled at getting rid of the ball without throwing a pick, or moving around in the pocket.

- Sample size. All sorts of stats will vary from one season to the next, in all sports.

And by the way, Joey Porter is an absolute STUD. It doesn't surprise me that he's had the sack total he has this season, especially considering how he's been used. This is a guy who was once shot and ended up back in the lineup in relatively no time.