Okay, so we’ve looked at the Colts’ pass blockers, so why don’t we turn it around and rank their pass rushers? Using the same formula (three points for a sack, two for a QB hit and one for a pressure), here they are. Keep in mind since it’s plays (in this case, pass rushes by the player in question) divided by points awarded for sacks, QB hits and pressures, you’re looking for a lower number, as opposed to the offensive guys where you wanted a bigger number.
First, let’s get rid of the defensive players who, for some reason or another, where never asked to rush the opposing passer.
First, let’s get rid of the defensive players who, for some reason or another, where never asked to rush the opposing passer.
They are, in order of how many snaps they’ve seen on defense:
Jacob Lacey 365, Tim Jennings 327, Kelvin Hayden 207, Bob Sanders (IR) 75, Aaron Francisco 15, TJ Rushing 14, Ramon Humber 12
All, except Humber, are defensive backs and are probably considered too small by the coaching staff to rush the passer. Sanders made that list even though he can be a devastating pass rusher because the Colts didn't want to expose his fragile body to undue strain (fat lot good that did). Humber is just too occasional a contributor on defense to have had many chances.
Now let’s get rid of the players who have rushed the passer, but with no recorded results. They are, in order of rushes:
Fili Moala 16, Jordan Senn (cut) 7, Melvin Bullitt 6, Jerraud Powers 6, Antoine Bethea 3, Josh Thomas (cut) 2, Tyjuan Hagler (IR) 1, Jamie Silva 1
Hey, at least the coaches thought those guys had a chance.
So here are the defensive linemen who have made a difference:
3.41 DE Dwight Freeney 269 pass rushes/10 sacks, 10 QB hits, 29 pressures
4.06 DE Robert Mathis 288 pass rushes/9 sacks, 10 QB hits, 24 pressures
9.75 DT Daniel Muir 117 pass rushes/1 sack, 2 QB hits, 5 pressures
10.78 DT Eric Foster 248 pass rushes/1 sack, 6 QB hits, 8 pressures
19.00 DT Antonio Johnson 114 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 3 pressures
23.25 DE Keyunta Dawson 93 pass rushes/0 sacks, 0 QB hits, 4 pressures
25.64 DE/DT Raheem Brock 282 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 8 pressures
66.00 DT Ed Johnson (cut) 66 pass rushes/0 sacks, 0 QB hits, 1 pressure
And here are the blitzers:
1.82 OLB Clint Session 20 pass rushes/1 sack, 3 QB hits, 2 pressures
2.00 CB Marlin Jackson (IR) 8 pass rushes/0 sacks, 2 QB hits, 0 pressures
3.00 OLB/DE Philip Wheeler 9 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 0 pressures
5.00 ILB/OLB Freddy Keiaho 20 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 1 pressure
7.75 ILB Gary Brackett 31 pass rushes/0 sacks, 4 QB hits, 0 pressures
Again, let’s share our observations:
1. I don’t believe in half, third or quarter sacks for this kind of thing
2. You can’t compare blitzers to guys who have to go against an offensive lineman play-in and play-out. Besides, the most active of them had 31 rushes, so it's hard to get a real statistical look at them. And before you get too nuts and advocate that the Colts blitz every play like my son playing Madden 10, keep in mind Brackett's numbers. In 31 blitzes, he recorded four pressures. That may sound good, but it also means he did not even scare the passer 27 times while leaving a big hole in coverage. In a 4-3 defense, blitzing should be a seasoning, not the meat.
3. Freeney and Mathis deserve every bit of praise they get. They are both awesome and a big part of the Colts' continued success.
4. Foster gets due props for his pressure up the middle, but what about Muir? He’s looking good for a man his size. I'll be writing about him a lot in upcoming days.
5. The other DTs are not really giving much pressure, but I'll give Mookie a break because I consider any pass-rush at all from him to be gravy. But Brock is having an unprecedently rough year rushing the passer, and Big Ed was just plain awful. And Moala? C'mon, man. I know it's only 16 rushes, but nothing?
6. All of Wheeler’s results came from his play at OLB, and none at his few (13) snaps at DE, so he counts as a blitzer only.
7. The Colts are blitzing like mad compared to the Dungy days (although still not as much as the league average), and they are seeing some decent results. I count a grand total of 112 pass rushes by players other than defensive linemen after nine games (12.44 a game), which if I am not mistaken is more than they ever had in 16 games under Dungy.
All, except Humber, are defensive backs and are probably considered too small by the coaching staff to rush the passer. Sanders made that list even though he can be a devastating pass rusher because the Colts didn't want to expose his fragile body to undue strain (fat lot good that did). Humber is just too occasional a contributor on defense to have had many chances.
Now let’s get rid of the players who have rushed the passer, but with no recorded results. They are, in order of rushes:
Fili Moala 16, Jordan Senn (cut) 7, Melvin Bullitt 6, Jerraud Powers 6, Antoine Bethea 3, Josh Thomas (cut) 2, Tyjuan Hagler (IR) 1, Jamie Silva 1
Hey, at least the coaches thought those guys had a chance.
So here are the defensive linemen who have made a difference:
3.41 DE Dwight Freeney 269 pass rushes/10 sacks, 10 QB hits, 29 pressures
4.06 DE Robert Mathis 288 pass rushes/9 sacks, 10 QB hits, 24 pressures
9.75 DT Daniel Muir 117 pass rushes/1 sack, 2 QB hits, 5 pressures
10.78 DT Eric Foster 248 pass rushes/1 sack, 6 QB hits, 8 pressures
19.00 DT Antonio Johnson 114 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 3 pressures
23.25 DE Keyunta Dawson 93 pass rushes/0 sacks, 0 QB hits, 4 pressures
25.64 DE/DT Raheem Brock 282 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 8 pressures
66.00 DT Ed Johnson (cut) 66 pass rushes/0 sacks, 0 QB hits, 1 pressure
And here are the blitzers:
1.82 OLB Clint Session 20 pass rushes/1 sack, 3 QB hits, 2 pressures
2.00 CB Marlin Jackson (IR) 8 pass rushes/0 sacks, 2 QB hits, 0 pressures
3.00 OLB/DE Philip Wheeler 9 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 0 pressures
5.00 ILB/OLB Freddy Keiaho 20 pass rushes/1 sack, 0 QB hits, 1 pressure
7.75 ILB Gary Brackett 31 pass rushes/0 sacks, 4 QB hits, 0 pressures
Again, let’s share our observations:
1. I don’t believe in half, third or quarter sacks for this kind of thing
2. You can’t compare blitzers to guys who have to go against an offensive lineman play-in and play-out. Besides, the most active of them had 31 rushes, so it's hard to get a real statistical look at them. And before you get too nuts and advocate that the Colts blitz every play like my son playing Madden 10, keep in mind Brackett's numbers. In 31 blitzes, he recorded four pressures. That may sound good, but it also means he did not even scare the passer 27 times while leaving a big hole in coverage. In a 4-3 defense, blitzing should be a seasoning, not the meat.
3. Freeney and Mathis deserve every bit of praise they get. They are both awesome and a big part of the Colts' continued success.
4. Foster gets due props for his pressure up the middle, but what about Muir? He’s looking good for a man his size. I'll be writing about him a lot in upcoming days.
5. The other DTs are not really giving much pressure, but I'll give Mookie a break because I consider any pass-rush at all from him to be gravy. But Brock is having an unprecedently rough year rushing the passer, and Big Ed was just plain awful. And Moala? C'mon, man. I know it's only 16 rushes, but nothing?
6. All of Wheeler’s results came from his play at OLB, and none at his few (13) snaps at DE, so he counts as a blitzer only.
7. The Colts are blitzing like mad compared to the Dungy days (although still not as much as the league average), and they are seeing some decent results. I count a grand total of 112 pass rushes by players other than defensive linemen after nine games (12.44 a game), which if I am not mistaken is more than they ever had in 16 games under Dungy.
2 comments:
Jerry Good to see your posting again!
John, thanks
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