It’s a stat that really means nothing because here is the definition.
Any pass attempt or sack where a defender was within 2 yards of the QB at pass forward or within 1.5 yards of the QB at any point during the play counted as a pressure.)Sep 21, 2023
The stat that counts is sacks, this is a “feel good” stat, period. We need REAL pressure from the DT’s so QB’s can’t stand in the pocket. Anyone think that a guy 2 yards away is really effecting a throw? In the case of mobile QB’s are there multiple “pressures” on a given play because they can escape? I’m sorry but this entire premise that close to sacking is a positive thing is a joke UNLESS that player also has a corresponding positive rate of sacks. That means, “Missed him this time but next time I won’t miss.”
We have the dough to get into the FA market. And the thing is we are top 5 vs the run so we aren’t even looking for an every down guy. Get the right guy and this D won’t be giving up 3rd and 27.
Do QB knockdowns matter to you? Bc they certainly matter to QBs?
Pressures are important bc among other things they tend to portend future sack output. Pressures are a measure of what the Edge can virtually entirely control. Certainly more so than sacks.
But at the same time, I would prefer to couple it with time in pocket. If a QB feels like he can throw at 4.5 seconds and gets knocked down, it’s a lot different than a QB who’s throwing at 1.9 seconds and getting knocked down.
All that said, I do find that “pressures” is a relatively useless stat. You gotta do a deep dive and talk about it for days to get to a fair conclusion.
There have been several games this year, Seattle sticks out more than any to me, where we could literally have the best pass rushers in the entire league and we still would’ve got torched. If our CBs can’t play physical with the WRs and don’t give them the easy throws, our pass rush can actually get home. Geno had the ball out so damn fast every play and they always had a guy wide open.
I think the ability for a pass rusher to close the deal at the QB is very important. It is definitely a need on this team. I’d argue that CB is a much bigger need.
We have options at edge behind Hutch. Houston can still be a major difference maker, Paschal is growing, and Cominsky has played much better as of late. I would love to add a proven veteran to this group. At DT, I think the coaches like what they have. I think we could use a pass rush specialist type, but I think that role is for Paschal.
At CB we have nothing waiting in the wings. Sutton is a passable #1/ high and be #2. Jacobs has not taken another step and profiles more as CB 4/5. Is Vildor a flash in the pan, regardless I don’t think he factors into the long term decisions at CB. Branch is strictly a nickel. I think we need a legit veteran starting CB, ideally a #1 type of guy. I wouldn’t mind seeing if Moseley wants to run it back with a cheap deal as well. Then we need to get a guy in the draft that we can develop. Likely a fairly high pick. Just my two cents, but CB probably needs the biggest overhaul this off-season. IMO, Branch and Sutton are the only locks.
Depends on the knock down. Did the QB fall down and tweak his wrist a bit? Was the hit hard enough to influence future follow through?
Generally speaking I agree that quick sure is a defense’s trump card and why Houston was such a loss. When he wins, he wins early.
As for pressures I do agree that it’s not a great marker of how your defense is performing. I do however believe that it’s at least somewhat evidentiary of how your pass rushers may fair in the future.
If they do we need new coaches on D. This was about DT, nobody is saying we don’t need CB’s but there were 2 CB’s on Jefferson and he caught the ball and they had great coverage. What we didn’t have was pressure on the QB. And FA is exactly the place we need to find one because very few DT’s come out of the draft and make a splash. You can find CB’s all day long in the draft that can walk right in and play.
All of those are good things. Pressure makes QBs worse, it reduces the options that are available to him. The pressure isn’t just standing still looking at him from two yards away, it’s fighting its ass off to get closer and is drawing his attention and affecting his decision making and/or his mechanics and footwork.
QB knock-downs are the stat I don’t get, unless he’s been knocked out the game it makes no difference to anything what happens after the ball has been released. There isn’t, or there shouldn’t be, a QB playing at this level who gets spooked by being hit a few times.
I personally would go here after a true force multiplier in the middle. Pressure up the middle is probably the most difficult thing for a QB to handle.
I love Alim and think he has developed into a borderline elite player on the interior, and still may have another step to take. Everyone else in that group are just role players, but they play their role pretty well. Both Benito and Buggs have been very stout in the middle against the run. Adding a Jalen Carter type of player would
Probably be the best option going for this defense, IMO. With that said, those guys are one of the hardest to find in the league.
I also truly believe this staff thinks they can develop Martin and may even think Levi has a chance to contribute as a pass rusher as well. I don’t think they see DT as a priority.
At the end of the day, it is a much easier task to find a couple quality outside CBs and manufacture a little pressure if you have to. If your CB can’t cover, it doesn’t matter how good your pass rush is.
Heck, it was just couple months ago someone on here was lecturing us all on how pressures are actually better than sacks. So at least 1 person is probably pretty happy with our defenses pressure/sack ratio.
