Make or break stat

[drew4008]

Cassel sacked 19 times in 5 games.
Brady sacked 21 times in 16 games last year.

If that doesn't change, we're going to lose a lot... we just can't handle 3rd and longs.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

I agree. The o-line is doing a horrible job protecting him. And although it wasn't a sack the only reason why Cassel is even the QB was the o-line failed to do its job protecting Brady in the KC game.

 

[chech1965]

I agree. The o-line is doing a horrible job protecting him. And although it wasn't a sack the only reason why Cassel is even the QB was the o-line failed to do its job protecting Brady in the KC game.

He's getting sacked cause he's holding on to the ball too long and since Cassel is a rare deep ball threat, the defense can afford to keep a lot of guys close and the O-line can't hold them back.

 

[Kontradiction]

I agree. The o-line is doing a horrible job protecting him. And although it wasn't a sack the only reason why Cassel is even the QB was the o-line failed to do its job protecting Brady in the KC game.

Yep. We need to completely retool at OL. I used to say shop Light and Mankins for draft picks in the offseason but now I want to shop Light, Koppen, and Seymour for picks if it's possible. Place Green in for Seymour (I actually think he's a lot more productive in the pass rush anyway) and get yourself a franchise LT in the draft as well as a mauler of a center. I've seen Koppen get run over one too many times.

 

[Disco Volante]

Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked 18 times this season and has 9 TDs along with a 98.1 QB rating.

O-Line can be better, RBs can be better, QB can be better. The lack of offense does not rest solely on the line, at all.

 

[DarrylS]

Sacks are partially the problem of the O Line, but also Cassell has to release the ball quicker, use his feet more and make quicker good decisions.

 

[TheGodInAGreyHoodie]

The lack of offense does not rest solely on the line, at all.

I disagree. If the O-line did there job during the second drive of the first quarter of the KC game our offense is led by a 4 time pro-bowl, TD record breaking, 2 time SB MVP QB instead of Matt Cassel. So the o-line is directly responsible for the lack of offense we have this year.

The fact that Matt is throwing the football instead of holding a clip board is the o-line's fault. It is their job to keep Brady safe and Matt Cassel on the bench. And they failed miserably.

 

[Wendel]

I disagree. If the O-line did there job during the second drive of the first quarter of the KC game our offense is led by a 4 time pro-bowl, TD record breaking, 2 time SB MVP QB instead of Matt Cassel. So the o-line is directly responsible for the lack of offense we have this year.

The fact that Matt is throwing the football instead of holding a clip board is the o-line's fault. It is their job to keep Brady safe and Matt Cassel on the bench. And they failed miserably.

With that logic, it was Sammy Morris' fault.

 

[wdkantro2]

Yep. We need to completely retool at OL. I used to say shop Light and Mankins for draft picks in the offseason but now I want to shop Light, Koppen, and Seymour for picks if it's possible. Place Green in for Seymour (I actually think he's a lot more productive in the pass rush anyway) and get yourself a franchise LT in the draft as well as a mauler of a center. I've seen Koppen get run over one too many times.

I wouldn't get rid of Koppen. You see how bad Manning started the year after losing his usual center. I think the center-QB relationship is very important but seldom talked about, and I wouldn't change that up on Brady. Also, the center is like the captain of the O-line, often calling out assignments and recognizing defenses. You can't just take a "mauler" who can do that as well as Koppen can.

I have been preaching the LT thing for awhile too. However, I wouldn't get rid of Light, but I'd move him to RT to make room for a legitimate LT. That way, we solve two problems; the lack of a reliable RT and the lack of a dominant LT.
Also, I understand what you're saying about Seymour, but I think the jury is still out. There is no doubt he hasn't achieved up to the press clippings, but I'm not going to write him off as trade bait after only 5 healthy games. I like Jarvis a lot, but he is either a 4-3 end or a third down rusher, he can't stuff the run as a 3-4 end IMO. In terms of run stop, yeah this defense ranks 20th in the league, but take out a ridiculous 216 yard performance against the Dolphins and it's really not that bad. The run stop has not been the problem in this defense. The pass rush has...but that's not strictly on Seymour; blame needs to be spread to the other linemen, the blitzing LBs and the coordinator not calling enough pressure packages.