Sack/hit/hurry numbers

Per Chris Price, using numbers from the NFL gamebooks (whatever those are) and PFF -- http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...ts-pass-rush-numbers-for-2014-regular-season/

Hits track remarkably closely to 2X sacks.

Sacks (via gamebooks)
DE Rob Ninkovich: 8 (54 yards)
LB Dont’€™a Hightower: 6 (50 yards)
DE Chandler Jones: 6 (49.5 yards)
LB Akeem Ayers: 4 (35 yards)
LB Jamie Collins: 4 (30 yards)
DL Chris Jones: 3 (17.5 yards)
DL Sealver Siliga: 2.5 (11.5 yards)

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Quarterback Hits (via gamebooks)
DE Rob Ninkovich: 16
LB Dont’€™a Hightower: 12
DE Chandler Jones: 12
LB Jamie Collins: 7
DL Chris Jones: 6
LB Akeem Ayers: 5
DL Sealver Siliga: 4

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But the correlation breaks down for hurries.

Quarterback Hurries (via PFF)
DE Rob Ninkovich: 33
LB Akeem Ayers: 23
DE Chandler Jones: 19
LB Jamie Collins: 17
LB Dont’€™€’„¢a Hightower: 17
DL Vince Wilfork: 16
DL Dominique Easley: 7
DL Chris Jones: 7
LB Jerod Mayo: 5
DE Zach Moore: 4
DL Casey Walker: 3
DL Sealver Siliga: 4

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Judging by PFF numbers from November --https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/11/12/sig-stats-pass-rushing-productivity/ -- no one Patriot's full-year numbers were terrifically high (but we already knew that). Meanwhile, in a tidbit from that article:

Former Broncos defensive linemen Robert Ayers has been a revelation since making the switch to the New York Giants, turning a backup end role come sub-package tackle role into phenomenal production.

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It's been a good year for the team-switching Ayers brothers.

Ayers numbers are probably the most impressive when you consider everything.

Seeing this chart, it's clear that Hightower & Collins are quite effective blitzers. They might not have the same # of hurries as Ayers or Ninko, but they are rushing on less plays.

Ayers numbers are impressive given his short time here. I hope we see him rotated in during the playoffs. It will be nice to have a guy to bring off the bench with fresh legs to go get the QB.

I was surprised to see Ayers difficulty finding snaps when Jones returned, but hope to see them both on the field on passing downs next week.

If only chandler had stayed healthy, he was headed for a monster year. Oh well, long as he stays healthy during the super bowl run I'm happy.

Mack Herron said:

I was surprised to see Ayers difficulty finding snaps when Jones returned, but hope to see them both on the field on passing downs next week.

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NE went heavy against NY and Miami because they are running teams and Chandler is the best run stopping DE. I suspect if NE faces Indy or Denver, Ayers will get a good amount of snaps.

Oswlek said:

NE went heavy against NY and Miami because they are running teams and Chandler is the best run stopping DE. I suspect if NE faces Indy or Denver, Ayers will get a good amount of snaps.

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Do you think it's more about base vs. sub or more about who plays in each package?

Per a Reiss post today, Ayers has played strictly in sub recently, Bills 2nd half excepted.

Fencer said:

Do you think it's more about base vs. sub or more about who plays in each package?

Per a Reiss post today, Ayers has played strictly in sub recently, Bills 2nd half excepted.

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We're saying much the same thing, I think.

Oswlek said:

We're saying much the same thing, I think.

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In that case, your analysis is brilliant.

Oswlek said:

We're saying much the same thing, I think.

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Fencer said:

In that case, your analysis is brilliant.

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I'm so glad the two of you agree with me on this.

Reading the article, it is somewhat surprising that total sacks were down from last year. With the much improved secondary, I would have expected an increase in coverage sacks, and therefore an increase in total sacks.

Wait a minute.. those numbers can't be right. Vince Wilfork had 16 QB hurries? He's ONLY a run stopper and he doesn't collapse the pocket according to the people on here..

DaBruinz said:

Wait a minute.. those numbers can't be right. Vince Wilfork had 16 QB hurries? He's ONLY a run stopper and he doesn't collapse the pocket according to the people on here..

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Wilfork is extremely vital to the success of the defensive line, in my opinion. Even with a higher cap hit above 8 million dollars next season, I still believe that they should keep him.

That said, I'd also like to see the DL position addressed with a draft pick or two, along the possibility of a middle tiered free agent. I think we need to start increasing the preparation for life without Wilfork, although I hope that doesn't happen until 2016.

Danger Zone said:

I'm so glad the two of you agree with me on this.

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You're all just really agreeing with me, so I clearly deserve the credit here

Fencer said:

Do you think it's more about base vs. sub or more about who plays in each package?

Per a Reiss post today, Ayers has played strictly in sub recently, Bills 2nd half excepted.

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I remember seeing him play MLB in a 4-3 base I'm sure. What I find interesting though is that in the 3-4 base, Hightower played OLB rather than Ayers (Collins and Casillas played inside). I approve of giving Hightower pass rush snaps but I would have thought Ayers would be ideally suited as a 3-4 OLB.

supafly said:

You're all just really agreeing with me, so I clearly deserve the credit here

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The planets have aligned or it must be freaky Friday or something, this place is turning into a love fest.. we all can just get along. Namaste.

Oswlek said:

NE went heavy against NY and Miami because they are running teams and Chandler is the best run stopping DE. I suspect if NE faces Indy or Denver, Ayers will get a good amount of snaps.

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Understood, but Ayers got only 5 snaps against the Jets, and they were in sub more often. Just curious.

Fencer said:

Per Chris Price, using numbers from the NFL gamebooks (whatever those are) and PFF -- http://itiswhatitis.weei.com/sports...ts-pass-rush-numbers-for-2014-regular-season/

Hits track remarkably closely to 2X sacks.





But the correlation breaks down for hurries.


Judging by PFF numbers from November --https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2014/11/12/sig-stats-pass-rushing-productivity/ -- no one Patriot's full-year numbers were terrifically high (but we already knew that). Meanwhile, in a tidbit from that article:


It's been a good year for the team-switching Ayers brothers.

Click to expand...

The correlation breaks down because it goes from a legitimate source to PFF.

Oswlek said:

NE went heavy against NY and Miami because they are running teams and Chandler is the best run stopping DE. I suspect if NE faces Indy or Denver, Ayers will get a good amount of snaps.

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Disagree. He isn't playing in place of Chandler Jones in sub against a passing team. Jones is a far better pass rusher.
In sub, he doesnt really have a play to play (Nink,DT,DT,Jones,HT, Collins) until we get to 3rd and long and bounce Jones inside.
In base, it is very surprising to me that Casillas has played ahead of him, although it could have been a chance to see what Casillas could do in the buff game, which by the way, was play horribly.
I would assume Ayers has his job back if and when we ever play base, and in sub is the first backup off the bench at DE or LB.

I finished putting in all the defensive plays from the final game last night, so there's now the full season in the defensive part of the database if you want to see player totals by down, etc:

http://www.patsfans.com/new-england-patriots/stats/2014/defense/sortable/

You can also sort by each category column too. Collins was the team leader in tackles on 3rd down with 22, while Ninkovich and Hightower lead the team in QB hits with 6 & 5 respectively. One of the other things I thought was interesting was the fact they only had one interception on 3rd down all season, which was made by Harmon. Was surprised we didn't see a few more...or at least more than one in that situation this season.