Will less sacks this year equal more wins??

[Ludwig van]

I read an article that I will try and link later that said Pettine's defense may have less sacks than last year's group yet instead have more QB pressures..

I am not worried too much about stats as long we are competitive..

Even if they do not get a sack week one it would be worth it seeing Brady running for his life and being forced to make mistakes..

- update

Here is the actual article

Because new Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine employs an aggressive, attack-first defense, fans have assumed that the Bills' sack totals will soar through the roof in 2013. Then again, the Bills finished with 36 sacks a year ago, while the New York Jets - Pettine's former team - had just 30.

 

"Sacks, to me, have always been a little bit elusive when you're a pressure defense," Pettine told BuffaloBills.com in an interview published this morning. "I think the ball tends to come out a little bit sooner. We've actually timed it, gone to the tape and timed it. We've always felt that the ball came out, on average, much quicker against us than it did against a lot of other teams just because of the perceived threat of pressure."

 

Pressure, Pettine says, is what helps a defense compete in the NFL, even against elite-level competition.

 

"To me, what's more important is how much did we affect the quarterback this game? One of the first times we ever went against New England in New York, the first game in the 2009 season, I think we pressured Tom Brady over 20 times - we physically got a hand on him, knocked him down, whatever it was - over 20 times," Pettine explained. "Never got a sack, but to me, that was a game where we felt he was constantly under pressure, and it affected him, we thought, late in the game. That's what we're more looking for - how much can we affect the quarterback?"

 

Only once in Pettine's four-year run as Jets defensive coordinator did his defense finish with more sacks than the 36 the Bills put up last year (the Jets had 40 in 2010). Bills fans can clearly expect an uptick in pressures per game, but our question for you is this: are you still expecting more sacks than the 36 the team had a year ago?

Edited July 7, 2013 by Ludwig van

[swnybillsfan]

qb hits can be nice as well.

[K-9]

Pressures lead to more turnovers. Sacks are sexier, though.

 

GO BILLS!!!

[FLbills]

Pressures lead to more turnovers. Sacks are sexier, though.

 

GO BILLS!

 

!I believe it also leads to bragging rights, which in turn will lead to a boost in confidence.

 

 

Edited July 6, 2013 by FLbills

[jumbalaya]

sacks lead to loss of yards

[swnybillsfan]

Pressures lead to more turnovers. Sacks are sexier, though.

 

GO BILLS!!!

any way you slice it, we need to find ways to put the qb on his @$$ early and often this year.

[Optometric Insight]

Sacks can effectively end a series; pressures aren't a sure fired way to do that.

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Like Buddy would say, "Dagnabit, one in the hand is better than two in the bush…"

[14127]

sacks lead to loss of yards

So do pressures that lead to holding calls.

[Dorkington]

Sacks vs Pressures really depend on the opposing QB, imo. Some take the sack, some force a throw... either is good for me, I just don't want to see the opposing QB with 3 minutes to throw the ball.

[BuffaloBill]

Like Buddy would say, "Dagnabit, one in the hand is better than two in the bush…"

 

Depends on the bush.

[Rubes]

I favor anything that makes Tom Brady feel uncomfortable.

[Nanker]

I favor anything that makes Tom Brady feel uncomfortable.

Like walking into a gay bar dressed in leather?

[San Jose Bills Fan]

Depends on the bush.

 

Like Buddy would say, "beauty is skin deep but ugly goes right down to the bone, goldarnit"

[Mr. WEO]

Like Buddy would say, "Dagnabit, one in the hand is better than two in the bush…"

 

I think he and Ralph heard that when they were having a beer with Ben Franklin.

[Nikademus]

I favor anything that makes Tom Brady feel uncomfortable.

Like walking into a gay bar dressed in leather?

 

I don't think this would make Brady uncomfortable.

[first_and_ten]

I read an article that I will try and link later that said Pettine's defense may have less sacks than last year's group yet instead have more QB pressures..

I am not worried too much about stats as long we are competitive..

Even if they do not get a sack week one it would be worth it seeing Brady running for his life and being forced to make mistakes..

 

Quarterback pressures are a result of trying to sack the quarterback. Teams that pressure the quarterback naturally get more sacks. Not sure how this writer you speak of can argue a defense can get more pressure on the QB than lasts years team but fewer sacks.

[CardinalScotts]

we gave up 35 or more 6 times last year, yes I know not all the defenses fault (your right they were great) cut that by a third and your right there

[Ludwig van]

 

 

Quarterback pressures are a result of trying to sack the quarterback. Teams that pressure the quarterback naturally get more sacks. Not sure how this writer you speak of can argue a defense can get more pressure on the QB than lasts years team but fewer sacks.

Edited July 7, 2013 by Ludwig van

[RealityCheck]

I read an article that I will try and link later that said Pettine's defense may have less sacks than last year's group yet instead have more QB pressures..

I am not worried too much about stats as long we are competitive..

Even if they do not get a sack week one it would be worth it seeing Brady running for his life and being forced to make mistakes..

- update

Here is the actual article

Because new Buffalo Bills defensive coordinator Mike Pettine employs an aggressive, attack-first defense, fans have assumed that the Bills' sack totals will soar through the roof in 2013. Then again, the Bills finished with 36 sacks a year ago, while the New York Jets - Pettine's former team - had just 30.

 

"Sacks, to me, have always been a little bit elusive when you're a pressure defense," Pettine told BuffaloBills.com in an interview published this morning. "I think the ball tends to come out a little bit sooner. We've actually timed it, gone to the tape and timed it. We've always felt that the ball came out, on average, much quicker against us than it did against a lot of other teams just because of the perceived threat of pressure."

 

Pressure, Pettine says, is what helps a defense compete in the NFL, even against elite-level competition.

 

"To me, what's more important is how much did we affect the quarterback this game? One of the first times we ever went against New England in New York, the first game in the 2009 season, I think we pressured Tom Brady over 20 times - we physically got a hand on him, knocked him down, whatever it was - over 20 times," Pettine explained. "Never got a sack, but to me, that was a game where we felt he was constantly under pressure, and it affected him, we thought, late in the game. That's what we're more looking for - how much can we affect the quarterback?"

 

Only once in Pettine's four-year run as Jets defensive coordinator did his defense finish with more sacks than the 36 the Bills put up last year (the Jets had 40 in 2010). Bills fans can clearly expect an uptick in pressures per game, but our question for you is this: are you still expecting more sacks than the 36 the team had a year ago?

Nice article. I don't know how the sack totals will play out, but I expect the front 7 to collapse and penetrate the pocket on a more consistent basis. In doing so I would expect them to disrupt the running game more often than not. I don't really care about sack totals so much as stopping teams from scoring points. I am definitely optimistic.