Are pass rush DE's obsolete?

[ConceptCoop]

As great as he was in the SB and is....Miller only had 11 sacks last season and has topped that number only twice in five years in the NFL.
Pass rushing is so much more than sacks.

He averages 13.3 sacks per season and 14.8 per 16 playoff games. In his 4 healthy seasons, he's never finished below 11 sacks - 18.5, 14, 11.5, 11. Don't let J.J. Watt fool you - that's a ton of sacks!

 

[Bullflop]

QUESTION: Are pass rush DEs obsolete?

ANSWER: Well, they surely appear to be in Dallas!

 

[Beast_from_East]

Are pass rushing DEs obsolete?

Only in Dallas

 

[Alexander]

Miller is not a DE. The reason so many teams went to the 3- 4 is because it is a better configuration for stopping the run game; however, nowadays it appears to also be easier to find smaller LB's who can rush the QB every play and be more effective against the behemoth OTs than a true DE. When you find a true DE who can generate consistent pass pressure and hold the edge against the run, you hold onto him and pay him huge money whether he ever gets more than 10-12 sacks per year. In the 3-4, the OLB doesn't have to hold the edge, so he's pinning his ears back on every play, more so in passing situations.

The college game has been going towards smaller quicker DL to counter the spread.

That has created a glut of tweeners and the NFL has been slow to adapt.

Right now, teams are tripping all over themselves about Myles Garrett. He is a player who could go as a LB or DE.

That is just the way it is developing.

This idea of a true 4-3 DE is not what is coming out anymore than pro-ready QBs are being served up.