How many sacks do the Cowboys need to get this season?

[big dog cowboy]

I'll trade sacks for turnovers.

Exactamundo.

 

[RoyTheHammer]

Cowboys had 34 sacks last year, about 2 per game. Sounds low and a big deal has been made about the defensive line. The 2 SB teams had 37-Balt. and 38-SF sacks apiece so does that mean the Cowboys just need 3 or 4 more sacks this year to be competitive with 2 SB teams?

I don't think number of sacks correlates with games won in any mathematical way.

How many we need is an odd question. I'd say enough to win us the super bowl.

 

[xwalker]

The problem with pressures is that they could be an effect of winning rather than the cause.

Here is what I mean. When a team is winning the game the opponent will pass a lot and the team knows it so its DL can shoot off and focus on the pass rush. The opposing QB may try to hold onto the ball a bit longer to try and create a big play and that will lead to extra pressures.

I think one way of neutralizing this effect would be to measure pressures per pass attempt.

I still think QB hits is a better measure because it is more objective. Either the QB got hit and the defense didn't get penalized which means the defender was within two steps and arguably probably was putting some pressure on the QB. Again numbers here should be normalized per pass attempt.

Good point. It would also be interesting to look at pressures and sacks in the 1st and 2nd quarters independently of total pressure per game.

 

[OhSnap]

I don't think number of sacks correlates with games won in any mathematical way.

How many we need is an odd question. I'd say enough to win us the super bowl.

I think they're connected because they represent a percentage of the pressures a team is gettin on the QB and the QB can't be allowed to sit back and throw. But do we want to say sacks are overrated? Without getting one on the third down to kill a drive the sack is just a speed bump?

 

[OhSnap]

Another aspect that often gets overlooked is pressures, which is just as important (if not moreso). Do you have stats for playoff/SB teams for total pressures?

I can't find league pressures, I think you can if you subscribe to one of the sites that keep analytic stats but DC Times projects individual players for the Cowboys allot using those sites. This is an article from June projecting Ratliff and Spencer, he's got Spencer for 40 pressures this year. http://thedctimes.com/2013/06/anthony-spencer-jay-ratliff-2013-projections/ Pressures do lead to turnovers.

 

[Jarv]

48

 

[RoyTheHammer]

I think they're connected because they represent a percentage of the pressures a team is gettin on the QB and the QB can't be allowed to sit back and throw. But do we want to say sacks are overrated? Without getting one on the third down to kill a drive the sack is just a speed bump?

On the other hand, a team could have alot of pressures, but not finish often, so they would have a low amount of sacks, but maybe they force alot of 3 and outs anyway because they still always make the QB throw it away quickly or have a hand in his face when he does so.

It also depends on how good your coverage units are. Lot of different factors to consider..

 

[OhSnap]

On the other hand, a team could have alot of pressures, but not finish often, so they would have a low amount of sacks, but maybe they force alot of 3 and outs anyway because they still always make the QB throw it away quickly or have a hand in his face when he does so.

It also depends on how good your coverage units are. Lot of different factors to consider..

I agree I was just tryna get someone besides me to say that sacks are over rated since they outlawed knockin him silly..(unless they're on 3rd down a pressure that ends in a TO is way more valuable) Since they can't hit a QB hard enough to make him play scared anymore I don't think the sack is as effective.