TWOK11
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Here’s a dirty little secret: NFL DCs don’t really care that much about about QB scrambles. This is because one, it is not a sustainable means of offense over time and two, it generally means you’re creating a lot of pressure and the passing game isn’t as effective.
NFL games are won and lost by passing efficiency, and most notably explosive passing metrics. This is because sustainable offense requires chunk plays through the air. Teams that try to score by slowly moving the ball with the running game generally get tripped up because one holding penalty, one bad snap, one dropped pass and the drive could be over. And the more plays it takes to score the more likely this is to happen.
QB scrambles are a play unique for offenses because they have EXTRMELY high rates of penalties. Very frequently holding is happening because the QB is getting pressure. Blocks in the back downfield and illegal men downfield are also seen on these plays. And lots of scrambles also mean you are probably getting lots of pressures and/or sacks, and as a result also creating turnovers. Over the course of a game and season, you are likely getting mostly net wins if QBs are tying to escape and run on you a lot. And therefore it is not the primary concern of most DCs. They take a “if it happens it happens, that’s not a sustainable model for them to have success” approach.
The reason Dallas is winning games eight now is because our defense is holding opposing offenses to the worst adjusted passing efficiency and explosiveness metrics in the entire NFL. That’s it, that’s the reason. All other reasons discussed here (running game, Rush, OL, etc.) are trivial in comparison. And it’s also why our bad run defenses hasn’t really mattered, because running the ball has almost no correlation with winning in modern football.
I’ve been explaining this to you guys for years, and for years you’ve been ignoring. Now you’re seeing it play out in the most obvious manner possible and you still want to ignore it.
NFL games are won and lost by passing efficiency, and most notably explosive passing metrics. This is because sustainable offense requires chunk plays through the air. Teams that try to score by slowly moving the ball with the running game generally get tripped up because one holding penalty, one bad snap, one dropped pass and the drive could be over. And the more plays it takes to score the more likely this is to happen.
QB scrambles are a play unique for offenses because they have EXTRMELY high rates of penalties. Very frequently holding is happening because the QB is getting pressure. Blocks in the back downfield and illegal men downfield are also seen on these plays. And lots of scrambles also mean you are probably getting lots of pressures and/or sacks, and as a result also creating turnovers. Over the course of a game and season, you are likely getting mostly net wins if QBs are tying to escape and run on you a lot. And therefore it is not the primary concern of most DCs. They take a “if it happens it happens, that’s not a sustainable model for them to have success” approach.
The reason Dallas is winning games eight now is because our defense is holding opposing offenses to the worst adjusted passing efficiency and explosiveness metrics in the entire NFL. That’s it, that’s the reason. All other reasons discussed here (running game, Rush, OL, etc.) are trivial in comparison. And it’s also why our bad run defenses hasn’t really mattered, because running the ball has almost no correlation with winning in modern football.
I’ve been explaining this to you guys for years, and for years you’ve been ignoring. Now you’re seeing it play out in the most obvious manner possible and you still want to ignore it.
