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NFL 2008


AFC News 'N' Notes -- Week 12
Week 12, 2008, 11/21/2008

AFC NEWS ‘N’ NOTES


NFL PASS RUSHERS ARE PRESSURE PACKED


NFL quarterbacks aim to exploit defensive secondaries with a bevy of pass-catching weapons. While a solid defensive backfield is required to slow down a lethal passing attack, the credentials to stop the pass are owned by defenders upfront who can pressure the quarterback.

“Getting pressure on the passer is probably the most essential part of any pass defense holding up week in and week out,” says Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator DICK LE BEAU, who heads up the NFL’s top-ranked defense.

“That does not necessarily mean just sacks but pressure where you can make the quarterback move, get him off his rhythm and affect his accuracy,” says LeBeau, who will be honored by the NFL this Thursday night before the Steelers’ game against Cincinnati for 50 years of service to the league. “The quarterbacks and receivers are so good at this level that you are not going to stop them without throwing them a little off of their rhythm.”

Miami Dolphins linebacker JOEY PORTER played under LeBeau in Pittsburgh and has been a disruptive force for Dolphins rookie head coach TONY SPARANO’s pass-rushing attack.

Porter leads the NFL with 13.5 sacks and with six games remaining needs 9.5 sacks to break MICHAEL STRAHAN’s NFL season record in the category (22.5 in 2001).

Porter has half of Miami’s 27 sacks and his pass-rushing instincts have been game-changers.

“Pass-rushing is big, it changes the game a lot,” he says. “You can change your opponents’ game plan in terms of how they are going to pass protect. If you have a guy who is a dominant pass rusher on either side, or if you have two, you have to account for them. It might allow some other people to come in free because they will focus so much on one person.”


A look at the players in history with the highest percentage of their team’s sacks through 10 games (minimum 10 sacks):



PLAYER
YEAR
PLAYER SACKS
TEAM SACKS
PCT.

Tim Harris, Green Bay Packers
1989
12.5
18
69.4

John Abraham, Atlanta Falcons
2008
11.0
18
61.1

Mark Gastineau, New York Jets
1984
17.5
29
60.3

Simeon Rice, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
2003
11.0
21
52.4

Kevin Greene, Carolina Panthers
1998
13.0
26
50.0

Joey Porter, Miami Dolphins
2008
13.5
27
50.0



Steelers linebackers JAMES HARRISON (12.0 sacks) and LA MARR WOODLEY (9.5) have certainly had to be accounted for this season. The tandem has totaled 21.5 sacks through Week 11 and can challenge CHRIS DOLEMAN (21.0) and KEITH MILLARD (18.0) of the 1989 Vikings as the only teammates in history with 15-or-more sacks in a season.

“You’ve got to pick your poison with those two,” says Pittsburgh defensive end AARON SMITH of Harrison and Woodley. “The pressure they bring can be unbelievable.”

“We play solid defense here,” says Harrison, whose defensive unit is tied with Philadelphia for a league-high 36 sacks. “We try to stop the run and make them one-dimensional so they have to pass.”


DICK LE BEAU’S “101” ON PASS-RUSHING TECHNIQUES


TECHNIQUE
LE BEAU’S INSIGHT

Speed Rush
“With the speed rush, you’re trying to create more of a space game. Offensive tackles are all around 6-5 to 6-8 and they’re athletic guys. If you can’t get them moving and defending more space, they are going to put the bulk factor on you. The speed rush makes them move their feet and creates room for your counters.”

Bull Rush
“The bull rush compliments the speed rush in that if you can get the player worrying about defending space, then he has less mass and space to resist your straight ahead power rush.”

Stunts
“Stunts force the offensive line to coordinate and communicate. Oftentimes it can create a problem that you cannot create one-on-one with a very gifted line-blocker. You try to make them identify two or three players instead of one. A top pass blocker, if you leave him one-on-one all day, he is probably going to grade out very well at the end of the day.”

Swim Move
“The swim move is the same to the arm-under. They are compliments to the speed rush and the counter-back. Again, you try to get the opponents weight to work under him.”




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