Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Originally posted by Kolohe:
Originally posted by CatchMaster80:
Before the season started people were saying that the Niners D line was the best or second best in the league. At this point I'm not sure they're even top 10. They're not getting the pressure or sacks that we expected but they're also giving up too many yards on the ground. Is it the changes that Wilks brought in?
They're getting the pressures they're just not finishing.
So they aren't getting the job done. Pressures are fine but sacks are way better. Yardage loss. The chance of a QB fumble. The way they fire up the defense and home crowd. Good QBs can throw under pressure. They can't throw when they're on the ground.
Bill Belichick does not agree :
"I think if you look at the overall passing game, the statistic that stands out the most in terms of correlation is pressure. So pressure on the quarterback leads to more bad plays than sacks do, in terms of turnovers unless you have strip sacks, obviously. That's the No. 1. After that, pressures cause bad throws and potentially turnovers."
Belichick noted that the pass rush comes down to team defense, tethering the production of the pass rush to the quality of coverage and vice versa. But his note about focusing on strip sacks and pressure while devaluing sacks is a unique insight. Sacks make players money, but they may not be tied to winning football games. Winning the turnover differential is an enormous part of winning football games. The Los Angeles Rams (+11), New Orleans Saints (+8), Chicago Bears (+14) are in the top five in turnover differential. The Patriots are in the top 10 at +5, a number which is improving as Tom Brady hasn't thrown an interception since Week 7.
So if pressures are tied to turnovers and turnovers are tied to wins, then Belichick's emphasis on pressures follow his cliche: "We do what's best for the team to win games."
Pressures force QBs off their spots and to make quicker decisions. They lead to QBs making poor decisions to avoid the sack, which can lead to errant/inaccurate throws, tips and picks.
Belichick isn't the only defensive minded coach in football (both college and pros) who have this mindset, it's actually a pretty common mindset amongst defensive coaches.
Wait. 
