Reader Mr Posh asked if there was a relationship between the decline in the total number of NFL players with 10+ sacks, and the overall team sack totals in the NFL. My earlier posts didn’t answer that question directly, but take a look at this graphic:
Between 2006 and 2008, the overall sack totals for NFL teams declined by an average of 10.9%. During the same period, the number of players with 10+ sacks declined 33.33%. There is obviously some relationship there, but it would not be accurate to say that a drop in the number of 10+ sack players equals a drop in overall sack totals across the league. Instead, it appears sacks are being distributed more evenly across defenses.
It is, of course, debatable whether that trend is due to a lack of individual pass rush talent in today’s NFL or it is due to new defensive schemes that are becoming vogue. What do you think?