Pass Rush

I Am Rodgers · Joined: 19 Jan 2009 Posts: 7549 Location: New Jersey

I know we were feeling better this season about our pass rush, but I was just perusing PFF's numbers (I know some of you dislike them) and they had us 2nd to last in pass rush rating. That surprised me. While we did increase our sack numbers from last year, our QB hurries overall were down, as well as our hurry percentage. So while we were getting home more often this year, we were disrupting the QB less. The top pass pass rushing team by PFF metrics was the Eagles. They posted a 27.6% disruption rate, a little more than 1 of every 4 pass plays. We were at 20.8%, or 1 every 5 pass plays.

Now this may surprise some of you who don't pay a ton of attention, but guess who was our most disruptive pass rusher. Go ahead, guess. I'll wait. That's right. Clay Matthews. 12.76% of his rushes resulted in a sack, QB hit, or hurry. 2nd most disruptive was Mike Neal at 10.93%. Below I've listed our pass rushers on this percentage. I did not include anyone that was not a pass rusher (IE Woodson blitzing has 43 pass rush snaps)

Clay Matthews 12.76%
Mike Neal 10.93%
Nick Perry 9.52%
Dezman Moses 8.24%
Mike Daniels 7.02%
Erik Walden 6.81%
BJ Raji 6.22%
CJ Wilson 5.56%
Jerel Worthy 2.56%
Ryan Pickett 2.23%

Our best hope for increasing our pass rush? A healthy Nick Perry and more Dezman Moses and Mike Neal. Also an improvement from year 1 to year two for Worthy. Walden was used on 440 pass rush snaps. Perry as only 105, Moses 255. Also more depth at OLB in case of injury. I don't see us resigning Walden. I think Moses and Perry can more than handle his snaps. No point in paying him to be our 4th OLB.
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RG25 · Joined: 10 Dec 2012 Posts: 242 Location: Italy

Interesting read and break down. I've come to noticed quite a few people don't like Moses, I thought he played solid for the year. Obviously he isn't the best but I think he can become a very solid player for this team.

Blink · Joined: 05 Aug 2011 Posts: 748 Location: Denver, CO

The problem with the pass rush is we only have a select few guys who can win his 1on1s.

Clay and Neal are the most consistent, Perry and Moses next.

Perry has real potential to be a scary edge rusher, Moses IMO will always be just a guy. Moses of course will get better, I just don't think he has the tools to realistically threaten you off the edge on a daily basis.

Outside of Neal, Raji is really the only other interior guy who can push the pocket.

Hopefully Worthy, Daniels, and Perry all keep getting better but IMO we still have a pretty big need for guys who can get after the QB.

Clay can't do it all by himself, and with his recurring hamstring issue he'll most likely miss a game or two next season. IMO defensively we have a massive need for physical front seven guys.

HyponGrey · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:21 pm Post subject:

Shame we keep whiffing on all these draft picks. All these bums on all these important positions. Wish we had better coaches that could actually develop these guys.
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nfldraftguru1 · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 11118 Location: Menomonie, WI

HyponGrey · Posted: Tue Jan 15, 2013 4:58 pm Post subject:

MNPackfan32 · Joined: 22 Sep 2010 Posts: 10174

Thanks for the info IAR. The biggest problem I see with Worthy was he really had no 2nd or counter move, if he doesn't win initially he didn't get pressure. That said he has some nice tools for a guy his size, even if he never developes in the pass rush department we will have a high energy run defender.
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Ketchup · Joined: 13 May 2009 Posts: 17957 Location: Milwaukee, WI

Losing Nick Perry may very well have been the defenses undoing. After Bishop, he is probably our most important player that we lost to injury. Get our defense healthy, bring in some more depth on the front 7 and draft a top flight S to pair with Burnett and we have ourself's a defense filled with talent to be a legit force.
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El ramster on the custom sig!

Kampman74 · Joined: 30 Apr 2007 Posts: 9765

nfldraftguru1 · Joined: 07 Feb 2009 Posts: 11118 Location: Menomonie, WI

Blink · Joined: 05 Aug 2011 Posts: 748 Location: Denver, CO

Wasn't counting ILBs Kamp, only the guys who rush the passer on almost every down. Bishop is a good blitzer, that's not the same thing as a good pass rusher.

NCPackFan · Joined: 12 Jan 2013 Posts: 4433 Location: Quahog, RI

I think we need to be loading up on pass-rushers at the OLB position. We simply do NOT have any other glaring weaknesses on this team other than at Center, CB, and S. Those three things can improve through 3 solid draft picks and/or guys coming back healthy.

palmy50 · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 15452

I feel Matthews, Perry, Neal, and Daniels are or have the ability to be very good in the pass rush area at position. Sure would be nice to see them all on the damn field at the same time!

Moses and Worthy have some natural rush ability also. But there are things that will hold them back at some level including how they may be used moving ahead.

Either way, we need to get Matthews, Perry, Neal, and Daniels on the field in those spots! If that is not possible......well lets just hope it is.

I still see the front seven on D as a very real draft day need for a host of reasons and hope TT feels the same.

HyponGrey · Posted: Wed Jan 16, 2013 1:54 am Post subject:

palmy50 · Joined: 26 Nov 2006 Posts: 15452