The 2021 True Sack Rate (TSR): Week 7 Update
Welcome back everyone for the Week 7 update to the TSR. A full explanation of this project with a detailed definition of terms can be found here. If you are new to the TSR, here are the final leaderboards from the 2020 season for edge-rusher and interior D-line.
My objective with the TSR is to identify which rushers utilized the highest level of skill against the most difficult set of circumstances to record a sack. We will be able to more accurately evaluate sack and pass-rush production as a whole for the position through this process.
First, a few notes:
327 sacks by 109 players have been charted and graded so far.
All stats are from Pro Football Reference.
All sacks are graded with the end zone and/or sideline copies of the film.
Half sacks were counted as full sacks if the rusher beat the blocker and was going to likely take down the quarterback without the help of a teammate.
Sacks were not counted if the QB got back to the line of scrimmage.
All graphs are made by John Pulice. A special thank you to Justin Scarpaci for building the formulas inside Google sheets to help make this project come alive.
Below is an example of the data I chart for each player using Cowboys Edge Randy Gregory’s individual player sheet:
Edge Results through Week 7
Listed below is the current top 29 in ‘sack score’ among edge defenders in the NFL (minimum score of 2.75).
Myles Garrett has maintained the top spot in sack score for the third straight week. Garrett had this unbelievable HQ sack against Broncos LT Garett Bolles in Week 7 to extend his lead. There remains a three-way tie for second place between Robert Quinn (didn’t play in Week 7), Chandler Jones (hasn’t played the last two weeks), and T.J. Watt (on a bye in Week 7).
Giants rookie Azeez Ojulari catapulted his way up the list to a four-way tie for fifth place with three sacks in Week 7, including two HQ sacks against fellow rookie in Panthers LT Brady Christensen. Both of Ojulari’s HQ sacks came using a stab-chop move and his only other HQ sack of the season against Falcons RT Kaleb McGary came using a stab variation as well. Ojulari is using his elite length (34 1/2) to establish first meaningful contact on blockers with his stab move, while stringing different moves together off of it as his primary way of winning.
The rare HQ (RHQ) tracker is up to seven this season from edge-rushers: Nick Bosa vs. Seahawks LT Duane Brown, Kyler Fackrell vs. Cowboys LT Tyron Smith, Al-Quadin Muhammad vs. Rams LT Andrew Whitworth, Everson Griffen vs. Seahawks LT Duane Brown, Chase Young vs. Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk, Myles Garrett vs. Chargers LT Rashawn Slater, and Alex Highsmith vs. Duane Brown.
Three players inside the top 29 have played less than 40% of their teams’ snaps this season: Jonathan Greenard (18th overall at 34% of snaps played), Darrell Taylor (22nd overall at 33% of snaps played), and Dee Ford (26th overall at 27% of snaps played).
Texans edge-rusher Jonathan Greenard has six total sacks this season despite playing just 34% of the teams’ snaps, which puts him in a five-way tie for 7th place overall in sacks. He ranks 16th in sack score due to only one of those sacks being HQ. Right now his sack numbers are more a product of circumstance than skill.
Montez Sweat had this beautiful HQ sack against Packers RT Billy Turner’s jump set off of play-action using a forklift technique. Sweat (21st in sack score) is now in a three-way tie with Darrell Taylor and Jadeveon Clowney in sack score.
Cowboys Edge Randy Gregory is betting 100 this season with all four of his sacks being high-quality. Each sack is perfectly representative of his best traits: excellent explosive power and suddenness.
Trey Hendrickson is off to a fast start this season in a tie for fifth overall in sack score with 3 HQ sacks and a forced fumble leading the way. In 2020, Hendrickson finished in a five-way tie for 9th overall in sack score despite finishing second overall in total sacks. He has already matched his total HQ sack number from last season.
Top 25 leaders for edge-rushers in most sacks per snap: (minimum of 150 snaps):
Top 25 leaders for edge-rushers in most HQ sacks per snap: (minimum of 150 snaps):
This list of rushers represent the most efficient and effective edge-rushers in the league through seven weeks for generating HQ sacks. This is where the TSR can offer unique value and identify under the radar rushers in terms of skill. (Anything under 100 snaps per HQ sack is particularly notable).
Interior Results through Week 7
Listed below is the current top 25 in ‘sack score’ among interior defensive line in the NFL (minimum score of 1.25).
Javon Hargrave continues to be in his own category of interior pass-rushers relative to sack production this year thanks to a league high five HQ sacks on the interior.
Packers DT Kingsley Keke and Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins are new additions to the TSR this week after eclipsing my two sack minimum on the season. Both Keke and Wilkins had two sacks in Week 7 to give them three each this year. Keke had one of my favorite HQ sacks of the week with this double-swipe move to beat Washington LG Ereck Flowers before bull-rushing LT Charles Leno into the QB for an eye-opening sack.
Keke also finished 22nd overall among interior rushers last season in sack score with a score of 3.5, including two HQ sacks.
Jonathan Allen (3rd overall in sack score) bumped his sack score up two points from last week with a two sack performance in Week 7, including the HQ sack of the week using a filthy cross-chop-club-swim combination to beat Packers LG Jon Runyan Jr.
Allen primarily uses his vaunted fake cross-chop under hook move that gets blockers to stop their feet and brace for power. This traditional cross-chop to the outside represents what makes him such a dynamic rusher from the interior with multiple ways to beat an opponent.Top 25 leaders for interior-rushers in most sacks per snap: (minimum of 150 snaps):
Top 25 leaders for interior-rushers in most HQ sacks per snap: (minimum of 150 snaps):
Top 26 Overall through Week 7
