View topic - The Sack Problem: Oline or Big Ben's fault?

[Lake37 Profile]

It's often debated on this site and all throughout Stillers nation, whether the sack issue is a result of the offensive line's incompetence or because Big Ben holds onto the ball too long. People are always saying, "I would love to look back and see how many were the o-line's fault and how many are on Big Ben". So let's do it, start keeping track of the sacks and who is to blame for them for the 2009 season. Hopefully, after each week's games we can come to a consensus about who to "credit" the sack too. I will list the game, total number of sacks, and then a "Big Ben" category and an "Oline" category. Then after each week, we will tally up the totals for the season.

BR7 was sacked 4 times last week, to the best of my memory I think 2 were his fault and 2 were to blame for the o-line. Feel free to correct me if I am wrong b/c I am going only off of memory.

Week One: Steelers 13- Titans 10 (OT)

Total Sacks: 4
Big Ben: 2
O-line: 2

[indysteel Profile]

I believe last year I came across an article that put about 15 - 20 on the line. The rest were on BR7. I believe everyone will agree sacks are unavoidable. After all, the other side gets paid too. And, yes, BR7 can hang on to the ball at times to create sacks as well.


The anger you hear and feel on this site is related to the GROSS INCOMPETENCE of some of the line and a TE named Spaeth.


What we should be tracking are "Look Out" blocks and - my favorite - the "Turnstile Block."

[lloydgreene Profile]

Keep in mind we re-signed this line for major $$$ in the off season. The front office is not without blame here either.

[Pump-N-Iron Profile]

What we should be tracking are "Look Out" blocks and - my favorite - the "Turnstile Block."

or some of my favorites, the Ostrich Block (stick your head in the sand while the defender goes over/around you) and "Was that my guy?" Block.

[StillDodger Profile]

The sack that led to the missed FG was definitely the OL....... Ben wasn't even finished with his dropback when he got bowled over....... In retrospect, it was the play of the game. (Sure Reed normally makes a 36 yard FG, but no NFL kicker misses from 26 yards.)

[steelcitymetal Profile]

only 2 sacks yesterday.

[Lake37 Profile]

Week 2

Total sacks- 2[i]
Big Ben-1
O-Line-1

[i]Season Total- 6
Big Ben- 3
O-Line-3

[steelcitymetal Profile]

this is one of my favorite threads ever

PLEASE continue

[Pommah Profile]

What ever happened to the "coverage" sack? You're attributing the sack to only the O-line or BR7. What about when the O-line does its job but the receivers aren't open? Do we want a QB who just dumps the ball off everytime there's nobody open, or do we want a QB who will try to make plays?

Look, Ward is a great receiver but he's probably lost a step vs. a young guy. Tonio was a high draft pick but do we really put him in all-pro territory? Look at the receivers who have gotten the big bucks when leaving the stillers - Randle El, Nate, and they aren't exactly tearing up the league. An analogy is Brady never had top receivers until Moss, yet they won 3 SB's, his receivers leave for more $ and don't do squat. Brady gets a top receiver and sets records. So, is it Brady or is it the receivers? Seems to me its Brady.

If we had a dump off QB we have no super bowls. We have QB who toughs it out to make plays, we have two. Just look at the last drive in SB 43; on the big gainer to Tonio, the Cards sent the jailhouse blitz. BR7 eludes it, and that's why Tonio can get all the YAC, there aren't enough tacklers downfield. Same with the TD throw, Ben stays alive and makes the play.

Go back and do your math and put some blame on coverage sacks. While you're at it include the completions he makes after being flushed out of the pocket. Other teams have to put up with guys who dump it off under any pressure. Remember Tommy Maddox?

[Lake37 Profile]

Pommah, the point of me starting this thread was not to bash BR7. I agree completely with you that without a quarterback who scrambles and extends plays we only have 4 Super Bowls still.

I started the thread b/c people often point to the sack total as one of the ways to justify that our offensive line at time is really bad (which at times they are). I wanted to keep a running total of the sacks and basically how many are the o-line's fault. I think that trying to decipher between "coverage sacks" and sacks that are "big ben's fault" isn't really the point of why i started this thread. If he is holding onto the ball "too long" and taking large losses b/c of sacks, then the coverage was either good or he missed an open receiver. And unless we had film of the game from the coach's tape (the whole field view from behind) there's no way for us to tell if it was good coverage or missed receivers. Big Ben makes a lot of great plays after he dodges a would be sacker, but he does also takes losses sometimes when he could have thrown the ball away. And I understand that you have to take the good with the bad on this issue.

The "Big Ben" category for the sacks was b/c people usually categorize sacks as either O-line stinks or Ben holds onto the ball too long.It was really just a way to show that sack wasn't the o-lines fault. So if you want to think of that as a coverage sack that's fine b/c as I said it would be difficult for us to decipher if it was coverage or BR7 missing and open receiver.

And sorry for such a long response.

[kazkal Profile]

Mixxed feelings as a outsider...

-Ben creating more sacks by not checking the ball down or throwing the ball away
-But outside of great coverage it;s the Olines fault if Big Ben is constantly having to scramble to avoid a sack...he could be a statue like Brady,Carson,Cassel or Manning...

[TheStillerWay86 Profile]

Mixxed feelings as a outsider...

-Ben creating more sacks by not checking the ball down or throwing the ball away
-But outside of great coverage it;s the Olines fault if Big Ben is constantly having to scramble to avoid a sack...he could be a statue like Brady,Carson,Cassel or Manning...

I'd rather take a 250+ Tank than a 210-220 guy in pussy-ass Romo.

Agree or disagree?

2 Rings to basically nothing in his career.

Another sign of Stiller Nation fans to yearn for the day someone officially calls us "Americas Team". Oh as long as Jakey Jones is blowing everyone it will never happen.

[kazkal Profile]

Oh no doubt I hate seeing Ben run with the ball just because he is hardest QB to bring down ever though he's bit the biggest.

[Lake37 Profile]

BR7 great scramble to keep play alive and throw a TD to Parker.

[Lake37 Profile]

I am gonna say the sack on 3rd down with 6 min left vs. Bengals is on BR7. You see the blitz is coming, more blitzing than you have protecting so you gotta make an adjustment

[Lake37 Profile]

Week 3 vs. Bengals
Total Sacks- 1
Big Ben- 1
O-Line- 0

2009 Season
Total Sacks- 7
Big Ben- 4
O-Line- 3

[stillgrill Profile]

That one sack vs Cincy was friggin unforgivable. It was 3rd & 5 or 6, & it looked like not one WR or RB ran less than a 20-yd route. My gawd, you get that 1st down & probly salt off about 2 or 3 more minutes off the clock. There's gotta be a check-off guy who runnin' a 6-8 yd route!!!!

[smheart78 Profile]

That's exactly the problem. Our receivers are not recognizing the blitzes and adjusting to hot routes. That was the problem with the pick 6 and most likely the fault of Ariens not having that quick outlet at all times for Ben.

[Lake37 Profile]

That's exactly the problem. Our receivers are not recognizing the blitzes and adjusting to hot routes. That was the problem with the pick 6 and most likely the fault of Ariens not having that quick outlet at all times for Ben.

Shouldn't Ben be at the point in his career when he is capable of recognizing that type of scenario and calling some sort of hot route? Arians should be doing this, but at some point Ben needs to make an adjustment as well

[Lake37 Profile]

Sack #1 vs. Chargers goes to Ben (coverage sack)....basically not the o-lines fault