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DSF
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The Chicago Bears have a very real problem with pass protection. The Detroit Lions, thanks to injuries, have a problem rushing the passer of late.
Something’s got to give when the two square off in Soldier Field on Sunday.
Detroit’s pass rush has fallen off since the team lost starters Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes and (especially) Aidan Hutchinson in a four-week period. The Lions rank 26th in sack percentage and 23rd in QB pressure rate, but those figures fall to 27th in sack rate and 30th in pressure rate since Hutchinson was lost.
Now the Lions roll into Chicago without their top remaining rusher, DT Alim McNeill. It’s hard to quantify just how much that will impact the Lions pass rush, but consider he’s been responsible for almost exactly 20 percent of the team’s QB pressures over the last five weeks. Needless to say, it’s not a good development.
If ever there was a fortuitous time for the dilapidated Lions defense to make a statement, it’s facing the Chicago Bears. Losers of eight games in a row, their inability to protect rookie QB Caleb Williams, as well as Williams’ own inability to protect himself, has been one of the big reasons for the losses.
No current starting quarterback gets sacked more frequently than Williams, who averages going down on every ninth dropback. Over the last four weeks, which includes the first meeting between the two NFC North rivals, Williams has been both sacked and pressured more frequently than any other quarterback. Chicago allows a sack rate over 12 percent in that timeframe, despite ranking in the middle of the pack (18th) in pressure allowed rate.
From NFL Inside Edge, the sack rate for starting QBs:
In the Thanksgiving meeting in Detroit, the Lions sacked Williams five times and recorded 16 QB hurries (per PFF) on 44 dropbacks by the Bears offense. In the two games since, the Lions have recorded one sack and the 21st-ranked pressure rate in the league. And that was with McNeill!
The Bears pass protection gave and the Lions defense took in that last meeting. If Detroit can win that battle of give/take on Sunday, it will go a long way toward helping the Lions to get back on the winning path.
Continue reading...
Something’s got to give when the two square off in Soldier Field on Sunday.
Detroit’s pass rush has fallen off since the team lost starters Marcus Davenport, Derrick Barnes and (especially) Aidan Hutchinson in a four-week period. The Lions rank 26th in sack percentage and 23rd in QB pressure rate, but those figures fall to 27th in sack rate and 30th in pressure rate since Hutchinson was lost.
Now the Lions roll into Chicago without their top remaining rusher, DT Alim McNeill. It’s hard to quantify just how much that will impact the Lions pass rush, but consider he’s been responsible for almost exactly 20 percent of the team’s QB pressures over the last five weeks. Needless to say, it’s not a good development.
If ever there was a fortuitous time for the dilapidated Lions defense to make a statement, it’s facing the Chicago Bears. Losers of eight games in a row, their inability to protect rookie QB Caleb Williams, as well as Williams’ own inability to protect himself, has been one of the big reasons for the losses.
No current starting quarterback gets sacked more frequently than Williams, who averages going down on every ninth dropback. Over the last four weeks, which includes the first meeting between the two NFC North rivals, Williams has been both sacked and pressured more frequently than any other quarterback. Chicago allows a sack rate over 12 percent in that timeframe, despite ranking in the middle of the pack (18th) in pressure allowed rate.
From NFL Inside Edge, the sack rate for starting QBs:
In the Thanksgiving meeting in Detroit, the Lions sacked Williams five times and recorded 16 QB hurries (per PFF) on 44 dropbacks by the Bears offense. In the two games since, the Lions have recorded one sack and the 21st-ranked pressure rate in the league. And that was with McNeill!
The Bears pass protection gave and the Lions defense took in that last meeting. If Detroit can win that battle of give/take on Sunday, it will go a long way toward helping the Lions to get back on the winning path.
Continue reading...
