*** Official Week 2 MNF Thread - Saints @ Panthers / Browns @ Steelers ***

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

HTF is the Pitt record for career sacks 81.5?

Yeah, that's weird. They've had a few good defenders over the years.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Yeah, that's weird. They've had a few good defenders over the years.

Yea seems the Steelers had an elite defense for 25 years.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

Yea seems the Steelers had an elite defense for 25 years.

And that was just in the 1970s.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

And that was just in the 1970s.

NFL didn't start keeping track of sacks until 1982.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

NFL didn't start keeping track of sacks until 1982.

I forgot that. So basically TJ Watt isn't the Steelers all time career sack leader.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

I forgot that. So basically TJ Watt isn't the Steelers all time career sack leader.

No idea. But I wouldn't be surprised at all if he wasn't.



But by the time he's done, he probably would be anyway, so it probably is a moot point anyway. TJ Watt is probably the best pass-rushing DE in the league.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

NFL didn't start keeping track of sacks until 1982.

Good point.

PFR has those estimates that some reputable organization prepared of the pre-1982 era, and they only show Joe Greene at 77.5 and L.C. Greenwood at 78, so they're still lower than the official record if you believe those estimates.

Of course, teams also threw a lot less often then. I bet those guys were better if you ratio the sacks against the pass attempts that they faced.

[Marcellus]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Good point.

PFR has those estimates that some reputable organization prepared of the pre-1982 era, and they only show Joe Greene at 77.5 and L.C. Greenwood at 78, so they're still lower than the official record if you believe those estimates.

Of course, teams also threw a lot less often then. I bet those guys were better if you ratio the sacks against the pass attempts that they faced.

All interesting points. Didn't think about the less pass attempts angle.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Marcellus

All interesting points. Didn't think about the less pass attempts angle.

It would be cool to measure sacks that way, as a batting average of sacks per pass attempt. The data is out there and accessible, so it wouldn't be hard if one could download the data in a usable form.

I bet Joe Greene faced 20 attempts per game on average, while TJ Watt probably faces 35 attempts or more.

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Good point.

PFR has those estimates that some reputable organization prepared of the pre-1982 era, and they only show Joe Greene at 77.5 and L.C. Greenwood at 78, so they're still lower than the official record if you believe those estimates.

Of course, teams also threw a lot less often then. I bet those guys were better if you ratio the sacks against the pass attempts that they faced.

Yeah, it makes it a little more impressive when you consider that the vast majority of NFL teams ran the ball 40 times or more every game, and only threw it 25-30 times back then. Lot less opportunities for pass-rushers back in the day.