The Steelers pass rush has missing in action for much of the first month of the season and a lot of that blame has started to focus on outside linebacker LaMarr Woodley who has zero sacks in four games after picking up 11.5 sacks last season.But as Dagger over at Post Game Heroes points out, Woodley's lack of sack production doesn't mean he's not being productive. Against the Chargers, Woodley had only one tackle and no sacks but he did do an excellent job of shutting down the passes in the flat to LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles.
Dagger's analysis showed that Woodley only rushed the passer on 59 percent of the Chargers pass plays. On 41 percent of them, he dropped into coverage. Usually, Woodley is rushing on anywhere between 70 and 80 percent of pass plays. And as Dagger showed with a cutup of some of Woodley's plays, while Woodley didn't get a sack, he is still contributing to the Steelers defense.
It's also worth noting that Woodley went four straight games at the end of the regular season last year without a sack, but he rebounded to record six sacks in three playoff games.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
10-08-2009 @ 12:50PM
DB said...
Woodley is a bit overweight and over muscled for his position, but I agree that his lack of sacks is not completely his doing. Dick Lebeau's schemes this opening month have been questionable at best, and he's a big reason for what's going on in the 4th quarter. I've never understood the canonization of this guy but he's definitely gone a bit soft when he used to attack. And yes, we miss Troy, but but that's just a convenient excuse. The aging and overrated James Farrior isn't helping, either. I don't agree with that contract extension he got.
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10-08-2009 @ 3:10PM
steeler560 said...
LeBeau has gone soft, Farrior, "overratted"...note to self NEVER listen to a word this guy posts, he knows NOTHING about football, it's blatantly obvious. What a dummy.
Why everyone else rates LeBeau as the best active defensive coordinator you think he's soft and undeserving of the praise given to him by people that actually coach and play the game. Get off your La-Z-Boy, go to Barns & Noble and pick up a few books on football. Once you're done reading them why don't you come back and post like a grown up...
10-08-2009 @ 1:42PM
David J. Warner said...
Is Woodley dropping into coverage more to make up for the loss of Polamalu?
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10-08-2009 @ 7:17PM
jack said...
steeler560 -- The defense has been shredded for the last 5 fourth quarters, including the super bowl, with no adjustments. San Diego is down by 28 points in the 4th quarter, yet LeBeau keeps in 2 middle line backers long after the chargers have abandoned the run, Farrior being one of them. He should have been replaced with a younger, faster back who can drop into coverage. That's where most of the trouble has been -- in the middle. That's just the tip of the iceberg. Read the stats.
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