The Eagles were tied for second in the NFL in 2014 with 49 sacks, or three per game. Four weeks into this season, the defense has wrestled the quarterback to the ground just six times — only five teams have fewer — which projects to 24, or half the rate.
Yet while the numbers look bad, the Eagles insist rushing the passer isn’t an issue. They would argue the pressure on quarterbacks is there, sack or no sack.
“There is more pressure than there are sacks,” defensive coordinator Bill Davis said.
“I don't think it's a pressure problem. The sack numbers aren't where you like them. We've got to get pressure on the quarterback and get him down and affect the throws. That has to increase, but we actually aren't horrible right there. The sack numbers are.”
When Davis and his players were pressed as to why that is exactly, varying explanations were provided for the lack of production. However, very few involved a defense that isn’t doing enough to make opposing signal-callers feel uncomfortable in the pocket.
One of the problems is offenses are negating the pass-rush by getting rid of the ball quickly. When the quarterback is using a three-step drop all day, there isn’t as many opportunities to hit him barring total breakdowns in protection.
“When you face teams like we just did [against Washington] where the ball is out lightning quick, you always say, ‘Well the rush isn’t getting there,’” Davis said. “So how long is he holding it?”
Of course, there were plenty times when Kirk Cousins was forced to hold on to the ball for Washington in Sunday’s loss. The Eagles simply couldn’t finish the plays.
“On the ones that he's holding long, if we're not pressuring, then we are in trouble,” Davis said. “We had him in our hands probably three times that we did not sack him, and that's frustrating.”
“We know it has to get a little better, because quarterbacks are going to get the ball out,” said outside linebacker Brandon Graham, who had 5.5 sacks last season in a backup role but just one as a starter in 2015. “And sometimes when he did hold the ball, we just need to get there. No excuses.”
The positive takeaway is there is pressure. However, getting the actual sack isn’t merely a statistical boost. Driving the offense five-to-10 yards backward and losing the down is a drive-killing play, as a opposed to the quarterback getting the pass off, whether it’s complete or incomplete, and living to fight another day.
Opponents are converting 40 percent of their third downs, good for 16th in the NFL — not bad, but could stand to improve. Sacks would help.
That being said, the feeling is the Eagles' pass-rush has helped create other types of negative plays this season.
“We have some holding penalties that would’ve been sacks,” defensive end Vinny Curry said.
Curry finished second on the team with 9.0 sacks in a situational role last season, but has been shutout thus far in 2015.
“The sacks are there,” Curry said. “We have more interceptions than we had last year around this time. It’s one or the other. You’re either going to throw the pick or take the sack.”
Curry thought he’s drawn four holding penalties alone this season. That’s four 10-yard losses for opposing offenses, or one per game. Those kill drives, too.
The sentiment about interceptions is accurate as well. The Eagles had three through four games in 2014 compared to five this season, which ranks tied for sixth in the NFL. That theory also echoes something Davis said last week, that quarterbacks are making the decision whether to eat the ball or throw it up for the defense.
Then again, Cousins didn’t throw any interceptions Sunday, and he was only sacked once for no loss of yards on the play. And when Washington’s signal-caller was leading a 15-play, 90-yard game-winning touchdown drive that lasted five minutes and 39 seconds in the fourth quarter, he didn’t appear to be under much pressure at all.
Regardless, the Eagles aren’t concerned. It was also noted they only had seven sacks through the first four games last season.
“We’re not really worried about it, because last year we weren’t worried and it just happened,” Graham said. “It just happened like it was supposed to, so we’re taking the same approach. We just continue to work, and when the plays come we have to capitalize.”
“You consistently want to beat your guy and disrupt the quarterback, and I think we’re doing that for the most part,” said outside linebacker Connor Barwin, who led the NFC with 14.5 sacks last season, but has 2.0 so far in 2015. “At the end of the day, we want to get the sack numbers back up there where they were last year, and we will.
“They usually come in bunches. Hopefully will get a bunch soon.”