Why Pressures Matter

I get tired of this argument, so I'll just let the numbers speak for themselves. (source, ProFootballFocus for pressure and total snap numbers, without pressure numbers are my math)

In the NFL last year-   
Comp% (Total Completions/Total Attempts)
2012 Total - 60.9% (10,825/17,779)
QB NOT under Pressure -  66.1% (8,690/13,154)
QB Under Pressure - 46.2% (2,135/4,625)

According to the legendary PFF, 31.4% of NFL snaps last season came under pressure. 26.0% of NFL pass attempts came under pressure (the difference of 5.4% is due to sacks and scrambles).

I'm focusing specifically on the attempts that came under pressure where there were not sacks or scramble attempts vs normal attempts. 

TD% (Total TD) - Int% (Total Int) - TD:Int ratio
2012 Total - 4.2% (755) - 2.7% (486) - 1.55 Td:1 Int
QB NOT under Pressure -  4.6% (605) - 2.4% (311) - 1.95 TD:1 Int
QB Under Pressure - 3.2% (150) - 3.8% (175) - 0.86 Td:1 Int

So, as you can see, when a QB is under pressure, he loses 20% (66.1% vs 46.2%) in completions, loses 30% of his ability to throw a touchdown (3.2%/4.6%), gains 60% (3.8%/2.4%) more likelihood of throwing an INT, and his ratio of TD:Int drops by more than half (1.95 / 0.86). 

Do I think pressures matter? Yes. If you don't, I'd really love to know why.

"The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard" - Al Davis


Al was old school and didnt need all the math to figure that out. but thanks.

"The quarterback must go down, and he must go down hard" - Al Davis


Al was old school and didnt need all the math to figure that out. but thanks.

I agree, but some people on this board are stupid.

To address Fresh's question in another thread about "pressures" and "10 minutes to take a pressure, does it still count?."

All I can say is, the starting QBs in the NFL averaged 2.5 to 3.0 seconds per pass attempt. In your 10 mintues, every starting QB in the league would get 200-240 pass attempts off in that time.

I agree, but some people on this board are stupid

I agree


So, what's time window for pressures?

Let's try to avoid getting personal

 (source, ProFootballFocus for pressure and total snap numbers, without pressure numbers are my math)

Another PFF reference? Shocking...

So, what's time window for pressures?

10 minutes.

 (source, ProFootballFocus for pressure and total snap numbers, without pressure numbers are my math)

Another PFF reference? Shocking...

Darth adds nothing to another conversation? Shocking.

This shouldn't even be a debate. It's common sense really...

And it's exactly why I'd rather see us draft a player like Damontre Moore, or even Bjorn Werner over Star Loutulelei. The best defense we've had in awhile was in 2010 when we had a front 4 who got after the QB. I believe we tied for 2nd in sacks that year. If you have a front 4/7 that can put consistent pressure on the QB, then all of a sudden your secondary gets a hell of a lot better as well.

10 minutes.

Franchise me up, bro

10 minutes.

Franchise me up, bro

So you can get 1 in a season? 

An unnamed player had 47 this season in approx 24 minutes of pass rushing.
To go with 39 the previous season in 18 mins,
35 the season before that in 11 minutes before that, and on and on...

Looks like during that time period, with a dead QB, you'd get yourself a tidy 5 pressures. Clearly we are talking apples to apples here.

Looks like during that time period, with a dead QB, you'd get yourself a tidy 5 pressures. Clearly we are talking apples to apples here.

Sorry, a total of 5 pressures for your 3 fat lineman. So maybe one of you will get 2.

The pressure stat doesn't have a time window from what I can see

Congrats! You were the 1st guy to get there in under 6 seconds

Hoof'nray you got to the QB when he was on his 700th read. You've been awarded a pressure!

Right or wrong? Am I wrong in thinking this particular stat is radically incomplete?

Just because you ALMOST get there doesn't mean you should get sack/fumble money

It doesn't matter when you get there.  As long as you do before he throws the ball he is "under pressure"  therefore all the bad that Leppy pointed out statistically goes against the passer.

I've never been a big stat guy. Stats just dont tell the whole story. With saying that though, there is intangibles inside the game that get translated into stats and thats where the pressure stat comes from IMO. Its a lot to me like for a cornerback how often they are targeted. When Nnamdi Asomugha was here, he didnt get many interceptions but it was because few qbs would challenge him. There may have been 30 targets for the year.

Anytime you have a pass rusher that is relentless its gonna open up things for other players. When they did the top ten Raiders of all time. The moron Raider fan that bashed Howie Long for being number 2 or 3, stated he didnt have the most sacks thats Greg Townsend. Well Gee I wonder why that is? Howie could line up anywhere and HAD to be accounted for on every freaking snap. Taking nothing away from Townsend who was a heck of a defensive end, but the gameplan for the opposition was stopping Howie Long.

You guys are all just STUPID...

All we need to win the superbowl is a mobile thuggish QB with long arms... There is no pressure on a mobile QB.. The only pressure I care about is the pressure on my colon. 

The pressure stat doesn't have a time window from what I can see

Congrats! You were the 1st guy to get there in under 6 seconds

Hoof'nray you got to the QB when he was on his 700th read. You've been awarded a pressure!

Right or wrong? Am I wrong in thinking this particular stat is radically incomplete?

Just because you ALMOST get there doesn't mean you should get sack/fumble money

And what does it matter? The same way they measure the pressures shows that a QB goes from 66% to 46% completions when pressured. I'm sure it's even lower when they get to the QB right away.

Just because some pressures take 6 seconds and saying they are invalidated is like saying quick sacks don't count because sometimes the QB falls and the defender just bumps him.

Pressure is simply forcing the QB to throw early or rushing his attempt in progress. Helps to bring down his accuracy. Not every time but over the course of a season it brings down their completion percentage and helps force mistakes.

Obvious stuff for sure.

And what does it matter? The same way they measure the pressures shows that a QB goes from 66% to 46% completions when pressured

It matters because this is a potentially misleading stat. If a QB drops back and goes through his 3rd and 4th reads before anyone gets there, the guy who finally shows up at the end will get credit for a "pressure" when he really didnt do shiz.

I'm sure it's even lower when they get to the QB right away

Which is exactly why this stats is misleading. The guy who gets there in 2 seconds gets credit for a pressure just like the guy who didnt get there until 5-6 seconds. The guy who got there late was only able to "pressure" the QB after there was no where for him to go with the football because of decent coverage.

Just because some pressures take 6 seconds and saying they are invalidated is like saying quick sacks don't count because sometimes the QB falls and the defender just bumps him

If a QB slips and a defender is close enough to be Johnny on the spot to get the sack then he did a good job for being in a position to make a play. Making a sack that ends the play will ALWAYS be more valuable than just getting a pressure that "might" help you out.

If K.Wimbley doesnt get to the QB until he's went through all his progressions then the "pressure" he is eventually awarded isnt nearly as impressive as the guy who forces the QB out of his comfort zone BEFORE he has a chance to scan the field.

I'm not saying that pressuring the QB isnt important, because it is, but this particular stat doesnt even come close to telling the whole story.