Bill B Presents TMC's Pick the Position Poll

[Schneed10]

You can't just cut a DE loose in today's NFL. Just like an overpursuing LB corps is susceptible to cutbacks, pure pass rushing DEs are susceptible to screens and draws. You have to pick your spots to turn the DEs loose, like 3rd and long.

Playing the run well is more important than sacking the QB. Your DEs will get their sacks if you can keep the offense in 3rd and longs all day. See Phillip Daniels in 2005 with 8 sacks. He's pretty average from a speed rushing standpoint, and managed to drum up eight of them.

Now if we can stop the run better on 1st down, we'll have more 3rd and longs. That means more opportunities to release the hounds from the DE spot, and that leads to more sacks.

Carter was disappointing in stopping the run earlier this season, but he has caught on nicely. At no point has he had the opportunities to chase the QB like Dwight Freeney does, so expecting huge sack numbers from him isn't really fair.