The NFL is a passing league, which makes the ability to get after the quarterback big. But are sack totals the end-all, be-all when measuring the success of a pass-rush? Not necessarily, according to Detroit Lions head coach Dan Campbell.
When asked for his view on how important sack totals are for a defense ahead of the Lions' latest open practice at organized team activities on Thursday, Campbell stated that while he would prefer sacks, simply getting pressures can be huge, also.
"Sacks aren't that big of a deal as long as you're getting the pressures," Campbell said. "As long as you're getting pressures, and those pressures show up that affect the quarterback negatively.
"Now, would I rather have sacks? Absolutely, I'd rather have sacks, loss of yardage, and all those things. But the pressures (that affect the quarterback) are more to me."
Pressures are no doubt effective, as they can lead to mistakes and turnovers. However, they do not guarantee the failure of a given play like a sack does.
The Lions' defense got plenty of pressure in 2023, with the team tallying 274 and a pressure rate of 41.6%, the third- and fourth-best totals in the NFL. However, the Lions finished with just 41 sacks, ranking No. 23 in the league.
The result? Detroit's suspect secondary was exposed quite often, with Detroit ranking 27th against the pass.
Now, there is certainly a symbiotic relationship between coverage and a pass-rush. If cornerbacks can't effectively cover, it gives pass-rushers less time to get home. If pass-rushers can't get home fast enough, it leaves cornerbacks out in coverage for longer, lessening their chances of being effective on any given play.
The Lions have gone out of their way to bring in more help in the secondary and added veteran edge rusher Marcus Davenport. Those improvements should help Detroit convert more of those pressures into sacks in 2024.
