A History of Sacks within the SFL 2002-2010
I did some recent research into offensive linemen that took forever and a day, like literally almost forever and a day, or at least the majority of a day. What I found out is what I expected; we here in the SFL have seen a huge increase in athletic offensive linemen. I believed this had to do with what I presumed to be a big decrease in the amount of sacks we’ve seen since our inaugural SFL season. I believe the research I did tonight proves this. Last season we experienced a decrease of 32% in sacks compared to what we had during our first season in 2002. Below is a brief summary of sacks season by season.
In this picture a Dallas Cowboys QB gets sacked by the always superior “America’s Team” Washington Redskins.
2002 Season |
1294 total sacks made by 335 players
1. John Abraham- NY Jets with 20
2T. Marcellus wiley- SD Chargers with 16
2T. Eric Hicks- KC Chiefs w/ 16
2T. Adewale Ogunleye- Mia Dolphins w/ 16
2T. Michael Strahan- NY Giants w/ 16
2T. Kabeer Gbaja Biamula- GB Packers w/ 16
2003 Season |
1122 total sacks made by 321 players | Decrease of 13.3 % from 2002
1. Richard Seymour- NE Patriots w/ 21
2. Warren Sapp- TB Bucs w/ 20
3T. Michael McCrary- Bal Ravens w/ 14
3T. John Abraham- NY Jets w/ 14
3T. Michael Strahan- NY Giants w/ 14
3T. Mike Rucker- KC Chiefs w/ 14
2004 Season |
1112 total sacks made by 311 players | Decrease of 1 % from 2003 & a decrease of 14.1 % from 2002
1. Michael Strahan- Cle Browns w/ 19
2. Osi Umenyiora- Arz Cards w/ 17
3. Richard Seymour- NE Patriots w/ 15
4. Dwight Freeney- Ind Colts w/ 14
5T. Trevor Pryce- Den Broncos w/ 13
5T. Regan Updhaw- GB Packers w/ 13
5T. Julius Peppers- Car Panthers w/ 13
5T. John Abraham- NY Jets w/ 13
5T. Kyle Vanden Bosch- Hou Texans w/ 13
2005 Season |
1048 total sacks made by 313 players | Decrease of 5.8 % from 2004 & a decrease of 19 % from 2002
1. Richard Seymour- NE Patriots w/ 17
2T. Leonard Little- Stl Rams w/ 15
2T. Kabeer Gbaja Biamula- Jax Jaguars w/ 15
4T. Ty Warren- Atl Falcons w/ 14
4T. Kyle Vanden Bosch- Hou Texans w/ 14
2006 Season |
1048 total sacks made by 307 players | No change in % from 2005 & a decrease of 19 % from 2002
1. Mike Rucker- KC Chiefs w/ 16
2T. Kalimba Edwards- Cin Bengals w/ 14
2T. Andre Carter- Buf Bills w/ 14
2T. Tyler Brayton- Cle Browns w/ 14
5T. Jevon Kearse- Oak Raiders w/ 13
5T. Julius Peppers- Car Panthers w/ 13
2007 Season |
1065 total sacks made by 319 players |Increase of 1.6 % from 2006 & a decrease of 17.7 % from 2002
1T. Trevor Pryce- Jax Jaguars w/ 12
1T. Mike Rucker- KC Chiefs w/ 12
1T. Aubrayo Franklin- Sea Seahawks w/ 12
1T. John Abraham- Phi Eagles w/ 12
1T. Kyle Vanden Bosch- Hou Texans w/ 12
2008 Season |
968 total sacks made by 313 players | Decrease of 9.1 % from 2007 & a decrease of 25.2 % from 2002
1. Juaqua Parker- GB Packers w/ 16
2. Ty Warren- Arz Cards w/ 14
3. Andre Carter- Buf Bills w/ 12
4T. Gaines Adams- Min Vikings w/ 11
4T. Jesse Mahelona- NY Jets w/ 11
4T. Anthony Waters- NY Jets w/ 11
4T. Terrell Suggs- Bal Ravens w/ 11
2009 Season |
996 total sacks made by 299 players | Increase of 2.9 % from 2008 & a decrease of 23 % from 2002
1. Jesse Mahelona- NY Jets w/ 17
2. Kabeer Gbaja Biamula- Jax Jaguars w/ 15
3T. Cliff Avril- Det Lions w/ 13
3T. Darwin Walker- NY Jets w/ 13
5T. David Veikure- Bal Ravens w/ 12
5T. Chris Long- KC Chiefs w/ 12
2010 Season |
878 total sacks made by 298 players | Decrease of 11.8 % from 2009 & a decrease of 32.1 % from 2002
1. Cameron Wake- Stl Rams w/ 13
2. Jesse Mahelona- NY Jets w/ 11
3T. Carlos Dunlap- NO Saints w/ 10
3T. Julius Peppers- Car Panthers w/ 10
3T. Jeb Huckeba- Phi Eagles w/ 10
3T. Robert Ayers- Oak Raiders w/ 10
So what I expected held true..... with the better offensive lineman has come a pretty significant decrease in sacks (down 32% since 2002). Now obviously, QB increased AWR can also play into this but I think QB AWR, at least starting QB AWR probably remains fairly steady since young QB's being to start each year.
Top 10 Sack Leaders in SFL History:
1. John Abraham w/ 97
2T. Richard Seymour w/ 94
2T. Kyle Vanden Bosch w/ 94
4. Kabeer Gbaja Biamula w/ 90
5. Julius Peppers w/ 88
6. Richard Little w/ 83
7. Darren Howard w/ 78
8T. Derrick Burgess w/ 77
8T. Kalimba Edwards w/ 77
10. Michael Strahan w/ 76
