Is 50 sacks possible?

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 2:31 AM CDT

Or even expected? From the team that had 25, 30, and 30 in he last three years. Would have sounded inconceivable this time last year. I know everyone is expecting an increase with Wade, but when I went through my sack predictions per player, I was still shocked how quickly it added up. So, for argument;s sake:

Mario 10

Barwin 8

Watt 8

Cushing 6

Antonio 4

Earl Mitchell 3

Meco 3

There's 42. Granted, my Barwin, Watt, and Cushing projections are mildly optimistic, but I think Barwin will be the break out player, Watt's optimisim speaks for itself, and I just got finished watching the fourth quarter of the Ravens game and Wade's words about Cushing rushing between the tackles were echoing as Cush dominated that quarter. And, I was obviously very conservative on Mario.

So, that just leaves 8 to be picked up by overage, safety blitzes, and subs (Bulman, Reed, Cody would be among candidates to pick one up here or there).

And then, I went to the league stats page and saw the Steelers led the league with 48 last year. So, not so much . . .

But, it still gets me excited to think of all those possibilities, and I'd say 40-45 is well within reason.

Tweet Comment 23 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

how'd you watch the 4th quarter of that game?

by Toolshed1 on Aug 11, 2011 3:27 AM CDT reply actions

DVR

For some reason, I saved that game. Not sure if it was the amazing fourth quarter, masochism, the fact that it ended our season. Who knows.

Since you asked about it: some comments on what I saw—just in the fourth quarter and overtime:

Cushing was flat out dominant. I saw at least 4 big plays at or behind the LOS. Physical, quick, and a beast up the middle.

Damn, Jacoby looked good. He obviously had a big drop earlier in the game, but he was very trustworthy on some big, big conversions. I’ve been on the bandwagon that says he doesn’t necessarily drop more passes, just bigger ones, but he had some really clutch catches here.

Man, GQ had a really nice moment on the last defensive drive of the fourth. Boldin came up after a big conversion and just trash talked the hell out of GQ for not being able to hold him. Looked like they had been at it all game. Then, with the game on the line on a 3rd and 2, must stop scenario, GQ flew up out of nowhere to knock down a pass intended for Boldin. One of the best secondary plays I saw all year (tallest midget?).

I like Jon Gruden, but his repeated statements that the game better not go into overtime for the Ravens because their defense was so gassed it could never stop the Texans just annoys the hell out of me.

Speaking of, hindsight 20/20, blah, blah, blah, but it seems like the Texans and Schaub were so used to the Ravens 4th quarter prevent D, they were expecting them to come out rushing three and soft in overtime. I wonder if there was anyone over on the sideline saying, “Hey, Matt, you just carved the apart, but we’re going to get totally different looks here.” You would think, but . . .

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 1:18 PM CDT up reply actions

GQ was indeed awesome that game.

Matched up against one of the most physical receivers in the league, and he held his own. That game is the reason I really don’t want to see him converted to safety.

by Nashmeister on Aug 11, 2011 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions

To respond to the title,

no.

by Bobbythegreat on Aug 11, 2011 8:24 AM CDT reply actions 1 recs

Its possible for maybe the Packers

I think its kool-aid chugging optimistic for us though. I agree Barwin will be a breakout player. Mario could have more than 10 sacks, depending on how he does with the position change.

We’ve had an incredible off-season with the additions of Wade, Watt (+ other rookies we drafted), Joseph, Manning and Vance Joseph. But I think as fans we’re going to be in for a rude awakening the first few games of the season. Its not going to all fall together easily, this transition is going to take some time.

by WhiskeyR on Aug 11, 2011 8:38 AM CDT reply actions

Yep.

50 is definitely chugging the kool aid a bit much. That’s why it toned it down by the end of the post. Kool Aid chugging I think comes from just being excited about the ability to be excited about our defense again.

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 1:21 PM CDT up reply actions

Never!

I Welcome All My Haters With Open Arms, Because If Everybody Got Love For You, That Means You're Kissing Too Much Ass

by TheBookOfOlu on Aug 11, 2011 8:59 AM CDT reply actions

Teams can get over 50 but it's rather unrealistsic.

I expect 40 sacks for the Texans. An increase of 10 from last year.

Prediction: 11-5 AFC South champions.

by Ethan Matz on Aug 11, 2011 9:28 AM CDT reply actions

Agreed

Yeah, as you can see by the end of the post, I agree the 40 figure is a good one.

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 1:20 PM CDT up reply actions

I didn't read anything but the title

but hell no, no player can get 50 sacks in a year. Are you out of your mind?

/NUTT’d

by JBal on Aug 11, 2011 12:02 PM CDT reply actions 6 recs

BTW

You almost got me. Was half way through a post calling you an idiot before I figured out I was the idiot.

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 2:35 PM CDT up reply actions

for real, no I don't think the Texans will have fifty sacks though

And honestly, I think people are maybe a bit too excitable about the dominance of our front seven when they’ve NEVER seen the product on the field, not even in preseason yet. (Not specifically directed at you, JMay, I’ve seen a lot of fairly over-the-top optimism around here recently). To the extent that we have seen them (the players we had last year) they were largely playing different positions and not doing it very well. I do think Wade’s direction will get us a bump in sacks, and increased pressure on QB’s, but I’m not ready to dance naked around a bonfire quite yet.

Indeed, the level of optimism around here is pretty amazing overall. I mean, I’m excited about the season too, and I’m optimistic every year, but I do still realize which team I’m watching.

by JBal on Aug 11, 2011 3:01 PM CDT up reply actions

I readily admit that I am an optimist

And what I think will happen is higher than what I would consider an acceptable result. And this year I have definitely increased the number of wins I would consider acceptable (9 or higher). These expectations would be adjusted down if there were key injuries.

As a point of reference, my expectations last year were 7 wins, due primarily to the rough schedule and knowing that Cush would be out the first 4 games. The year before I expected 8 wins.

by BleachBum on Aug 11, 2011 3:23 PM CDT up reply actions

Dude Mario is going to hvae 20

You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.

by nolander on Aug 11, 2011 12:20 PM CDT reply actions

Looking at it by position rather than individuals

I think over 40 is within the realm of possibility:

OLB’s – 20 (Mario, Barwin, and subs
DE/DT – 10 (Watt, Smith, Mitchell, and subs)
ILB’s – 7 (DeMeco, Cush, etc.)
DB’s and safeties – 3

by BleachBum on Aug 11, 2011 1:25 PM CDT reply actions

looking at it like this

i think that 50 might not even be our ceiling

by Samarth Sulhan on Aug 13, 2011 2:48 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't see 50

but I see 40 as a real possibility. Good post JMay. BTW, I hope you don’t mind if I stole your profile pic, but it’s too cool.

"Ignorance is bliss. Oedipus ruined a great sex life by asking too many questions." -Stephen Colbert

by Still Blue on Aug 11, 2011 2:04 PM CDT reply actions

No worries

It’s bad ass. Just give me the credit! actually, I found it on an old Texans message board while looking for a fantasy football logo. Unfortunately, Yahoo is being finicky on letting me load images.

by JMay on Aug 11, 2011 2:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I saw is 50 sacks possible

and I was like wow high expectations for mario to not only get the sack season record but destroy it with 50 sacks lol

"Taco Joe - the beacon of optimism" TexansDC
"Great, you've doomed us all!" - UprootedTexan
God blessed Texas, but he has forsaken the Texans

by Taco Joe on Aug 11, 2011 2:32 PM CDT reply actions

Anything over 30 sacks for Mario is unrealistic in my book...

by BleachBum on Aug 11, 2011 2:53 PM CDT up reply actions

Sure Mario could get 50 sacks

but how many is he going to get after that? He should have at least 45 after week 1.

by Bobbythegreat on Aug 11, 2011 3:38 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs

You really think Indy will run 45 plays?

by BleachBum on Aug 11, 2011 5:55 PM CDT up reply actions

Not with Manning no.

he’ll start the first play, then it gets ugly. However with the Texans running 12 second scoring drives every possession (pessimistic i know but I’m just not ready to say 11) that’ll leave which ever QB isn’t projectile vomiting at the sight of an angry front 7 (probably that kid who refused to take off his jersey) plenty of time to snap the ball and get sacked 45 times.

by BC5 on Aug 11, 2011 6:09 PM CDT up reply actions