Factoid
Owners in IDP leagues may be considering the top rookie defensive linemen when trying to figure where the most sacks will come from this year. Based on recent history, they'd be looking in the wrong place.
Thanks to the recent proliferation of 3-4 defenses, it's the pass-rushing linebackers -- not defensive ends -- most likely to make an immediate impact as rookies. You're better off looking at projected OLBs like Miami rookie Koa Misi or Baltimore's Sergio Kindle, then, than defensive ends like Tennessee's Derrick Morgan or the Giants' Jason Pierre-Paul.
During the five-year period from 2000-2004, 28 rookie defenders had at least 5 sacks. Of those players, only five were linebackers.
Now look at the most recent five-year period, 2005-2009. Nearly half (7) of the 16 players with 5-plus sacks were linebackers, including four of the top 5. Two of those stellar performers, Brian Orakpo and Clay Matthews, came out of last year's draft.
The top rookie sack performances for those two five-year periods are presented below.
Sacks by rookies, 2005-2009
2006 12.0 DE Mark Anderson
2009 11.0 OLB Brian Orakpo
2006 11.0 OLB Kamerion Wimbley
2009 10.0 OLB Clay Matthews
2005 10.0 OLB Shawne Merriman
2006 8.5 DE Elvis Dumervil
2006 8.0 DE Tamba Hali
2005 8.0 OLB DeMarcus Ware
2005 7.5 OLB LeRoy Hill
2007 6.0 DE Gaines Adams
2007 5.5 DT Amobi Okoye
2008 5.0 DE Cliff Avril
2008 5.0 DT Jason Jones
2008 5.0 DE Trevor Scott
2007 5.0 ILB David Harris
2005 5.0 DE Trent Cole
Sacks by rookies, 2000-2004
2002 13.0 DE Dwight Freeney
2003 12.0 OLB Terrell Suggs
2002 12.0 DE Julius Peppers
2000 11.0 DE Darren Howard
2003 10.5 DE Kevin Williams
2000 9.5 DT Corey Simon
2004 9.0 DE Jared Allen
2001 9.0 ILB Kendrell Bell
2001 8.5 DE Justin Smith
2000 8.5 DE Shaun Ellis
2002 8.0 DE Carlos Hall
2000 8.0 MLB Brian Urlacher
2004 7.5 DE Will Smith
2002 7.0 DE Charles Grant
2002 6.5 DE Kalimba Edwards
2002 6.5 DT John Henderson
2001 6.5 DE Andre Carter
2001 6.5 DE Aaron Schobel
2001 6.0 DE Derrick Burgess
2004 5.0 OLB Karlos Dansby
2004 5.0 DE Kenechi Udeze
2002 5.0 OLB Ben Leber
2001 5.0 DT Gerard Warren
2000 5.0 DT Cornelius Griffin
--Andy Richardson
- Comments [0]
Readers' Comments
Add a Comment
Already a registered user? Please sign in to add comments.
To add comments, you must become a registered user of our site. To register, please click here.
