Seeing the Chiefs suddenly lose their bookend rushers last weekend, thoughts of replacing production sprung to mind and with them, questions of where the league's most potent — and efficient — pass rushes are generated. Naturally, turning to PFF's Signature Stats made sense.
Over the past few years we’ve offered up looks into the various Signature Stats that have helped make a subscription to our Premium Statistics a must-have for football fans, members of the media, player agents and team executives alike. What we haven’t done was step back to get sight of those numbers on a team-wide level. Today we do.
Featuring one of our most popular Sig Stats, Pass Rushing Productivity, we’ll not only show the numbers for every team’s full defense, but we’ve broken it down by position groups as well to see which units have been the most efficient in coming after the quarterback and how they rate when all stacked up. This effort serves to set even the playing field, comparing teams favoring base 3-4 fronts to each other and doing the same for their 4-3 brothers.
For a refresher, Pass Rushing Productivity (PRP) is built from a formula that sets pressure numbers in context, factoring in pass rushing attempts and weighing sacks heavier than hits and hurries. The formula:
((sacks + .75 * (hits + hurries)) / pass rushing snaps) * 100
Let’s start with the unit-by-unit looks before wrapping up with PRP’s for the complete defensive teams at the end. Up first, the D-lines.
* note – ‘pass rush snaps' in these tables represent sums of player-snaps as opposed to team pass defense totals.
4-3 Defensive Lines
Here’s where Seattle’s offseason investments come into play. You won’t find their defensive line leading in any category, but they’re near the top across the board and their unit-wide PRP of 10.19 is head and shoulders above the rest. Their depth provides an unceasing barrage of fresh legs and adds up to set the pass-rushing mark for all other D-lines to shoot for. Detroit (marked by Ndamukong Suh’s effort on the inside and Willie Young’s on the edge) and St. Louis (fueled by Robert Quinn’s insane pace) fill out the Top 3.
Team | Pass Rush Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Total Pressure | PRP |
SEA | 1561 | 27 | 42 | 134 | 203 | 10.19 |
DET | 1792 | 19 | 39 | 150 | 208 | 8.97 |
SL | 1587 | 32 | 42 | 102 | 176 | 8.82 |
MIA | 1707 | 28 | 36 | 126 | 190 | 8.76 |
CAR | 1679 | 25 | 45 | 111 | 181 | 8.46 |
CIN | 1793 | 30 | 42 | 114 | 186 | 8.20 |
DEN | 1745 | 25 | 29 | 122 | 176 | 7.92 |
TEN | 1480 | 21 | 21 | 102 | 144 | 7.65 |
MIN | 1887 | 20 | 27 | 135 | 182 | 7.50 |
avg | 1667.0 | 21.6 | 32.4 | 103.5 | 157.5 | 7.41 |
DAL | 1948 | 24 | 33 | 123 | 180 | 7.24 |
NYG | 1785 | 17 | 44 | 101 | 162 | 7.04 |
NE | 1759 | 30 | 30 | 94 | 154 | 6.99 |
OAK | 1530 | 14 | 36 | 86 | 136 | 6.90 |
TB | 1644 | 15 | 36 | 88 | 139 | 6.57 |
JAX | 1525 | 13 | 32 | 84 | 129 | 6.56 |
CHI | 1466 | 13 | 18 | 87 | 118 | 6.26 |
ATL | 1470 | 17 | 15 | 78 | 110 | 5.90 |
3-4 Defensive Lines
Much like Seattle’s standout showing among the 4-3 D-lines, Houston’s PRP shames all other 3-4 units, but unlike the committee approach the Seahawks employ, the Texans are, of course, carried by a central force – J.J. Watt. Watt’s 60 total pressures double the next best on the Houston roster, though Antonio Smith is enjoying a fine year as well. The Saints’ resurgent front leads the next tier in this group as Cameron Jordan cements himself among the league’s best (given, by shifting alignment, New Orleans has set him up to do much of his damage from a 40-front look). Philadelphia’s Fletcher Cox has helped push their D-line to the top in hurries and total pressures.
Team | Pass Rush Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Total Pressure | PRP |
HST | 877 | 21 | 30 | 59 | 110 | 10.01 |
NO | 1124 | 19 | 22 | 64 | 105 | 7.43 |
SF | 972 | 10 | 14 | 66 | 90 | 7.20 |
PHI | 1248 | 11 | 20 | 82 | 113 | 7.01 |
BUF | 1025 | 13 | 20 | 54 | 87 | 6.68 |
ARZ | 1180 | 13 | 26 | 61 | 100 | 6.63 |
avg | 1002.3 | 11.9 | 15.7 | 53.8 | 81.3 | 6.38 |
IND | 974 | 8 | 15 | 56 | 79 | 6.29 |
NYJ | 1019 | 16 | 12 | 50 | 78 | 6.13 |
PIT | 950 | 10 | 11 | 51 | 72 | 5.95 |
GB | 872 | 10 | 9 | 46 | 65 | 5.88 |
KC | 1002 | 9 | 5 | 59 | 73 | 5.69 |
BLT | 824 | 11 | 10 | 37 | 58 | 5.61 |
CLV | 1072 | 11 | 17 | 45 | 73 | 5.36 |
SD | 962 | 10 | 13 | 36 | 59 | 4.86 |
WAS | 934 | 6 | 11 | 41 | 58 | 4.82 |
4-3 Linebackers
Lavonte David‘s impact on the Tampa Bay blitz game is seen here — leading the team to a league-high PRP among 4-3 LB units, David has racked up 23 total pressures on just 77 opportunities. The only player ahead of him (with 31 total pressures) is Von Miller, the one-man hybrid defense who — in the five games back from his suspension — has come after the QB 159 times. The Denver-Oakland connection via Head Coach Dennis Allen bleeds over to see the Raiders leading the group in sending their linebackers most often with Nick Roach coming more times than any MLB/ILB and Sio Moore (113) and Kevin Burnett (94) two of the four most frequent blitzers among 4-3 OLBs.
Team | Pass Rush Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Total Pressure | PRP |
TB | 194 | 11 | 8 | 25 | 44 | 18.43 |
NE | 167 | 5 | 5 | 24 | 34 | 16.02 |
CAR | 119 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 23 | 15.76 |
DEN | 300 | 8 | 9 | 41 | 58 | 15.17 |
MIN | 148 | 4 | 7 | 17 | 28 | 14.86 |
OAK | 311 | 12 | 9 | 36 | 57 | 14.71 |
JAX | 68 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 12 | 14.34 |
TEN | 257 | 5 | 9 | 33 | 47 | 14.20 |
avg | 172.1 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 19.1 | 29.5 | 13.58 |
SEA | 211 | 6 | 7 | 21 | 34 | 12.80 |
MIA | 205 | 2 | 9 | 23 | 34 | 12.68 |
CIN | 189 | 6 | 6 | 17 | 29 | 12.30 |
DAL | 91 | 2 | 3 | 9 | 14 | 12.09 |
CHI | 114 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 16 | 11.84 |
ATL | 193 | 4 | 4 | 20 | 28 | 11.40 |
SL | 118 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 15 | 9.96 |
NYG | 161 | 0 | 1 | 19 | 20 | 9.32 |
DET | 79 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 9 | 8.86 |
3-4 Linebackers
Providing the edge rush for their teams, the outside linebackers in this group can be the foundation of a defense. In Kansas City’s case, the recently fallen Tamba Hali–Justin Houston pairing has not only led them to the high mark of 150 total pressures for this group, but to the best PRP as well — Chief LBs have turned in a 13.99 mark on 845 combined chances. The duo of Elvis Dumervil and Terrell Suggs leads the Ravens to the top in sacks and hits, while San Francisco – with Aldon Smith settling back in opposite Ahmad Brooks – fits in second in PRP. Along with SF, Buffalo and New Orleans show in the Top 5 in both the 3-4 LB list and that for the 3-4 DLs.
Team | Pass Rush Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Total Pressure | PRP |
KC | 845 | 23 | 21 | 106 | 150 | 13.99 |
SF | 769 | 20 | 21 | 75 | 116 | 11.96 |
BLT | 961 | 26 | 33 | 84 | 143 | 11.84 |
BUF | 783 | 23 | 14 | 73 | 110 | 11.27 |
NO | 555 | 16 | 17 | 44 | 77 | 11.13 |
IND | 755 | 24 | 13 | 67 | 104 | 11.13 |
WAS | 789 | 20 | 18 | 71 | 109 | 10.99 |
avg | 817.7 | 17.7 | 19.0 | 69.7 | 106.4 | 10.30 |
ARZ | 987 | 17 | 29 | 79 | 125 | 9.93 |
PIT | 713 | 10 | 23 | 58 | 91 | 9.92 |
SD | 816 | 17 | 13 | 68 | 98 | 9.53 |
HST | 702 | 11 | 18 | 53 | 82 | 9.15 |
GB | 893 | 19 | 13 | 69 | 101 | 9.01 |
CLV | 929 | 15 | 17 | 73 | 105 | 8.88 |
NYJ | 804 | 14 | 16 | 57 | 87 | 8.55 |
PHI | 965 | 11 | 19 | 68 | 98 | 7.90 |
Click to Page 2 to see the league's use of blitzing DBs and full team PRP's…
Defensive Backs
Taking all of the defenses together for this one, Seattle’s efficiency again stands out, though they’ve opted to send DBs less often than any other team – understandable when they’re getting so much work from their front four. The Raiders, as was the case with their LBs, have ‘activated’ their DBs most often. Kansas City, piling on to the performance of their edge rush have shown themselves as one of the five most frequent to involve DBs in the rush and have generated more total pressures than any other in doing so. Safety Eric Berry has been sent an impressive 48 times already and has 13 pressures to show for it.
Team | Pass Rush Snaps | Sacks | Hits | Hurries | Total Pressure | PRP |
SEA | 21 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 29.76 |
NE | 25 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 23.00 |
KC | 98 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 28 | 22.96 |
JAX | 39 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 11 | 22.44 |
ATL | 58 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 16 | 21.55 |
CLV | 43 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 9 | 18.60 |
TB | 76 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 17 | 18.09 |
MIA | 81 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 16 | 16.05 |
PHI | 81 | 1 | 4 | 12 | 17 | 16.05 |
DET | 39 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | 16.03 |
BUF | 105 | 4 | 4 | 13 | 21 | 15.95 |
WAS | 58 | 1 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 15.95 |
SD | 80 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 16 | 15.94 |
NYJ | 66 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 14 | 15.91 |
BLT | 57 | 0 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 15.79 |
avg | 62.0 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 7.6 | 12.1 | 15.46 |
CAR | 53 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 15.09 |
PIT | 78 | 2 | 1 | 12 | 15 | 15.06 |
ARZ | 99 | 2 | 3 | 14 | 19 | 14.90 |
DAL | 38 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 7 | 14.47 |
OAK | 120 | 5 | 3 | 13 | 21 | 14.17 |
GB | 95 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 16 | 13.95 |
MIN | 33 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 13.64 |
NYG | 50 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13.50 |
CIN | 77 | 2 | 2 | 9 | 13 | 13.31 |
NO | 94 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 15 | 13.03 |
SF | 24 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 12.50 |
HST | 46 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 11.96 |
DEN | 90 | 0 | 4 | 10 | 14 | 11.67 |
CHI | 35 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10.71 |
SL | 49 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 7 | 10.71 |
TEN | 41 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 9.15 |
IND | 35 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 8.57 |
Overall PRP
With the above units combined, we find a Top 10 divided among 3-4 and 4-3 base schemes as teams find a way to get after the QB no matter which alignment they prefer – illustrated perfectly with the Top 2: The Seahawks, powered by their front four and a particularly efficient use of DBs, rest at the top while the Chiefs’ 3-4 OLBs paired with more help from the back end are just a step behind. Perhaps the most interesting results come from teams like New England and Tampa Bay where fine work is being done by one unit (their linebackers) but others (their fronts) haven’t kept up.
Team | Base | DL | LB | DB | Total Defense |
SEA | 43 | 10.19 | 12.80 | 29.76 | 10.72 |
KC | 34 | 5.69 | 13.99 | 22.96 | 10.17 |
HST | 34 | 10.01 | 9.15 | 11.96 | 9.69 |
MIA | 43 | 8.76 | 12.68 | 16.05 | 9.46 |
SF | 34 | 7.20 | 11.96 | 12.50 | 9.35 |
BLT | 34 | 5.61 | 11.84 | 15.79 | 9.17 |
CAR | 43 | 8.46 | 15.76 | 15.09 | 9.12 |
DET | 43 | 8.97 | 8.86 | 16.03 | 9.11 |
DEN | 43 | 7.92 | 15.17 | 11.67 | 9.10 |
BUF | 34 | 6.68 | 11.27 | 15.95 | 9.07 |
SL | 43 | 8.82 | 9.96 | 10.71 | 8.95 |
NO | 34 | 7.43 | 11.13 | 13.03 | 8.88 |
CIN | 43 | 8.20 | 12.30 | 13.31 | 8.77 |
TEN | 43 | 7.65 | 14.20 | 9.15 | 8.63 |
OAK | 43 | 6.90 | 14.71 | 14.17 | 8.58 |
ARZ | 34 | 6.63 | 9.93 | 14.90 | 8.43 |
avg | 7.22 | 10.93 | 15.46 | 8.42 | |
IND | 34 | 6.29 | 11.13 | 8.57 | 8.40 |
TB | 43 | 6.57 | 18.43 | 18.09 | 8.23 |
MIN | 43 | 7.50 | 14.86 | 13.64 | 8.12 |
PIT | 34 | 5.95 | 9.92 | 15.06 | 7.98 |
NE | 43 | 6.99 | 16.02 | 23.00 | 7.97 |
WAS | 34 | 4.82 | 10.99 | 15.95 | 7.92 |
GB | 34 | 5.88 | 9.01 | 13.95 | 7.80 |
PHI | 34 | 7.01 | 7.90 | 16.05 | 7.70 |
DAL | 43 | 7.24 | 12.09 | 14.47 | 7.58 |
NYJ | 34 | 6.13 | 8.55 | 15.91 | 7.50 |
NYG | 43 | 7.04 | 9.32 | 13.50 | 7.39 |
SD | 34 | 4.86 | 9.53 | 15.94 | 7.39 |
JAX | 43 | 6.56 | 14.34 | 22.44 | 7.26 |
CLV | 34 | 5.36 | 8.88 | 18.60 | 7.24 |
ATL | 43 | 5.90 | 11.40 | 21.55 | 7.05 |
CHI | 43 | 6.26 | 11.84 | 10.71 | 6.75 |
As always, we defer — and suggest you do as well — to our player grades when looking for a more complete picture of the action as they'll take into account things like unblocked pressures, clean-up sacks, and outstanding plays made in key situations. Short of that, though, our Signature Stats offer a look into the game you won't find anywhere else.
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