First and ten. The defensive end puts a spin move on the tackle, gets to the quarterback and you’ve got yourself a seven yard loss. The only problem being the offense recovers, picks up another first down and goes on to score a touchdown.
Third and five. Defensive end puts a spin move on a tackle, hurries the quarterback into making a throw when he’s not ready. End result an incompletion and the punt unit is coming onto the field.
You see pressure is always important, but never more so than in those get-off-the-field situations. So that’s why today we'll be applying our Pass Rushing Productivity measure (hits and hurries worth three quarters of sacks, divided by the number of pass-rushing snaps and multiplied by 100) to passing plays on third and fourth downs.
What’s more, if you stick with me, I’ll dig into this to see what the numbers show not just for this past season, but for the past three years as we look at which defenders are the most efficient on those critical downs.
2010
Let’s start with looking at which players generated the most pressure. It should really come as no surprise to those who have read some of our previous Pass Rushing Productivity articles, that Tamba Hali held the top by a sizeable margin. He was a clear seven pressures ahead of Chris Clemons in second, and Cameron Wake in third. What’s interesting about Clemons being so high is that he wasn’t the only Seahawk to feature in the top 15. Another player they picked up in a hectic off season, Raheem Brock, finished all the way up in 12th, ahead of players like Julius Peppers and Justin Tuck. Credit to the Seahawks for finding such potent pass rushers when it really mattered (and for such a relatively low cost).
[table id=177 /]
But the numbers above can be taken out of context. After all, some of those players were rushing the passer a lot more often (for example Tamba Hali had 208 third down pass rushes, and someone like James Harrison only had 96). So, taking into account the nature of the pressure (whether it was a sack, hit or hurry), and how many opportunities they had, brings us quite nicely to our third and fourth down pass rushing stats (minimum number of 75 rushes to qualify).
Up at the top was a player who had a real bounce back year in 2010, and, though he was largely overshadowed by the man next to him, established himself as a legitimate pass rushing nuisance. Cliff Avril, left end for Detroit, missed some time so he only had 76 chances at the passer, but his PPR rating of 23.36 settled in above the rest.
Just behind him is a soon-to-be-free agent who should draw plenty of interest as a situational pass rusher if nothing else. Antwan Barnes didn’t last long in Philadelphia, but San Diego found in him a pass-rushing star, with Barnes picking up 26 total pressures on just 92 rushes. That was a slim margin ahead of James Harrison for whom perhaps the most surprising thing was how few attempts he had in these situations – just 96 … 49 less than LaMarr Woodley.
Other somewhat surprising names on the list are Raiders outside linebacker, come nickel defensive end Kamerion Wimbley. To many, miscast in the Raiders 4-3, Oakland got the best out of Wimbley in sub package defenses where he picked up pressure on 20.88% of the third and fourth down plays he spent hunting QB’s.
Among the other names to take note of were Mark Anderson, who showed flashes of the play we probably haven’t seen since his rookie year, and Kroy Biermann. The Falcon is overlooked as a productive pass rusher because of his sack numbers, but he does impact the quarterback (even if it doesn’t always show up on the stat sheet). Here are the 15 most efficient pass rushers on third and fourth down in 2010:
[table id=178 /]
Three Years
His superb 2010 was enough to land Tamba Hali level with Dwight Freeney at the top of the total pressures list when looking at 2008 through 2010. Those two have amassed five more total pressures than Trent Cole has managed in that time, with Jared Allen and DeMarcus Ware rounding out the top five.
Of the Top 15, one name sticks out: Justin Smith. The rest of the guys are 4-3 ends and 3-4 outside linebackers who tend to create a lot more pressure, while Smith (who did play in a hybrid in 2008) is a 3-4 end who kicks inside as a defensive tackle in nickel defenses. It’s remarkable to see him on the list, and gives an idea for how consistent (and durable) he has proven as a 49er.
It’s also interesting that a number of teams have multiple players in the top 15. The Colts, Vikings and Steelers all have players consistently getting pressure on these key downs. What is an opposition to do, when you commit to stopping one guy, the other is going to get you. It will be worth watching to see what the Vikes do without Ray Edwards, though it should be noted that back in 2008, Brian Robison was an extremely effective rusher on third downs (before opportunities became rare for him).
[table id=179 /]
Adding weight for the type of pressure and further context in the form of the number of pass rushes gives us a different set of results. Out front is Cameron Wake, who has always been productive when he’s been on the field. Back in 2009, when he was limited to a sub package role, he was particularly impactful and he carried that through as a starter in 2010. Essentially, when you need someone to get to the quarterback, Wake is your guy.
Rather interestingly, Justin Tuck follows him in second place. The Giant (one of two in the Top 5) is among the most complete defensive ends in the league, but, overall, has never generated the kind of pressure the top ends do. He doesn’t quite sell out as much on first and second downs when teams are prepared to run the ball, making him less effective as a pass rusher compared to those that do. Yet, when he knows a team is likely to pass, he can get to the quarterback as quickly as anyone.
49er fans may be a little surprised to see Parys Haralson so high, though when you think how many of those pressures have come against the likes of Levi Brown it is a little bit more explainable. Still, Haralson is an effective rusher when that’s all you ask of him.
[table id=180 /]
On third and fourth down, defenders rushing the passer have less of a concern for defending the run. Their job in those spots is simply to stop the quarterback from making a throw that moves the chains or gets the ball into the end zone. Having guys that can produce in this department is incredibly valuable.
We’ll be watching this closely next year to see which guys step it up, and will quite possibly be using it to find breakout candidates on the sack front. We saw it with Cameron Wake and would expect a big year in store for Antwan Barnes, but like many things it comes down to opportunity. Wake got his and took it, while we don’t know if Barnes will be given that chance.
Pass-rush-needy teams have to take a look at any of these that are soon-to-be free agents. They could be the reason your defense just got off the field.
Follow Khaled on Twitter: @PFF_Khaled … and be sure to follow our main Twitter feed as well: @ProFootbalFocus
Signed up yet for Pro Football Focus Premium Stats?
© 2025 PFF - all rights reserved.